DriveLife has always respected the Škoda Fabia. It won our 20k challenge back in 2015. Fast-forward to 2022, Škoda has recently unveiled its latest, fourth-generation Fabia.
With the Volkswagen Polo being discontinued in New Zealand, the Škoda Fabia is set to represent the Volkswagen group in the super-compact category.
Despite being a small car, the new Škoda Fabia has certainly grown. The fourth-gen car is 111mm longer, now measuring 4108mm, making it the first Fabia to exceed the four-metre mark. The width has grown 48mm to 1780mm, as has the wheelbase by 94mm. Despite the larger external dimensions, the weight has remained virtually unchanged.
The new dimensions pay dividends inside the new Fabia, with the boot gaining an additional 50L of cargo, meaning a total volume of 380L. This means the Fabia has the largest boot amongst its competitors.
Powering the fourth-gen Fabia is a four-cylinder 1.5-litre turbo engine (TSI) producing 110 kW of power and 250NM of torque. The engine is paired to a seven-speed DSG, making the Fabia good for a 8-second 0-to-100 km/h time, before achieving a top speed of 225 km/h.
More importantly the engine sips fuel, with a combined consumption of 5.4L per 100kms (claimed). The Fabia achieves this with cylinder deactivation (4-to-2), plus some clever aerodynamics involving front shutters on the front bumper.
The Fabia’s purpose had been to deliver “all you need and a little more”. This fourth generation clearly emphasises the more.
On the outside, 17-inch alloys, Keyless entry, heated mirrors, plus LED headlights, DRLs and fog lights, come standard. Inside the Fabia, the interior features sports seats with integrated headrests, 8-inch infotainment with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, digital instrument cluster, 6-speaker sound system, heated steering wheel, and a wireless phone charger. There’s also plenty of safety tech, including adaptive cruise, lane-keep assistance and auto high-beams.
There’s also all the “clever” features too, which includes an umbrella in the door, some useful storage about the cabin and in the boot, plus the Škoda App.
Another aspect that’s grown is the price. The new Fabia starts at $39,990, but is eligible for a $2,181 rebate*
DriveLife looks forward to testing the new Škoda Fabia.
*At time of writing
$40k for a Fabia is too much I think, considering one can get the Polo GTI for $41k.
Keep in mind that the Polo has only a short amount of time left for sale in NZ, then it’s gone…