SKODA has lifted the lid on the super-sized new fourth-generation SKODA Fabia.
And because it’s grown in stature, SKODA says the Fabia is now the ‘most spacious car within its segment’, going up against the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza.
The new Fabia, which has also enjoyed a design refresh as well as being enlarged, is based on the Volkswagen Group’s modern ‘MQB-A0’ platform. That means it now shares the same underpinnings as the larger SKODA Scala.
It translates to a Fabia that’s 11 cm longer than the outgoing model and also 4.8 cm wider.
Meanwhile the boot has also grown by 50 litres, up to 380 litres, which means it trumps everything from the Fiesta and the Polo to other competitors like the Citroen C3 or the Mazda2 - but falls just shy of the Renault Clio’s 391 litres of luggage space.
Style wise, there’s a new front end with razor-sharp, narrow headlights while the rear looks more taut, too.
SKODA is also making a big deal about how aerodynamic the car now is, complete with freshly-designed alloys and wing mirrors as well as cooling shutters in the front bumper’s lower air inlet to improve fuel efficiency.
To further reduce drag, a larger roof spoiler and side finlets optimise the airflow at the rear.
The Fabia will be launched in the UK in S, SE Comfort, SE L and Colour Edition trim levels. And the interior of the car has had a major makeover as well, complete with an instrument panel with a free-standing central display and optional digital instrument cluster, full smartphone integration and an infotainment touchscreen measuring up to 9.2 inches.
The Fabia can also now be ordered with some comfort features that were previously reserved for higher-tier vehicles, including a heated windscreen and dual-zone climate control.
As with the previous Fabia, there’s no diesel powertrain. Instead you get a choice of five different ‘EVO’ petrol engines, with power running from 65 PS to 150 PS.
The sportiest of the lot is the 1.5 litre TSI EVO, which provides maximum torque of 250 Nm which can sprint from 0-62mph in a very respectable 8.0 seconds.
The most efficient of those engines is the 1.0 litre TSI EVO with power of 110 PS. Here you get up to 48 mpg, while also enjoying a 0-62mph acceleration time of 9.6 seconds.
The Fabia looks to be one of the safest compact cars available, too, with the debut of seven new driver assistance systems.
That means Travel Assist, Park Assist, Lane Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Side Assist, Front Assist with Predictive Pedestrian and Cyclist Protection, and Manoeuvre Assist are all up for grabs, while you can equip your Fabia with up to nine airbags, too.
SKODA is also continuing its tradition of adding little extras that ‘make everyday life that little bit easier’. In the past we’ve had the ice scraper in the fuel filler flap and an umbrella in the driver’s door.
Now there are two smartphone storage pockets on the front seatbacks, a USB-C socket on the rear-view mirror, a card and pen holder in the storage compartment in front of the gearstick and loading sill protection.
What’s more, SKODA is promising a sportier ‘Monte Carlo’ model to follow in the coming months, the details of which we’ll bring you when we get them.
Thomas Schäfer, SKODA AUTO CEO, says:
“The new Fabia provides the perfect entry to our range. We have combined the well-known SKODA attributes – such as generous amounts of space, the highest levels of quality and safety, and excellent value for money – with an emotive design and the lowest drag coefficient within its class. I am convinced that this overall package will allow us to further strengthen our position in the entry-level segment and attract new customers to the brand.”
While Martin Jahn, SKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, adds:
“The launch of the latest-generation Fabia is a real highlight for us. We have listened very carefully to our customers and refined our new small car in every aspect. With its dynamic look and state-of-the-art infotainment systems, we are increasingly appealing to younger customers. To sum it up: the new Fabia has everything it takes to continue the model’s success story.”
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See what our experts made of the SKODA Fabia in our Car Reviews section:
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