Our cars: Skoda Fabia
We say a fond farewell to accomplished supermini
OUR time with the latest iteration of Skoda’s Fabia is at an end, and over the last six months we’ve clocked up 6,000 miles in our ‘simply clever’ supermini.
It’s fair to say that the current Fabia isn’t the newest kid on the block. As solid as we’ve found the Fabia in our time with it, one thing is quite apparent: this Mk3 car is ready to move on and graduate, hence why I chose Oxford University as the destination for one last drive.
I’ve used the Fabia for my regular commute in and out of central London, while staff writer Luke Wilkinson has chalked up plenty of miles, shuttling the Skoda up and down the long motorway between his home in London and family in Cumbria on several occasions.
Most of the Auto Express team have had a taste of the Fabia at some stage, too, which has led us to the conclusion that Skoda should think about adjusting its tagline for the Fabia from ‘simply clever’ to ‘simply sensible’. It’s definitely a mature student, not a rowdy fresher.
However, its easygoing and easy-to-livewith nature means it’s just the job when all you need is comfortable, reliable transport. Picture editor Dawn Grant became quite a fan, using it to take care of errands around town and ferrying her family about.
The Skoda also feels quite at home in Oxford, despite this being a city where four wheels isn’t always the best way to get around. The streets are narrow and full of cyclists, pedestrians and aimless tourists, but the Fabia has an advantage.
Straightforward
Its simple shape means that visibility is very good, more so than in design-led rivals with small glasshouses and sportier lines. So twirling around some of the city’s streets and blind corners is a doddle, and the Fabia’s presence certainly didn’t upset the locals.
The size of the Skoda helps in this regard, too. It’s one of the more compact members of the supermini class, sneaking in at under four metres long: 3,997mm, to be precise.
In a class where downsizing doesn’t apply to overall dimensions, this is the shortest and narrowest of the VW Group supermini trio, alongside the Polo and SEAT Ibiza. It measures up against other, newer rivals and does the usual Skoda trick of making you wonder how the firm manages to get so much space inside such a small exterior.
I’m a bit of a small-car fan and my last car was a MINI Cooper five-door – a different ball game in terms of price, but with the pizzazz the Skoda misses out on. I’m hoping that the next-generation Fabia can add in some sex appeal. That’s what my car was missing, so it leaves us having made the grade, but it’s not clutching a first if I’m marking its work.
Although it’s hard to find a fun edge with this car, it’s not totally without charm from behind the wheel. The driving position is great, so despite the pedal box being a bit cramped, as consumer editor Hugo Griffiths noted in our last report (Issue 1,582), it’s quite easy to get comfortable. The steering is direct enough, being particularly light and quick, but lacking in any substance. It’s easy to use, though, especially around town.
The ‘Simply Clever’ features you’ll find dotted around the cabin are useful, too. The umbrella under the passenger seat has saved me from downpours a couple of times, but given the Fabia’s summertime stay with us, the built-in ice-scraper/tyre tread depth gauge combo found inside the fuel filler flap has not been put to use at all.
The infotainment system has, though. Its screen is quick to the touch, but the standard satellite navigation set-up is so-so. Thankfully the Fabia is fitted with Apple CarPlay, which has become my interface of choice. However, it’s not unflappable. The only fault we’ve encountered in six months of running just had to arrive on the Fabia’s final day with us – the display failed me on the road to Oxford, before suddenly springing back into life when I got there.
“The Fabia made the grade, but it’s not clutching a first if I’m marking its work”