2018 Skoda Fabia SE L 1.0 95 PS Review

We took the redesigned 2018 Skoda Fabia on a try to find out if it’s now a supermini that may undertake its peers.

What’s the 2018 Skoda Fabia about?

While Skoda comes beneath the umbrella of the massive Volkswagen Group automotive coalition, it’s been something of an estranged cousin. The brand new Fabia is one particular representation of this statement.

Closely following a safe styling language, Skoda has only given the Fabia hook facelift, including, a wider grille, slimmer headlamps, rear bumper reflectors, standard LED brake lamps and optional full LED headlamps.

Having said that, there’s nothing wrong with playing it safe. The Fabia looks sharp, if not particularly interesting. Sitting on normal 16″ 5-spoke ‘Evora’ alloy wheels and finished in a perfectly conventional Black Magic Pearl Effect, our test model will merge with anything.

Beneath the bonnet you will discover an engine that’s common to numerous superminis in the VAG family, the 1.0-litre TSI turbocharged inline-3 that emits 95 horsepower and an extraordinary 160 Nm of torque.

The energy is then sent to a 5-speed manual transmission which runs leading wheels. With this modest drivetrain, the 2018 Skoda Fabia will steadily progress from 0-62 mph in 10.8 seconds, onto a high speed of 114 mph.

Being truly a modern engine created for small cars, you may expect some impressive efficiency ratings. Returning 61.4 mpg and emitting 106 g/km, it really is quite competitive in its segment.

Understandably, the Fabia must put up with a modest selection of engine options. I reckon that 1.0 TSI unit with this power output may be the ideal complement to a practical supermini such as this.

How does it drive?

Despite its crisp lines, the Fabia is optimised more for comfort than performance.

Having said that, the engine does a satisfactory job of hurrying the Fabia along. Using its respectable low-end grunt that gets it off the line swiftly, it never feels lethargic when zipping around the urban landscape.

Surprisingly, additionally it is just about the most refined 3-cylinders I’ve ever tested. Definitely up there with the very best of these, or even more so.

Make no mistake, it’s not fast by any stretch. Sometimes you feel that it requires more oomph get started, which minor inconvenience magnifies when you’re joining the motorway.

While I haven’t experienced the 110 PS variant first submit the Fabia hatch, I’ve tried it in the estate variant. With a little bit of imagination, the 110 PS engine doesn’t feel noticeably faster in the Fabia estate. So, if you don’t truly need a car or a 6-speed, the 95 PS will last just fine.

If there’s a thing that only superminis can truly encapsulate, it’s the handling characteristic and dynamics that only a featherweight can emulate. The 2018 Skoda Fabia is expectedly agile and manoeuvrable, effortlessly shifting itself around tight bends that are commonplace in cities.

This is a lacking performer regarding cornering aptitude in comparison with its siblings, but if there’s one quality that the Fabia captures well, it’s the focus on the ride quality over sportiness.

Using its dependable traction and tactful road demeanour, the Fabia remains composed when travelling around bumpy British roads. It’s a trait that’s scarcely accentuated on superminis.

The Fabia is quite accessible using its good seating position, excellent visibility and respectable noise isolation. It’s a supermini that you wouldn’t mind driving over an extended distance, and that’s quite admirable.

There may be the range-topping Monte Carlo trim that also introduces with it a 15 mm lowered and firmed up sports springs, but it’s nearly as enjoyable as a Fiesta.

What is it truly like inside?

Open the doors and you may see Skoda’s pragmatic method of the Fabia. The SE L is probably the top end trims you can choose in the Fabia. Strangely, you’ll find the seats upholstered in a sporty Satin Black cloth, the seats are very plush and comfortable to sit in.

As the material choice is lacking particularly when compared to something similar to the Volkswagen Polo, everything does feel sturdy and well come up with. What you’re likely to touch, just like the leather-wrapped tyre and gear knob, feels gratifying. Otherwise, the rest is mainly hard plastic.

The centre is principally occupied by two screens, one being the 6.5″ Amundsen satnav touchscreen infotainment system, and the other being the screen for the climate control. It’s worth noting that both are portion of the SE L trim level. The Amundsen system is intuitive and feature-rich, like other VAG models.

Intriguingly, as monotonous as the inside might seem, our Fabia is filled with many technologies, including: the £235 adaptive cruise control, £55 driver fatigue monitoring, curtain and side airbags, keyless start-stop and heated door mirrors. Strangely, rear electric windows is a £165 option.

If you prefer a quirkier cabin, you may also select a beige interior, which includes beige dashboard inserts.

Because of the Fabia’s lofty roofline, leading passengers like a particularly generous cabin. With large door pockets, comfortable seats, ample head and legroom, the Fabia is among the best in its segment when you compare front passenger space.

Move to the trunk, even though the passenger space remains sufficiently capacious, it’s much less impressive as that of the SEAT Ibiza or the Honda Jazz. Still, the trunk will accommodate two adult passengers just fine, but three is a squeeze. Legroom may end up being troubling if leading passenger is specially tall.

Open the boot, and it’s what you’d expect from a hatchback. With 330-litres of storage, it isn’t quite cavernous, but large enough to support your shopping. The trunk seats fold 60/40 to provide more cargo space. The boot opening is broad and square, as the lip is negligible.

The 2018 Skoda Fabia Experience

The Fabia is really as utilitarian as cars come nowadays. Without sensational, it’s also never to be dismissed. It’s only a hatchback, and it can its job well.

Of course, I could see why this can be the case. It’s likely to become Skoda’s top seller, and it’ll probably spearhead their sales over here, just prior to the popular Octavia.

2018 Skoda Fabia THE PRICE

If you prefer a Fabia like ours, it’ll end up costing you £18,615. That pits it squarely against the SEAT Ibiza, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, rendering it less of a value option.

Therefore, we’d pick among the lesser trims. Even the bottom S model offers all you need, and upgrading to the SE trim earns all you want in an automobile such as this. Therefore, the SE with an engine like ours starting at £14,845 is what we’d recommend.

Verdict

Facelift aside, it’s still a good hatchback that I understand I could recommend to anyone looking for just one. In addition, it has Skoda touches, such as for example an ice scraper in the fuel filler cap and an umbrella beneath the passenger seat.

If what you would like is a no-frills value hatchback that is clearly a bit different from typical, then your 2018 Skoda Fabia is your vehicle. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty good either.