Skoda Fabia 2015 Review

For seven years now, Skoda has lived up to its promise of offering Volkswagen tech and even more practicality at a lower price. But it wasn't until late 2013, when the latest Octavia arrived, that Skoda's unique mix of space, technology and value became available without the decidedly Eastern Bloc wrapping.

Now, the MkIII Fabia hatch and its TARDIS-like wagon sibling – the only light-size load-lugger available in Australia – look set to build on that momentum by combining the latest German technology and even more space and value, with smart looking design that retains its distinctive Czechness.

The young demographic it's aimed at will love VW's latest infotainment technology including a 6.5-inch TFT colour touch-screen multimedia system with 800x480px resolution and SmartLink smartphone connectivity, making the Fabia one of the first cars in its segment to offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, including Bluetooth with audio streaming and voice to text messaging functionality.

Tactile, intuitive and well presented, the multimedia interface allows full hands-free control of navigation, audio and phone functions simply by plugging an Apple (iPhone 5 or newer) or Android phone (any current model) into its USB slot. Of course, it uses your phone's data, but you'd need to be on a hefty service plan to make it worth opting for the $950 factory navigation system, as part of an Arkamys six-speaker surround-sound system.

Also standard on all Fabias is class-leading safety technology, led by autonomous emergency braking (AEB, or Front Assist with City Emergency Brake in Skoda-speak), which makes it the first light-car to brake itself in the event of an imminent collision at speeds between 5 and 30km/h. The same potentially life-saving (or at least wallet-saving) system is available but not standard in the VW Polo, and a similar system can be had at extra cost in the Mazda2.

There's no sign of the reversing camera in the MY16 Polo, but the Polo was named best in class by Europe's NCAP crash testing program after achieving the highest overall safety score in its class.

The Fabia's standard safety equipment list also extends to six airbags, Multi-Collision Brake, Electronic Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking System, Hill Hold Control, Anti-Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock with XDL, automatic emergency brake lights, tyre pressure monitoring, daytime running lights, height-adjustable front seat belts with pretensioners, height-adjustable rear head restraints, height-adjustable whiplash optimised front head restraints, ISOFIX rear child seat anchorage points, front/rear seat belt reminders, rear fog lights and rear parking sensors with optical display.

Unlike the old Fabia, the new one also launches with the same 1.2-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engines as the Polo, with both the base 66TSI manual and upstream 81TSI matching its low 4.8L/100km fuel consumption figure. We recorded 6.5L/100km in both cars over a mix of urban, twisty country and freeway roads on the launch drive out of Sydney.

Both turbocharged direct-injection 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engines are fitted with fuel-saving idle-stop and brake energy recuperation systems, andthe only catch is their requirement for more expensive 95 RON unleaded petrol.

As the names suggest, the 66TSI manual produces 66kW of power (less than the 77kW engine it replaces) over 4400-5400rpm and 160Nm of torque over 1400-3500rpm. Matched only with a five-speed manual gearbox, the 66TSI hatch is claimed to hit 100km/h in 10.9 seconds on its way to a 182km/h top speed (wagon: 11 sec and 185km/h).

On the road, the base Fabia feels quicker than that, offering punchy performance in lower gears and, thanks to the relatively wide spacing of just five ratios, only feeling stretched at highway speeds in upper gears.

But for $15,990 – the same price as the old base Fabia and $1000 less than the repriced MY16 Polo 66TSI manual ($16,990) – the entry-level Fabia hatch offers plenty of bang for your buck.

What's more, Skoda Australia has promised to include all on-road costs in the Fabia 66TSI hatchback's sub-$16,000 starting price for the remainder of this year, while the equivalent Fabia wagon is priced $1150 higher from $17,140 ($150 more than before), or $1500 higher drive-away.

Even without free on-roads costs, the new Fabia's base price is significantly lower than key European light-car rivals like the Citroen C3, Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio, the same price as the Kia Rio three-door and Suzuki Swift, and only slightly pricier than Ford's entry-level Fiesta, Holden's Barina and Hyundai's i20. Only the popular 1.5-litre Honda Jazz, Mazda2 and (1.3-litre) Toyota Yaris come with a lower base price (plus on-road costs).

Forecast to account for 80 per cent of sales, meanwhile, is the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission-only 81TSI, which makes 81kW over 4600-5600rpm and 175Nm over 1400-4000rpm. The 81TSI hatch is quickest to 100km/h (9.4 sec) on its way to a 196km/h top speed (wagon: 9.6 sec, 199km/h).

The only blight on the Fabia's outstanding value equation is that the cheapest automatic version commands a sizeable $4300 premium over the base 66TSI manual at $20,290, with the automatic wagon topping the range at $21,440.

Drive-away launch pricing also applies to the Fabia 81TSI auto for the rest of this year, making the hatch $20,290 drive-away and the segment-unique wagon $21,790 drive-away.

The more powerful engine feels a little stronger everywhere, but doesn't feel that much quicker than the 66kW manual and its seven-speed DSG auto was both slow to downshift when required, even in Sport mode, and irritatingly eager to downshift when running downhill, even in normal mode, often making the engine hold 4000rpm or more on mild inclines.

This time round there's a host of new options for the simple, two-engine, two-transmission, two-bodystyle line-up, in addition to navigation, metallic/pearl-effect paint ($500) and a panoramic glass sunroof ($1000).

They include the 66TSI's Travel Pack ($1300) comprising cruise control with speed-limiter, 16-inch ‘Rock’ alloy wheels, Fatigue Detection and LED daytime running lights; and the 81TSI's Sports Pack ($1200) including 17-inch ‘Clubber’ alloys, Fatigue Detection, LED DRLs, front fog lights and sports suspension.

A Premium Sports Pack ($2600) is also on offer for 81TSI buyers in combination with the Sports Pack, adding Light Assist (automatic light switching, coming home and leaving home functions), rain-sensing wipers, privacy glass, a three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel, advanced keyless entry including smart key (KESSY) and alarm, Climatronic air-conditioning and DAB+ digital radio.

In addition to six bright exterior paint colours (Candy White and Corrida Red solids; Race Blue, Magic Black, Quartz Grey and Moon White metallics), a further two -- Sprint Yellow and Rally Green Metallic – are available when buyers choose the optional Colour Concept package.

Costing an extra $300 with the 66TSI manual's Travel Pack and a no-cost option with the 81TSI's Sports Packs, the colour packs comprise a contrasting-colour roof, A-pillars, 16-inch alloys and mirror housings in silver, white, black or red. Of course it's a personal thing, but we reckon they're all a bit kitsch.

Apart from more customisation options, the new Fabia comes with a comprehensive aftersales offer, with the Skoda Care Pack adding two years of factory warranty and roadside assistance to the standard warranty plus a three-year/45,000km capped-price service plan for $1799, which Skoda says represents a $700 saving on those items purchased separately. Skoda Choice guaranteed future value and finance options are also available.

Of course, all this is on top of an extensive standard equipment list, which includes a three-spoke leather-clad multi-function steering with height/reach adjustment, leather-clad gearshifter and handbrake, full trip computer, air-conditioning, driver's seat height adjustment, remote central locking, front reading lights, four power windows, heated/power wing mirrors, twin front vanity mirrors, carpet floor mats and a chromed grille, gearshifter and air-vents.

Instead of the 66TSI's 6.5x15-inch Dentro steel wheels, the 81TSI adds Mato alloy wheels of the same size, plus a front armrest with storage and cruise control with speed-limiter.

A front centre armrest is the only obvious omission in the base model, but all Fabias come with hard plastic surfaces everywhere except on the armrests, and cost-cutting is also evident in materials like the headlining, which feels cheap and mates poorly with the window trims.

That said, the Fabia's interior design is the picture of functionality, a high level of quality is evident in consistent cabin shut lines, both front and rear seats are comfortable and nicely trimmed, and the ergonomics, amenity and outward vision are first class.

Although the new Fabia hatch is 8mm shorter than its predecessor at 3992mm long, its wheelbase is 5mm longer at 2470mm, its interior is 8mm longer at 1674mm and there's more headroom despite being 31mm lower. Overall width is up by 90mm to 1732mm, liberating 21mm more front elbow room (1401mm) and 30mm-wider wider wheel tracks.

In short, the Fabia is perfectly packaged and offers generous stretching room despite its compact footprint.  The wagon, meantime, is 10mm longer than before at 4257mm and delivers class-leading luggage space of 505 litres (25 more than before, extending to a truly versatile 1370 litres with the 60/40-split rear seats folded – about the same as a Mazda CX-5.

The hatchback's sizeable 305-litre boot is up five litres on its predecessor's and also extends to a respective 1125 litres, but neither offer a full-size spare.

Both models come with 17 ‘Simply Clever’ features (nine of them new) and an array of storage solutions, including a boot net, flexible compartment and multi-position parcel shelf, six anchor points, 60/40-split folding rear seat, 500ml front and 1.5-litre rear bottle holders, a large glovebox with 1.0-litre bottle storage and retractable luggage cover and roof-rails (wagon).

Like its VW Polo sister car, which is based on the same PQ25 platform rather than the Volkswagen Group's latest MQB (Modularer Querbaukasten, or Modular Transverse Matrix) chassis architecture, the Fabia employs a range of MQB technologies, including its steering and electrical systems.

It weighs up to 112kg less than before in base 66TSI form (1042kg hatch, 1066kg the wagon) and replaces the electro-hydraulic power steering used previously with the same electro-mechanical C-EPS (Column-Electric Power Steering) rack-and-pinion system seen in a range of VW models.

Riding on MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension, Skoda says the new Fabia body is not only lighter and more aerodynamic, but stiffer because its proportion of hot-formed steel -- which is up to four times stronger than conventional high-strength steel -- was increased by 29 per cent.

The result is a solid, quiet body that's well controlled over bumps and sits faithfully flat in corners even when hustled, despite outstanding ride confort. Steering is well weighted, accurate and nicely isolated from unwanted interference, but isn't as involving as a Fiesta's.

At $16K drive-away for the stirring 66TSI manual, the Fabia represents outstanding value and a compelling alternative to mainstream light-hatch leaders in the Mazda2, Fiesta and Jazz – and for just over $17K the wagon version is in a class of its own for value and versatility.

You'll pay considerably more an auto if you want one, but even in fully loaded 81TSI DSG wagon form with every option box ticked, not many sub-$25K cars make this much sense.

2015 Skoda Fabia pricing and specifications:
Price: From $15,990 drive-away (introductory 2015 offer)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 66kW/160Nm (66TSI); 81kW/175Nm (81TSI)
Transmission: Five-speed manual (66TSI); Seven-speed twin-clutch auto (81TSI)
Fuel: 4.8L/100km ADR Combined
CO2: 109g/km (66TSI); 111g/km (81TSI) ADR Combined
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Honda Jazz (from $14,990 plus ORCs)
>> Mazda2 (from $14,990 plus ORCs)
>> Volkswagen Polo (from $16,990 plus ORCs)