Skoda Fabia 2011 Review

Volkswagen's aspirations for world domination include the funny little Skoda Fabia 77TSi which, in Australia at least, will be used to take on the Koreans and match them on price, performance, features and quality. Fabia, slightly bigger than VW Polo, has been around for yonks in Europe, lobbing in current guise back in 2007. It's been a long time coming here but the wait was worth it.

This tiddler-size five-door Czech hatch offers something many competitors don't have - character. Some are plasticky white goods with a sterile feel and bland styling, none of which applies to the Fabia.

Though not a pretty or handsome car, Fabia is distinctive and practical with an earnest look to its "`face" and plucky performance from its tiny engine that also delivers excellent fuel economy rated at 5.5-litres/100km.

And the engineers have done their homework on its dynamics giving Fabia a good all-round ride and handling perfectly suited to everyday driving on our crappy roads.

VALUE

Pitched at $18,990, Fabia is not the cheapest on the block but offers up plenty of goodies for the ask including Bluetooth phone, a/c, cruise, multi-function wheel, full-size spare, six air bags, stability control and trip computer.

There's an optional Monte Carlo pack for an extra $3000 that brings a blacked out sporty look to body hardware, alloys, sporty interior treatment and contrast roof colour among other goodies. A six-speed DSG dual clutch manumatic will be available next year for an additional $2300.

The pricing schedule is beaten by some competitors in this size car but equipment levels and performance sweeten up the deal. And it's "European."

TECHNOLOGY

Power comes from a 1.2-litre, direct injection, turbo four delivering 77kW/175Nm output. It passes EU5 emissions regulations on a diet of 95 octane fuel delivered from a 45 litre tank. Theoretical touring range is 800km.

Fabia's underpinnings are pretty simple and come directly from the VW parts inventory - Macstrut front, beam axle rear, four wheel discs, five-speed manual gearbox. Fabia has the smallest capacity engine against its direct competitors but the most torque (by a longshot). It uses the least amount of fuel and has the largest luggage capacity.

DESIGN

Styled along family Skoda lines, the boxy little Fabia looks distinctive from the front, generic from the rear. The look is enhanced with a contrast colour roof and the Monte Carlo pack ratchets appearance up a few notches more.

It's a fairly standard hatchback design with five seats, 60/40 folding rear seats and a large load space. The interior is quite spacious and well laid out offering a soft-feel dash and other soft touch areas. The multi-function wheel is great as is media connection box.

SAFETY

It got a four star Euro rating back in 2007, not tested since. Has six air bags, stability control and rigid chassis design.

THE DRIVE

Pretty good really. The engine is sweet once you get into the torque band over 1500rpm and sings sweetly up to redline but it's no fire cracker and it doesn't need to be - that's the province of the 132kW RS model coming next year. We were impressed by the Fabia's controlled and comfortable ride, the smooth manual shift and quality feel of the car - especially compared to some of its competitors.

You can whizz along the freeway at the speed limit and the Fabia simply lopes along using minimal fuel. It's fairly simple mechanicals should mean low running costs and the condensed Skoda styling gives Fabia a point of difference in the segment.

SKODA FABIA 77TSI

Price: from $18,990
Warranty: 3 year/unlimited
Resale: N/A
Service interval: 15,000km/12 months
Safety: 4 star Euro NCAP
Engine: 1.2-litre 4-cyl turbo pertrol; 77kW/177Nm.
Body: 5-door, 5 stars
Weight: 1120kg
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Thirst: 5.5L/100km; 128g/km Co2