Skoda Fabia (2015 – 2021) Review

The Skoda Fabia is a car that does everything well. Inside, it's robust interior belies the fact that the Skoda undercuts almost all of its main rivals on price and, while it's not quite as polished inside as the likes of the Ford Fiesta, it does have more passenger space and a bigger boot. The dashboard is also a model of intuitiveness and most Fabias come with an infotainment screen that can mirror the display of your smartphone. The Skoda puts in a similarily well-rounded performance on the road, okay so it doesn't give you the seat-of-the-pants thrills you get from some small hatchbacks, but it is easy to drive, comfortable and cheap to run. You'd be hard pushed to complain. 

The Skoda Fabia has always been a sensible choice of small car and the latest incarnation keeps up the tradition. It’s reasonably priced, cheap to run, comfortable and practical, but gets an added dash of upmarket appeal thanks to new Skoda family styling and extra technology, including standard DAB radio and Bluetooth.

The engine range is made up exclusively of frugal options, the entry-level engine being a 1.0-litre petrol producing 60PS. There's also a 75PS version of the same engine, while a 1.0-litre turbocharged unit is also available with 95PS or 110PS. Diesel buyers get a 1.4-litre producing 75PS, 90PS or 105PS.

Our pick of the range is the 95PS 1.0-litre petrol, which is perky and responsive yet still very efficient returning official economy of 64.2mpg. Although none of the engines are particularly exciting, and the Fabia isn't a fun car to drive, it is quiet and comfortable, both in town and on the motorway.

It's practical, too. The boot is a good size at 330 litres – significantly ahead of rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. Despite this fact, there’s space in the back for two adults to sit in reasonable comfort – though children will be more at home here. There are also two Isofix mounting points in the rear as standard.

Up front there’s a neat dashboard with logical controls and clear dials, with upmarket details such as a touchscreen system on offer. That said, despite more technology being available, the Fabia does lag a little when it comes to materials, with no plush, soft-touch plastics like you’d see on many rival models including the Volkswagen Polo.

But the Fabia does represent excellent value for money thanks to reasonable list prices, decent equipment levels and low running costs. This, combined with its grown-up feel, makes it a strong contender in the competitive supermini segment.

Looking for a second opinion? Read heycar's review of the Skoda Fabia

Inside, the Skoda Fabia manages to seem much bigger than it is. Upfront, it feels like a relatively wide car so you won't be clashing elbows with your passenger or clutching for their knee every time you go change gear.

The driving position is also excellent with a wide range of adjustment for both the steering wheel and the driver's seat so, whether you're tall or small, getting comfortable shouldn't be a problem and there's no issue with headroom.

Accessing the back seat is made easier by the fact that the Fabia only comes with five doors. Once you're in, you'll find you get more knee room than you do in most small cars, headroom is fine and so is elbow and hip room. That said, the firmness of the perched middle seat will make your fifth passenger feel like they've endured an atomic wedgie every time the car hits a bump.

Ah well, the dog will be happy with the relatively large 330-litre boot and the Skoda's cabin is strewn with smaller storage spaces so you'll have no issues keeping it tidy. Skoda's Simply Clever features include things like an umbrella hidden under the your seat and an ice scraper under the fuel cap. Nice!

The range kicks off with the basic S model which starts from £14,290 with the 95PS engine and you'll pay an extra £1040 to pair it with a slick-shifting twin-clutch automatic gearbox. 

SE models offer the best value and start from £14,050 – paired with a 60PS petrol – while SE Drive models come with in-built sat-nav and will squeeze your wallet for at least £15,110. Or you can pay the same starting price for a Colour Edition car with a contrast paint job.

SE L models amount to the posh Fabia, while Monte Carlo cars get sporty looks – akin to a hot hatch but without the performance.

In terms of options, you can have alloy wheels up to 18 inches in diameter (£770), front and rear parking sensors (£315) and bright-shining LED headlights (£995). If you want to make the cabin feel light and airy – it is rather dark otherwise – go for the glass roof (£665) and if you do lots of motorway driving, cruise control (£195) is another worthwhile flamboyance. 

An SE model with the 95PS petrol engine offers the best value and you can have a year-old, less-than 15,000-mile example for just £11,000 from a franchised dealer with all the peace of mind that brings.

Or push the boat out on a sporty looking Monte Carlo model with the pokey 110PS engine, one that's a few months old and has fewer than 3000 miles on the clock. You'll pay less than £14,000 for a show-room fresh example like this.

Sure, it's not a car that goads you into driving quickly, but the Skoda has plenty of grip in bends and it corners safely and predictable. Monte Carlo models stick more vigoursly and their stiffer suspension makes them feel neater but, really, they're more capable than truly fun in bends.

For that sort of thing, you'll be better off with the playfully agile Ford Fiesta or the fluidity of the Volkswagen Polo. 

No, what the Fabia does well is go about its business with the minimum of fuss. Steering that's a bit dull on bendy country roads is light and makes the car easy to manoeuvre in town, although sneaking through gaps in traffic would be easier if it was more direct. That said, the Skoda's boxy shape is easy to judge when you're parking.

Hit the motorway and the ride that can be a little jiggly in town starts to settle down although you will hear noticeable road noise, more in models with the bigger wheels. If you'll do lots of motorway miles its worth considering the optional active cruise control (£400) which can accelerate and brake the car for you on the motorway.

The Skoda Fabia is available in S, SE, SE Drive, Colour Edition, SE L and Monte Carlo trim levels. S models represent the more basic end of the spectrum – easily spotted by their plastic wheel trims – they get electric front windows and automatic emergency brakes.

SE models make a noticeable specification leap thanks to their alloy wheels and you'll also welcome their standard air-conditioning on hot summer days, as well as their smartphone-compatible infotainment screen.

SE Drive models add kit like front and rear parking sensors, in-built sat-nav and get bigger 16-inch alloys, up from 15s in the standard SE. Colour Edition models, meanwhile, swap the in-built sat-nav for a contrast paint job, get cruise control, but not front parking sensors.

SE L models feel posher inside thanks to their suede upholstery and front-centre armrest, plus they get climate control which can maintain a preselected cabin temperature.

Finally, there are the Monte Carlo models which come as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels and a natty body kit, while inside they get sporty touches like bolstered seats and polished pedals.