With the Fabia, Skoda translates its core values ​​into the B-segment. The Fabia should also offer a lot of space for less money than most rivals. Under the hood you’ll find well-known technology from parent company Volkswagen. Unlike most cars in the B-segment, there was no three-door Fabia at all, but a compact station wagon called the Fabia Combi of the first generation.

The interior and space, especially the Fabia Combi, are impressive

Let’s start with an important Skoda asset: interior space, in this case, the Fabia Combi. “The best thing is the space behind the back seat,” writes the enthusiastic Fabia driver. “Really, if you’re looking for space in Section B, you can stop now, because we’ve found it for you. Yummy! There’s no problem with four shopping boxes on the loading floor. If you add at least three more on top, the lid can still be closed The cylinder – how big do you want that?! Driving with four adults is also sufficient, as the roofline does not slope downwards.

This driver supports the latter option with a wink: “My taller son can sit behind me without me having to move the driver’s seat forward. His haircut remains exactly the same, and the panoramic roof is gel-free. Even if you take a different standard, like the driver of the Fabia 1.0 TSI , the Combi turned out to be a practical car. “Even a full dining table fits perfectly.”

The hatchback driver is still amazed at the amount of space available in his car. “When I drive behind a Fabia and look around, it’s hard to imagine that the car in front of me is the same. Very compact on the outside but very spacious on the inside, at least in the front.

The chairs also received praise. “It remains a personal matter, but I think the seating comfort is good, even better than expected: the seats feel quite flat, but they provide good support and good seating comfort, even on long journeys,” says the Fabia Combi 1.2 driver. TSI.

Driving the Fabia

Anyone who has ever read reviews of Skoda products probably knows that these cars have a soft character. “A lot has been said about the comfort of the Fabia,” says the owner of the Fabia 1.2 TSI hatchback. “I thought it would take some getting used to, coming from a sporty Suzuki Swift. But it’s actually not too bad for me. Maybe it’s because of the 16-inch wheels, but I think the Fabia sits relatively tight on the road and doesn’t sway too much.” Is there something wrong with what was written about the car? “Okay, admittedly, if your driving style becomes a bit sporty and you actually start taking turns, you will definitely notice that this is not a sports suspension. The ride quickly becomes less comfortable, but it’s certainly not unpleasant or bad. So I understand people saying there’s some dynamic missing. It’s too bad for pleasure rides, but in everyday use I don’t notice it.

The driver of the Fabia Combi is also very pleased with the driving characteristics. “I always find it very special that car journalists find the chassis to be very soft; I feel like it’s very comfortable, but definitely not soft! The suspension never sags when you’re heavily loaded or when you’re driving over speed bumps (very fast). I prefer to call it stiff , No squeaks or rattles, not very communicative but safe. Other features also meet his approval. “The steering is very light, but the car is easy to position, and the motion is transmitted with very clear and precise strokes. Even with a heavy load and with mountain bikes on the roof, the Fabia always keeps going the way you want it to.

A Belgian Fabia Combi driver reported something remarkable: “I read here and there about the bulges and soft chassis among test drivers. I have no complaints about that, because my Fabia has stronger damping due to the selected crankcase protection. It is included as standard in the same package. It seems that This package is the “Off-Road Package”, which is not included in the Dutch price list.

Fabia engines 1.2 TSI followed later by 1.0 TSI

Under the Fabia’s hood are compact engines, including a four-cylinder 1.2 TSI, which was later succeeded by a three-cylinder 1.0 TSI. The following owner writes about that 1.2: “90 hp is not a lot, but thanks to the turbo you quickly have a lot of torque over a fairly wide range, which means that the Fabia can be driven well on torque. For a turbo engine, I find it quite smooth, and It complains at really low speeds. When accelerating hard (on the highway, overtaking on highways), there is more than enough momentum, and the car goes into red without any complaints.

A driver with a naturally aspirated 1.0-liter engine will notice how welcome such a turbo is. “The engine has 75 hp. That doesn’t matter much, but it only produces 90 Nm of torque at no less than 3,000 rpm, a fact that doesn’t make it a really smooth engine.

The turbo engines are available with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The driver of the 1.0 TSI DSG has the following to say about this: “Would I recommend this car to someone else? Yes, the three-cylinder petrol is good and faultless so far. But I would advise against the automatic. Not smooth enough. Still no complaints “But there is much better. I prefer the manual gearbox.”

Disturbances and irritations

Now that we’re talking about the DSG automatic transmission: The driver above notices that the transmission started shifting suddenly over time. He wonders: “Is this a software or mechanical problem?” Despite these initial doubts, his car reached 100,000 kilometers without any further problems. This does not apply to the 1.4 TDI driver, who needed a new clutch plate for the third time over 88,000 km.

The most common complaint concerns the sound of the brakes. “What we’re not very happy with is that the brakes keep squealing at irregular times. I’ve looked at it twice now, but apparently the dealer has stopped looking at it…’,” wrote the owner who has to deal with this. Another rider’s problems have been resolved – on Least about the rear brakes. “My brakes keep squealing, and now it’s not the rear brakes but the front ones. It’s still under warranty, but Skoda says I’ve driven many kilometers and that’s at my own expense. The paint on the roof of this car was also peeling, which was repaired under warranty. Other Structural Issues Based on these reviews, the Fabia looks odd.

Fabia is a real Skoda

The Fabia turns out to be a true Skoda in every respect. It may not drive very well, but the available space is ample and the seating is adequate as well. In addition, the Skoda B-segment looks quite reliable. So it will be a shame for many drivers that the current generation Skoda Fabia does not have a Compo…