skoda fabia

skoda fabia

WE'VE SEEN FOUR PROPER new small cars this year and a host of old timers pulling up their socks ro match the new arrivals. And the year isn't even out yer. Following suit is Skoda's hatchback, the Fabia. Ie's not that the Fabia's old or unappealing after rwo years of its launch; it's just that there are so many options out there now that everyone's moving fast ro keep rheir showrooms busy instead of watching their neighbours do all the selling. Even the mighry Hyundai i 1 0 came out with new clothes last monrh ro let buyers know it is still around and doing just fine.

The Fabia, of course, has been more of a moderate success. The initial debut in the market with the I.4MPI and 1.4TDI did not make it the most popular car, but it did build up some son of following. Skoda's tried ro sweeten the deal since then with higher localisation in the Fabia and a bener value for money proposition. However, all this was happening slowly on the side. Now with the inrroduction of the freshened up Fabia, Skoda is hoping ro put all its background efforts up on the stage.

For starrers, there are minor changes ro the exterior of the car, which quite frankly aren't the most obvious. The larger headlamps, fog lamps and grille make it look bigger than it is. Sleek lines follow on the rest of the car, terminating in the familiar C-shaped tail lamps. However, step inside and the cabin feels fresh and welcoming. Ie's just one of those places that you enrer and instanr!y feel comforrable.

skoda fabia

The soft materials, light colours and some additional rouches add ro the Fabia's appeal. The rwin glove box on the passenger side *the deep illuminated bonom one, the simple mirror conrrols, which have been shifted a couple of inches lower, make them easier ro use, and the Aux porr that has been moved down next ro the handbrake so you can plug in your device and leave it in one of the srorage spaces next ro it and not worry about the wires gening tangled. And all this comes without any of the older conveniences being taken away.

skoda fabia

Along with the new inreriors, there are a couple of new engines on offer as well. The 1.2-litre MPI is the only one that gets carried over from the old line up with a 1.2-litre diesel joining the ranks along with a 1.6-lirre petrol moror. We got our hands on what we expecr ro be the most popular engine varianr of the new Fabia*the 1.2-lirre diesel. This engine runs the same configuration as the Polo, making 75bhp from its three*cylinder set-up along with 180Nm of rorque.

Power is dispensed using a five*speed gearbox, which is preny well spaced our. The insulation seems ro work slighrly bener in the Fabia as engine noise and vibration are kept our of the cabin at lower speeds. Crawling around slow urban rrafnc isn't much of a problem for this diesel, but try ro make the most of an open space between lights and it comes up shorr. You need ro get [he engine revving above 2,OOOrpm if you wanr ro close gaps in traffic. However, push harder and you run inro a flat spot past

skoda fabia

skoda fabia