Estate
We love the Fabia hatchback. It was WhatCar's? Supermini of the Year not long ago, and even now it’s still an excellent car.
However, estate car buyers who haven’t been put off by the badge may be put off by the car’s tiny dimensions. They shouldn’t be. The estate is every bit as well built and good to drive as the hatchback, but it doubles the capacity for luggage. It’s not the biggest in its class, but you’ll be surprised how much it can carry. As well as that, there’s enough room to seat five adults in comfort. Some may accuse the cabin of being dull, but it’s easy to use and, like the rest of the car, it’s sturdily built. The drive is good, too. The Fabia strikes an excellent balance between ride and handling, with refinement that puts many bigger cars to shame.
Running Costs
The Fabia was great value for money when it was new, and it’s just as good as a used buy, because it doesn’t hold its value as well as other Volkswagen Group cars. The estate will cost you more than the hatch, but how much more depends on the age. Although none of the petrol engines can better 40mpg in this estate, most of them get close, so fuel economy isn’t bad. The diesel cars will both better 55mpg, though, and with its excellent performance the 1.9 TDI is definitely the one to go for. This engine won’t cost too much to insure, either, because it has a group 6 classification. The rest of the range sits in groups 4 and 5, with the exception of the 2.0 petrol in group 8. Servicing costs will be the same as for the hatch, so you’ll pay slightly less than owners of the VW Polo and Seat Ibiza, which are basically the same car.
Hatchback
Some buyers still won’t touch a Skoda because of a perceived downmarket reputation. It’s the buyer’s loss, though, because Skoda no longer builds cheaply made, ramshackle cars, and hasn’t for some time. Even the earliest Fabias were constructed after the company’s rebirth as part of the VW Group empire, so anyone who buys one is getting a quality product. Mechanically, it's pretty much the same as the Volkswagen Polo of the same era, and yet the Fabia is more reliable, just as classy and better to drive. The Fabia gives an outstanding balance between ride and handling. It may not be as much fun as a Ford Fiesta, but it’s agile enough. The ride is great and refinement is excellent, making the Fabia very relaxing. Interior space is impressive, with enough room for five adults, while the cabin is classy and solid, if a bit drab. Build quality is top-drawer and, best of all, the car's cheap to buy and run.
Running Costs
The Fabia was great value for money when it was new and, because Skodas don’t hold their value as well as other Volkswagen Group cars, it makes an even better prospect as a used buy than some of its sister cars. The majority of the engines give very strong fuel economy, so running costs won’t be huge, either, especially as insurance costs are a big plus point. The 1.2 petrol engine sits in group 1, so premiums are rock bottom. Most of the range varies between groups 2 and 6, while the vRS will cost the most to cover, but even that's only in group 9. Servicing costs will be similar to what you’ll pay for a VW Polo or a Seat Ibiza, but the Skoda will be a tiny bit cheaper to maintain. You may pay a bit more than Corsa or Fiesta owners, though.
Saloon
Some buyers still won’t touch a Skoda because of a perceived downmarket reputation. It’s the buyer’s loss, though, because Skoda no longer builds cheaply made, ramshackle cars, and hasn’t for some time. Even the earliest Fabias were constructed after the company’s rebirth as part of the VW Group empire, so anyone who buys one is getting a quality product. Mechanically, it's pretty much the same as a Volkswagen Polo of the same era, and yet the Fabia is more reliable, just as classy and better to drive. The Fabia gives an outstanding balance between ride and handling. It may not be as much fun as a Ford Fiesta, but it’s agile enough. The ride is great and refinement is excellent, making the Fabia a very relaxing drive. Interior space is impressive, with enough room for five adults, while the cabin is classy and solid, if a bit drab. Build quality is top-drawer and, best of all, the car's cheap to buy and run.
Running Costs
The Fabia was great value for money when it was new and, because Skodas don’t hold their value as well as other Volkswagen Group cars, it makes an even better prospect as a used buy. The majority of the engines give very strong fuel economy, so running costs won’t be huge, either, especially as insurance costs are a big plus point, with every model sitting in groups 3 or 5. Servicing costs will be similar to what you’ll pay for a VW Polo or a Seat Ibiza, but the Skoda will be a tiny bit cheaper to maintain. You may pay a bit more than Corsa or Fiesta owners, though.
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