Used Skoda Fabia Estate for sale: everything you need to know

Skoda has offered estate versions of its Fabia supermini since the first generation until 2021 - one of very few manufacturers to give customers the option of a small estate car in this time. The Fabia Estate is therefore one of the most practical small cars on the market.

It’s still a Skoda too, which means it’s good to drive, impressively refined for a relatively small car, full of smart features, and above all, doesn’t cost too much - especially now the model is out of production and you’ve got vehicles on the used market to choose from.

The SEAT Ibiza ST and Renault Clio Estate both did a similar job to the Fabia Estate, though both disappeared several years before the Fabia finally went off sale. The only more recent choice is the Dacia Logan MCV, which is even more affordable and has an even bigger boot.

Should you buy a Skoda Fabia Estate?

Not many other manufacturers offer estate cars based on their smallest models, so the Fabia Estate immediately stands out if you need extra space inside without buying something that’s massive on the outside. The Fabia Estate’s 530-litre boot would still be a good number on cars a class size or two above.

It drives a bit like a car from a class above too, especially if you opt for one of the more powerful engines, which won’t feel overburdened if you do use your estate for its intended purpose and fill it with people and things. Motorway refinement is impressive but all versions are frugal too.

Then there’s the straightforward, well-built cabin. Earlier, lower-spec models can feel a little meanly-equipped but you won’t have to pay much extra for an example with air conditioning, parking sensors, and a touchscreen infotainment system, and as well as the big boot, the Fabia is one of the better superminis for fitting humans inside, Estate or not.

Skoda has prioritised ride over engaging handling in the Fabia Estate, but that should suit most buyers just fine, and it’s hardly all at sea when you find a country road. It’s a small estate that’s at home pretty much wherever you take it.

For value, the small estate to beat is the Dacia Logan MCV. It’s longer than the Fabia and its 573-litre boot is even bigger. The Dacia isn’t styled as smartly inside or out as the Fabia Estate but if you need even more space, it’s the one to go for. The older SEAT Ibiza ST is also worth a look, while the Skoda Rapid and Rapid Spaceback also offer good space in a relatively compact size.

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What’s the best used Skoda Fabia Estate model to buy?

The Fabia Estate feels quite grown-up by supermini standards, and we think the more powerful petrol engines, such as the 1.2 TSI 110, make the most of it, taking longer trips well within their stride but still feeling appropriately nippy for driving in town. Diesels are absurdly economical (even accounting for older, less accurate NEDC economy figures) but rarely get a chance to work to their strengths if you only ever drive at lower speeds.

We’d skip the old entry-level S trim and aim straight for SE, which gets air conditioning and rear parking sensors. Some of the special editions are tempting though, even if they’re mostly visual packages - the Fabia Estate looks quite sharp in Monte Carlo form.

Used Skoda Fabia Estate fuel economy and performance

• Skoda Fabia Estate 1.0 MPI 75: The basic engine in the Fabia Estate is a 1-litre, three-cylinder non-turbo petrol making 75PS. It’s a five-speed manual only, getting from 0-62mph in 14.9 seconds, and getting up to 60.1mpg on the older NEDC test.
• Skoda Fabia Estate 1.2 TSI 90: With four cylinders and a turbo this engine develops 90PS, and comes only with a five-speed manual gearbox. 0-62mph takes 11 seconds, and combined NEDC economy is up to 61.4mpg.
• Skoda Fabia Estate 1.0 TSI 95: The only engine offered on later models, this 95PS three-cylinder engine gets the Fabia Estate from 0-62mph in 10.7 seconds with a five-speed manual gearbox and 11.1 seconds with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Manuals achieve up to 53.3mpg WLTP, and up to 49.6mpg with the automatic.
• Skoda Fabia Estate 1.2 TSI 110: The more powerful 1.2-litre turbo petrol makes 110PS and has either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox. Both reach 62mph in 9.6 seconds, and the auto is marginally more fuel efficient, at 61.4mpg to 60.1mpg for the manual, both NEDC figures.
• Skoda Fabia Estate 1.4 TDI 75: The Fabia’s 1.4 TDI diesel engines are three-cylinder units, the entry-level one making 75PS and using a five-speed manual gearbox. 0-62mph takes 13.3 seconds, and NEDC economy is up to 83.1mpg.
• Skoda Fabia Estate 1.4 TDI 90: With 90PS the TDI gets to 62mph in 11.3 seconds, both as a manual and a dual-clutch auto. The manual’s NEDC figure is up to 83.1mpg, and the auto up to 78.5mpg.
• Skoda Fabia Estate 1.4 TDI 105: The most powerful diesel makes 105PS and comes only with a five-speed manual. 0-62mph ticks off in 10.2 seconds, while combined NEDC economy is 78.5mpg.

What used Skoda Fabia Estate trim levels are available?

As the Fabia Estate was launched in its current form in 2015 and lasted until 2021, Skoda offered several trim levels over the years, only a few of which (SE and SE L) survived throughout. Equipment levels didn’t actually change much on those models so later cars won’t feel notably posher or loaded with kit than earlier cars, but a few of the special editions had options and colour combinations you won’t find on other models.

• The Skoda Fabia Estate S was the entry-level model at launch and came with 15-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver seat, and electric front windows.
• The Skoda Fabia Estate SE upgraded to 15-inch alloys, a leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel, air conditioning, height adjustment for both front seats, rear parking sensors, a trip computer, and an upgraded 6.5-inch infotainment and audio system. Later models gained fog lights, and had a two-spoke steering wheel.
• The Skoda Fabia Estate Colour Edition was as per the earlier SE models, but added 16-inch alloys in either a black or white finish, electric heated door mirrors, cruise control, and LED daytime running lights.
• The Skoda Fabia Estate SE L builds on SE trim with 16-inch alloys, roof rails, LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, climate control, cruise control, and keyless go. More recent models also get navigation for the 6.5-inch touchscreen.
• The Skoda Fabia Estate Black Edition is a later special edition based on the SE L, only available in black with a black radiator grille and matching alloy wheels, and a three-spoke sports steering wheel, but navigation and cruise control were relegated to the options list.
• The Skoda Fabia Estate Monte Carlo was the range-topper on earlier models, getting Monte Carlo badging, a panoramic sunroof, a cherry red centre console, and sports seats in a grey/black/red combination.

Used Skoda Fabia Estate dimensions and boot size

The Skoda Fabia Estate’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4257-4306mm
• Width: 1732mm (without mirrors), 1958mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1467-1488mm

The Skoda Fabia Estate’s boot size is:

• 530 litres (no spare wheel)
• 1395 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof, no spare wheel)

Used Skoda Fabia Estate road tax

With low price tags and conventional petrol and diesel powertrains, all Fabia Estates since April 2017 are subject to the same flat rate of road tax, currently costing £180 per year. You may well find models built before April 2017 for sale though, whose tax is based instead on CO2 emissions - so some 1.4 TDI variants will actually be free, and the TSI petrol versions may only cost £20 per year.

How much is it to insure a Skoda Fabia Estate?

Early 75PS 1.0 MPI models in S trim started at just group 4 insurance, making them among the cheapest cars on the road to insure. That grows to group 13 by the time you get to the 110PS 1.2 TSI with the automatic gearbox, but even that’s pretty low in the greater scheme of things. A Dacia Logan MCV starts even lower though, with a 0.9-litre petrol in Access trim starting in group 2, and a diesel in Laureate spec topping out in group 12.

Read our full Skoda Fabia Estate review