Skoda Fabia Review 2024
Written by David Ross
Quick overview
Pros
- Incredibly refined and comfortable for a small hatch
- More stylish than its predecessor
- Cheap to run
Cons
- No hybrid or electric versions
- Not the most youthful image...
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
Overall verdict on the Skoda Fabia
"The latest Skoda Fabia has ditched its boxy appearance in favour of a far more sleek and stylish look. Yet it's as practical and comfortable as ever. Good to drive and with a quality interior, we think it's one of the best small hatchbacks around."
We know what you're thinking. Is that really a Skoda Fabia? Well, yes. Because Skoda has decided to make the latest Skoda Fabia actually look appealing, which we can't really say of its predecessor, however worthy it was. So with its fresh new makeover, this Skoda Fabia is gunning for a wider audience than before. But does it have what it takes to match the likes of the ever-popular Ford Fiesta and the upmarket Volkswagen Polo? Find out in our 2024 Skoda Fabia review.
First off, the new Skoda Fabia looks far better, with a clear influence from the Skoda Kamiq. Which is a good thing. But this is still a Skoda, so it's comfortable, practical and well, sensible. You all know the drill by now.
So, it won't surprise you to find out that the Skoda Fabia's real strength is its ride quality. It's superb for a small car, and combined with impressive refinement, the Fabia is a surprisingly good motorway cruiser, while it's also able to soak up rough surfaces and potholes around town. It's also incredibly easy to drive.
Yes, the steering could do with a bit more feel (what modern car couldn't?). And no, we wouldn't describe the Skoda Fabia as a sporty car to drive. But that's no bad thing. The Fabia's a car that's designed to get you from A to B in a cheap and comfy manner, with its range of frugal 1.0-litre engines all being capable of 50mpg+.
Bigger than before - and for the first time longer than four metres - the Skoda Fabia has plenty of space for a small car, which is good news if you have children and car seats to consider. The boot is mighty impressive for a small car and one of the biggest around when compared with the small hatch competition.
Being a Skoda, you also get lots of simply clever features like an ice scraper concealed behind the fuel filler door and an umbrella in the driver's door. Things that are actually useful.
But while the Skoda may have a stylish new look, shaking off its rather staid image is a much harder task. Whether younger buyers will choose a Skoda Fabia over the likes of the Ford Fiesta or SEAT Ibiza remains to be seen.
But there's no doubt that this is one of the best small hatchbacks on the market. True the Ford Fiesta may be better to drive and the Volkswagen Polo is, well a Volkswagen, but we think the smart money goes on the Skoda Fabia. It's simply a great all-rounder.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Skoda Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Skoda Fabia cars for sale. If you're looking for the older version, you need our Skoda Fabia (2015-2021) review.
Is the Skoda Fabia right for you?
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.
What other cars are similar to the Skoda Fabia?
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.
Comfort and design: Skoda Fabia interior
"The Skoda Fabia gets all the interior basics spot on. It's more spacious than before, well built and easy to use. But it's the 'simply clever' features that really make it stand apart from the competition."
Bigger than before, the Skoda Fabia feels more spacious inside, which those in the back will particularly appreciate. The quality of the finish is excellent and it's well designed, too, with everything close at hand and clearly labelled. There's no searching for hidden buttons here.
The seats are comfortable enough with decent support, and there's plenty of adjustment in both the driver's seat and steering column, so even the long-limbed can find a comfortable driving position. Despite not having the same boxy design as the old model, there's still good headroom, so your quiff won't get squashed by the headlining.
User-friendly is the name of the game here and the Fabia, like all Skodas, has a series of 'simply clever' features. These are small but handy extras designed to make life easier, such as an optional USB socket on the rear view mirror for powering a dash cam. The Fabia also has pockets for smartphones on the front seatbacks, a clip on the windscreen for holding a parking ticket and wireless charging for electrical devices.
However, the stand-out ones are the ice scraper underneath the fuel filler cover (complete with a tyre tread depth gauge) and the umbrella in the door. The new features include a removable cup holder between the front seats, a box that locks on the rear tunnel for storing small items (handy for the kids) plus a boot tidy that fits on the side wall and can be pulled out to keep items from sliding around.
Quality and finish
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.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Skoda Fabia
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.
Space and practicality: Skoda Fabia boot space
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.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Skoda Fabia like to drive?
"The Skoda Fabia isn't going to rock your world from behind the wheel. Yes, a Ford Fiesta is more fun. However, the Fabia is reassuringly easy to drive, comfortable and a doddle to park, too. In short, it's exactly what a Skoda Fabia should be."
This generation of Skoda Fabia feels a lot more 'grown up' than the previous one. What do we mean by that? Well, it's quieter, it rides better and has all the qualities of a car from the class above.
Yes, there are other small hatchbacks that are more fun to drive - the Ford Fiesta and SEAT Ibiza spring to mind - but the Skoda Fabia goes about its business of being a no-nonsense hatchback with impeccable proficiency.
Indeed, it's hard to find fault. The Fabia is reassuring through corners with nicely weighted steering and lots of front-end grip, while body roll is kept well in check. True, the steering can feel a little artificial at times, but you'd be hard pressed to find a small hatchback where it doesn't.
The ride is perhaps the Fabia's standout quality. We'd say this is one of the most comfortable small cars around, feeling very much like a scaled down Skoda Octavia in that respect. It's excellent over uneven roads and broken surfaces, while on the motorway, it covers miles with effortless ease.
Rear visibility isn't quite as good as in the old Skoda Fabia, but it's still easy to park thanks to the light steering and rear parking sensors, which are standard fit on all but the entry-level Fabia S model.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Skoda Fabia?
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, and very economical, but it feels rather gutless under acceleration at higher speeds.
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.
Refinement and noise levels
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.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Skoda Fabia?
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.
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Skoda Fabia cost to run?
"As you'd expect, the Skoda Fabia is cheap to run with all the engines proving economical and returning at least 50mpg."
Most manual 1.0-litre versions of the Skoda Fabia, whether MPI or TSI, will get closer to 55mpg, and some even get beyond that threshold. With fuel returns like those, many buyers won't be lamenting the absence of a diesel engine option.
How reliable is the Skoda Fabia?
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.
Insurance groups and costs
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.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Skoda Fabia?
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.
How much should you be paying for a Skoda Fabia?
"The Skoda Fabia is not the bargain-basement deal it once was, but you should still be able to get a decent deal on a used example or a nearly new pre-registered model."
The cheapest Mk3 Fabias in our listings kick off at about £13,000 for a low-spec MPI model, but £14,000 will get you a turbocharged example, or a posher trim level, or maybe even both. Either way, it'll be a much nicer car to live with, so it's definitely worth finding the extra cash if you can. At this money, you'll be looking at a 2022 car with around 20,000 miles on the clock.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Initially, the entry-level model was 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.
In the second half of 2024, Skoda changed the trim line up with a few extra features on each version. SE Edition became the entry-level point, which comes as standard with keyless start/stop, cruise control and dual-zone climate control, as well as electric rear windows.
Design Edition replaces the Colour Edition, and comes with metallic paint, front fog lights and electric door mirrors, as well as automatic wipers and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Fabia SE L Edition replaces the previous SE L and adds a rear-view camera, cornering fog lights and electric folding door mirrors. Meanwhile the top-spec Monte Carlo Edition (which replaces the Monte Carlo) gets a big 9.2-inch infotainment screen, full LED headlights and front parking sensors, as well as a rear-view camera.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
Is the Skoda Fabia reliable?
Is the Skoda Fabia a good buy?
Is a Skoda Fabia a good first car?
Similar Models
Get our latest advice, news and offers
Keep me updated by email with the latest advice, news and offers from heycar.