Skoda Fabia 1.4 Review

Overall Rating

Excellent road handling characteristics, a real pleasure to drive with purpose (grin factor), comfortable seating even after high mileage, good air conditioning for the first four years, good heated seats and overall an extremely versatile load carrier. Good value, versatile and good fun car. Practical storage interior, and the glove box is also air conditioned (like it).

Initial fault in the first week with electronic control unit, took at three visits to put it right, but then no further problems. Awful radio & radio security (round removable dial) replaced asap by our own Kenwood system. Occasionally the Skoda garage tuning made the engine so 'flat' after service, it needed altering. The beige interior has been a nightmare to keep clean for a family car (no other option at time of ordering for the elegance model). The fan motor control matrix 'collapsed'after four years use (still not replaced). The blower is now stuck at low setting, and heating is either very hot or very cold - tedious in winter for demisting etc.

I've got 138,000 on the clock of my Skoda Fabia so far from new, and this car has been driven hard from the start. It is still fun to drive, and has been the best reliable small hatch I have driven in a long time (having driven a great number of cars in the course of work). It has sweet cornering, positive precise steering, and excellent road holding and stability. Its fun to drive on twisting technical roads, and has enough power to comfortably cruise on motorways. Good balance of mpg versus engine power (1.4 16V) The free service for 3 years was also well worth it for us (we had very high mileage) and the local garage service was generally good with a courtesy car. I would recommend the Fabia without hesitation. However, the spec has changed from the elegance model in 2000 (for the worse) - the seats and some spec now seem cheaper quality. Its been used very day with remarkable reliability. A new clutch at 98 thousand, new front discs at 105 though, a nifty weld at 65 thousand has kept the original exhaust still going strong (you need a mortgage for a new one complete with cat!) New shockers after 100,000 and the starter motor has just failed on me. We've carried building materials, tip runs, packed in 3 dogs, mother in laws, family and camping gear, and 3 bikes on the roof. For a small car it's a TARDIS, and superb value for money.