Skoda Fabia Review 2024

If you want a sensible and high quality small hatch that's also good value then look no further than the Skoda Fabia. It may not have a particularly youthful image, but there's no car that's more of a match for the impressive Volkswagen Polo.

But with its new, more dynamic design and stylish looks, we think this Fabia has far more appeal than the previous model. It is also cheap to run and should prove reliable, making it a good long-term buy. The only downside is the lack of electric or hybrid power, which may put some off. 

There's no shortage of small hatchbacks around with the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta two of the most popular - and the best - on the market. The Skoda Fabia compares very favourably to both in our opinion.

If you're looking at a Skoda Fabia we'd also suggest checking out some of its other rivals like the latest Vauxhall Corsa, the value-for-money Kia Rio, fellow Volkswagen Group counterpart, the SEAT Ibiza and the impressive Hyundai i20.

Also check out the Renault Clio, Citroen C3 and the Peugeot 208, while the practical Honda Jazz and the excellent Toyota Yaris are both comfortable and cheap to run thanks to hybrid power, something the Skoda Fabia doesn't have.

While there are the usual hard plastics you'd expect in a small hatchback of this size, they don't feel cheap. In fact, the interior of the latest Skoda Fabia is one of the best around for quality: we'd say it's on a par with the Volkswagen Polo. 

Higher spec models get metallic grey trim pieces to give a more upmarket feel, but even the entry-level S models don't feel especially 'entry-level' as such, although you do get plastic - rather than leather - on the steering wheel and gear lever. That said, compared to the previous Skoda Fabia, there's a significant improvement in quality throughout the cabin.

All the switches have a nice solid feel to them - it's a car that feels built to last - and there are no squeaks or rattles on the move, either.

The Skoda Fabia is every inch a modern small hatchback so it's no surprise to see a large, bright, high resolution touchscreen dominating the centre console. S and SE Comfort models get a 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, while this was later upgraded to the same 8.2-inch colour display you get on the Colour Edition. Go for a posh SE L and you get a big 9.2-inch screen. If size matters to you.

Luckily, this isn't the same system that's used in larger Skoda models, and it's much easier to use. For starters, things like the air conditioning are controlled through proper dials and buttons, which we think is far simpler (and less distracting) than having to go through menus on the touchscreen. Skoda knows its audience with the Fabia.

The system is intuitive and easy to use, whichever size screen you end up with. SE L gets navigation as standard. The Fabia can also be fitted with a virtual cockpit, which replaces the instrument display with a 10.2-inch screen that can be customised with maps, car data and route directions (this was later made standard on SE L trim, while other versions were given an 8.0-inch digital instrument display).  

All models have DAB and Bluetooth (for music streaming) while a smartphone can be connected without the need of a cable via Wireless SmartLink and Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. This was initially an optional extra that was later made standard across the range, so double-check that any used example you're considering has it fitted.

The Skoda Fabia has always been one of the most practical small cars out there and this latest generation continues in that mould. 

With a 380-litre boot, the Skoda Fabia's loadbay is actually 50 litres bigger than before, making it one of the best small cars around for carrying space, and you can squeeze in significantly more than rivals like the Ford Fiesta with 292 litres and the Vauxhall Corsa at 309 litres. It's even bigger in the boot spave department than the Honda Jazz.

There is quite a high boot lip, but the tailgate opening is wide, making it easy to get things like pushchairs  or bags of compost in there. Or indeed, both. 

The Skoda Fabia is bigger than before, so worth noting if you have a narrow driveway or parking spot. Its dimensions are 4108mm in length (the first time the Fabia is more than four metres long) while the width has upped to 1780mm.

The good news is that these increases mean more interior room, which will be especially noticeable for those who sit in the back, and is handy if you have child seats (and the accompanying children...). It's among the roomiest cars of its type.

The first thing you notice about the Skoda Fabia range is what there isn't. And that's no electric version, no plug-in hybrid and not even a regular hybrid. Instead, Skoda is sticking to a straightforward petrol-only line-up. Hurrah for simplicity.

The Skoda Fabia has always been a sensible small hatch and that's not changing any time soon. So the engine range is made up mainly of various 1.0-litre models, all of which have modest performance but are cheap to run.

Initially, the entry-level engine was the 1.0 MPI with a modest 65PS and a five-speed manual gearbox. It only came in Fabia S trim, so we'd recommend something with a bit more oomph if your budget allows. Spend just a bit more and you can get the 1.0 MPI with 80PS, which is a lot better and comes in SE Comfort trim, which gets you more toys. It's ideal for around town. 

However, if you are going to spend time on dual carriageways and the like, we'd recommend the turbocharged 1.0 TSI. The 95PS version is more than quick enough, and thanks to the fact it's a three-cylinder engine, not only is it nippy at low speeds, but it also has a bit of character.

There's also a 110PS version of the 1.0 TSI (later upgraded to 116PS), which is the only engine to get a six-speed manual gearbox, or it can also be specified with a DSG automatic gearbox. You'll pay a hefty premium for the latter, though, and unless you must have an auto, we'd stick to the positive shifting and enjoyable-to-use manual.

The pokiest engine on offer is the 150PS 1.5 TSI engine that was originally only offered in the Fabia Monte Carlo, but has now been extended to other trims. It's still not particularly brisk, mind, with the 0-62mph sprint taking a leisurely eight seconds. Not exactly the hot hatch performance you got with previous Skoda Fabia vRS models.

If there's one area the Skoda Fabia really excels at, it's refinement. Not only does it ride well, but it's very quiet on the move, with very little engine- or road noise. In fact, it feels like a much bigger car in this respect. All the engines are quiet and you'll only really hear them if you push them to the limit, and even then, the sound isn't coarse or intrusive.

Rough roads and big potholes don't pose any issues, with the cabin well insulated against vibrations and harshness. The ride quality can become a little harder on 17-inch wheels - standard on the Fabia Monte Carlo - but it is always on the comfortable side of firm. 

On faster roads the Fabia cruises along at the speed limit in quiet contentment, so while it may be a small car, it's actually very adept for motorway driving.

This generation of the Skoda Fabia has a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating with an 85% rating for adult occupant protection and 81% for a child. 

Driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags and front side airbags are fitted as standard in the Skoda Fabia. A knee airbag for the driver and side airbags for the rear can be added from the options list with the Safety Package. You can also add Adaptive Cruise Control.

Skoda has a strong reputation for reliability and owner satisfaction, performing strongly in the annual Honest John Satisfaction Index. 

It's not all good news, though. The previous Fabia had a chequered reliability record, mainly to do with the seven-speed DSG semi-automatic gearbox. Manual cars didn't suffer from the same issues and since then Skoda has improved the DSG gearbox, so we don't expect this model to suffer from the same issues. We haven't heard any horror stories so far.

The most basic version of the Fabia - the 65PS 1.0 MPI - sits in insurance group 2 (of 50), making it one of the cheapest cars there is to insure. The more powerful MPI engine will hike your insurance grouping up to 4 - hardly catastrophic - while choosing one of the turbocharged 1.0-litre offerings will mean a grouping of between 11 and 15, so premiums will still be very affordable. Buyers of the 1.5 turbo pay a group 20 premium, meanwhile.

As there are no electric or PHEV versions of the Skoda Fabia, all models qualify for the standard annual VED rate: £190 as of 2024. There's no danger of any Fabia costing more than £40,000, no matter how tick-happy you get on the options list, so no worries on the luxury car tax surcharge.

The entry-level model is the Skoda Fabia S, which has LED headlights, Front Assist, Pedestrian Protection and Lane Assist including road edge detection, DAB, a 6.5-inch colour screen infotainment system and manual air conditioning. It also has e-Call+, a system that establishes an audio and data connection to a dedicated emergency call centre if sensors within the car detect a major accident.

S trim was later dropped, at which point the previously second-rung Skoda Fabia SE Comfort trim became the entry point. These models have 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and a two-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel along with rear parking sensors, height-adjustable front seats, adjustable lumbar support in front seats and leather-wrapped handbrake lever and gearshift knob.

The high spec Skoda Fabia SE L comes with 16-inch silver Proxima alloy wheels, chrome window surrounds and electric windows front and rear, comfort seats, chrome-edged air vents, ambient lighting package and microsuede grey lower decorative trim with grey stitching. Inside there's an Amundsen navigation system with 9.2-inch colour display, Care connect and Infotainment online (1 year), web radio and six speakers. Dual-zone air-conditioning, along with two LED reading lights, a removable cup-holder and a front centre armrest are also standard.

The stylish Fabia Colour Edition gets 16-inch Proxima black alloy wheels, privacy glass and door mirrors painted in roof colour. Inside, Fabia Colour Edition models have a Bolero radio with 8.0-inch colour display, Virtual Cockpit with 10-inch colour display and KESSY keyless engine start/stop. There's even an umbrella in the door pocket.

The range-topping Fabia Monte Carlo adds sports bumpers, 17-inch Procyon black painted diamond cut alloy wheels and artificial leather sports seats. You also get a leather 3-spoke sports steering wheel, ambient interior lighting and a black headlining, while the door and side trim panels are finished in carbon effect decorative trim.