Mazda 2 vs Skoda Fabia

What's the difference?

While Mazda's insistence that the Mazda2 is a 'first-car' could be very limited by the incomes of most teenagers or early-20s city-dwellers, the starting price being close enough to $20,000 for a dynamically enjoyable and convenient small car isn't to be scoffed at.

The new styling of the Mazda2 is well executed, and as an alternative to small SUVs (which continue to become more popular) it's a sensible option, especially considering its efficiency and ease of use.

The lower specifications in the range are probably the best in terms of value, as even the features on the higher grades aren't groundbreaking, and the Pure SP definitely exudes the most style cred.

For a lot of people looking for a light hatchback, the Fabia Monte Carlo simply won't be an option, because of the pricing. Luckily there are a number of other high-quality, yet more affordable models to choose from. Remember, that entry-price will come down eventually when a lower grade Fabia arrives.

But if you look at the Fabia as a rival to something with a fancier badge - say the aforementioned Audi and Mini - then it starts to make more sense. Neither of those models come close to the standard gear of the Fabia, and the Skoda offers practical features that no other brand has. Add in the fact that it is a joy to drive and the Fabia rises above those premium contenders by some margin.

So, if you're after an affordable runabout, look elsewhere. But if you were considering a more high-end brand of hatchback, the Fabia Monte Carlo is likely more than a match.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Aside from the Pure SP, the Mazda2's styling changes are subtle. Mazda's design team aimed to move the model's looks slightly away from the previous ‘premium' chrome-adorned look to a sportier and more ‘aggressive' style.

A redesigned front bumper and mesh grille, with the rear's nip and tuck being more subtle, don't need to do much to keep the hatchback looking fresh. Despite being almost a decade old, the Mazda2 looks, to some extent, like it could be a new generation.

The Pure SP in particular is a highlight, with the blocked grille evoking some ‘electrification' vibes, while the coloured-accent treatment at the front and rear of most variants is a welcome addition for something different.

The range of differing wheels is also a plus point for the Mazda2 range, with each model having its own distinct characteristics.

Inside, the Pure SP also gets a stand-out panel across the dash in a lighter colour like mint, while others get different seat trims and colour accents in places like the vent surrounds.

New colours for the range are 'Aero Grey Metallic' and 'Air Stream Blue Metallic'.

There was something a bit odd and left of centre about the previous Fabia's design. It was tall and not particularly sleek, but it was still super appealing.

For the new generation, the Fabia has matured into a modern, handsome, even sleek European hatchback.

Being a Monte Carlo it gets a sporty body kit with gloss black highlights on the grille, front and rear bumper, the mirror caps and on the two-tone roof.

The bi-LED headlights, sharp-looking LED tail-lights and 18-inch black metallic brushed alloy wheels elevate the Fabia in Monte Carlo guise to one of the sexiest models in the segment.

That sporty look continues inside with Monte Carlo flourishes throughout. It gets a three-spoke flat-bottom leather sports steering wheel, red inserts on everything from the dash, doors, centre console and even the seats as part of a five-stripe motif, and aluminium finish pedals and carbon-fibre look inserts.

That splash of red, as well as the Fabia's dash and interior layout work well, although it's not as clean a design as the Polo. But it's hard to fault.

The Mazda2's interior is mostly unchanged through the facelift, with the car's overall dimensions unchanged and not affecting space for its occupants.

Up front, the two seats are comfortable for adults and arm, shoulder, and head room is ample.

Storage space for drinks, phones, or small bags and wallets is sufficient, though not quite road-trip-worthy.

In the rear seats, adults will find enough space to be comfortable for short trips but might get a little restless after a while.

Headroom when sitting upright is tight for anyone around 182cm (six-feet) tall, and a lack of armrest and little storage save for the doors means loose items will be joining occupants on the seat or sitting on the floor.

The Mazda2 has a claimed 250 litres of luggage space in the boot, which is fine for a small hatchback, but short of rivals like the Toyota Yaris' 270L.

The new-gen Fabia shares a vehicle platform with its Volkswagen Polo cousin and has grown in every dimension except height over the previous model.

Up front, you get a great driving position and feel lower to the ground, helping the connection with the road.

There's decent head and shoulder room in the front row, and those sports seats offer significant lateral support, almost hugging your torso. They are comfortable and the cloth trim gets a big tick from me.

The dash design and layout is bordering on busy but all controls are easy to identify. I will never understand why some carmakers insist on using a steering wheel stalk for the cruise control when it is much easier to operate from the steering wheel itself. Make it happen please, Skoda!

The sizeable 9.2-inch multimedia touchscreen uses capacitive touch and is relatively simple to navigate.

The Fabia has two USB-C ports up front and a 12-volt charge point in the central storage bin.

Speaking of, the central compartment is average in size but will fit a phone or two. For the moment, there is no removable front cupholder in the Fabia, but it is offered as an accessory. Skoda Australia said it was due to a mistake in ordering and that it will be fitted as standard in Fabias built from October onwards.

There's extra space next to the wireless charging pad for another device, the glove box is big, and there's ample room for big bottles in the door cavity. The Fabia comes with a number of Skoda touches - hello, umbrella in the door - including a tiny waste bin for the door storage, which I think is a simple but brilliant idea.

In the second row, you'll find lower air vents, a pair of USB-C ports, ISOFIX points on the outboard seats, three tether points and a small storage tray over the transmission tunnel. But you won't be able to fit larger bottles in the doors.

It is tight back there, too, especially behind my 183cm (six foot) driving position. The chunky sports seats seem to eat into rear seat legroom, so it will be interesting to see how much space there is in a lower grade model without those seats.

The Fabia's boot can swallow 380 litres with all seats in place, increasing to 1190L with rear seats lowered.

That is a bit more than the VW Polo (351L) but can't quite match its SUV stablemate, the Skoda Kamiq (400L).

Extra cargo features, standard on the Monte Carlo, include a luggage net system, extra hooks that can be attached to the rear ISOFIX hooks, and a multi-function storage hammock that can be used for delicate items or just extra security in the boot.

It's a good thing the new Fabia is packed with standard gear, because the price for the single-grade 110TSI Monte Carlo flagship is… $37,990 drive-away. That's a lot of dollars for a light hatchback.

Skoda Australia says that is approximately $8000 more expensive than the previous-generation Fabia Monte Carlo 70TSI. The company also says the new Fabia has more than $15,000 worth of additional equipment compared with its predecessor. And taking into account the price, that means there is $6700 worth of value gained.

Skoda is launching with the top-spec model because it believes it is more appealing to buyers and will get more attention than an entry-grade model. But, while Skoda Australia hasn't confirmed it yet, you can bet that there will be a more affordable model grade coming soon.

Unfortunately, there is no sign of the super practical wagon body style for this generation of Fabia.

Being a Monte Carlo, it comes with a sporty body kit and interior, and it gains a punchy 110kW turbocharged petrol engine. Any additional Fabia grades are likely to get the 1.0-litre 80TSI engine.

What else do you get for your $38k?

The Fabia Monte Carlo comes with heated front seats, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, power folding and heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone air conditioning, keyless entry and start, wireless device charging, a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster, a 9.2-inch multimedia screen with digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice control, and a six-speaker audio system.

And there's more standard safety gear, too - see the section below.

There's no question the Fabia is packed with standard gear. In fact, it's a challenge to find another light hatch as well equipped.

But that price is also a stretch when you consider some of its high quality rivals like the Mazda2 GT, from $26,490 before on-road costs, the flagship Toyota Yaris ZR Hybrid from $32,200 (which is jam-packed with safety gear), and even the mechanically related Volkswagen Polo Style from $31,250.

The Fabia price is only $1000 cheaper than the Volkswagen Polo GTI - but that's a dedicated hot hatch.

If you're badge focused, you can get into a premium light hatch for less money than the Fabia. For example, an Audi A1 (from $33,800 before on-road costs) or a Mini Cooper five-door Hatch (from $38,500), although they don't have the same level of standard gear as the Fabia.

Mazda's ‘SkyActiv-G' 1.5 litre four-cylinder petrol engine is the unit used for six-speed manual and automatic models, but outputs vary slightly.

Manual cars produce 82kW and 144Nm, while autos deliver a slightly lower 81kW and 142Nm, both driving the front wheels only.

It's pretty much the same engine you used to find in an entry-grade MX-5, just with less power.

The Skoda is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, offering up a healthy 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.

It is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that drives the front wheels only.

This engine is familiar from other Volkswagen Group models, including the VW T-Roc, and more.

Skoda has an advantage over its rivals with this powertrain. Not including the dedicated hot hatches in the light-car segment - VW Polo GTI, Ford Fiesta ST, Hyundai i20 N, Toyota GR Yaris - the Fabia Monte Carlo is the most powerful model in its class.

Improved fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions come thanks to the automatic's slight drop in power and torque.

Mazda claims a 5.0L/100 km rating for the automatic Mazda2, which is down by 0.3L/100km over the previous version, but the manual's unchanged engine tune burns through the petrol at 5.4L/100km.

Filling the 44-litre tank with at least 91RON or even E10 is fine, and with its auto variant's efficiency rating means the Mazda2 technically has a theoretical range of 880km.

Comparatively the Mazda2 scores well here, the more expensive Toyota Yaris comes with a 4.8L/100km consumption claim with its CVT auto. A Suzuki Swift, with a smaller 1.2-litre engine, also has a 4.8L/100km rating.

Skoda claims the new-gen Fabia will consume an average of 4.9 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle.

The Fabia requires RON 95 premium fuel and it has a 40-litre fuel tank.

In terms of emissions, the Euro 6 engine emits 113 grams per kilometre.

Given we got in and out of different examples of the Fabia at the media launch, we didn't do a fuel test.

Our drive loop for the Mazda2's launch included a mix of urban, highway, and rural driving, with varying road quality and conditions.

Fortunately for the little hatchback, it handled everything well or at least at a passing mark, with only a couple of small shortcomings that are common in the segment.

The Mazda2 is a joy to drive in most circumstances, with a lively but confidence-inspiring chassis and controls that give a connected feel to the road.

At low speeds, the Mazda2's relatively low power isn't noticeable, with the gearbox getting things moving at a reasonable pace and the engine is responsive enough with the traditional gearbox helping it along.

It's worth noting that for ultimate control over the drivetrain, Mazda still offers a six-speed manual transmission in the entry-grade Pure, and it's a gem.

Smooth, sporty shifts and well thought out gear ratios mean the manual is easy to handle even in traffic, and the clutch has a forgiving bite point. The 'i-Stop' stop/start system works with the three-pedal car, too, as does cruise control.

In terms of handling and comfort, the Mazda2 is a little shaken by large bumps, though some of the rough surfaces on our test loop were particularly brutal.

Similarly, when pushed hard to conquer steep hills the 1.5-litre engine becomes a little harsh.

On twisty sections the Mazda2 (especially in manual form) provides ample fun while remaining predictable in its steering and chassis feedback, rather than feeling loose.

Whatever questions there are over value-for-money, the Fabia is a winner on the road.

The turbocharged engine is a real sweetie and is a terrific match for the Fabia's chassis. Acceleration from a standing start is brisk without blowing one's socks off. It's not a hot hatch, but honestly, it's not far off. Skoda says 0-100km/h is done and dusted in 8.0 seconds but it feels slightly quicker.

The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is well matched with the engine, but tends to hold gears on steep descents.

With a tare weight of 1265kg, the Fabia is light enough to be nimble on the tight and twisty Blue Mountains roads where the launch event was held. There's plenty of grip from the tyres and the Fabia hugs corners exceptionally well.

Strong brakes and excellent steering response help ensure the Fabia is a driver's car.

The ride is firm but far from jarring. Aside from a massive pothole that I didn't see until it was too late, the Fabia seemed to soak up the many bumps and corrugations of the uneven roads on the drive route better than the Karoq SUV we drove the day prior.

Skoda is offering a healthy list of standard safety gear with the new Fabia.

As well as auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, it has multi-collision braking, driver fatigue detection, lane keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping aid, tyre pressure monitor, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and an emergency stop signal.

It has already received a five-star rating from crash safety watchdog, ANCAP, in 2021.

The Fabia is not offered with a front centre airbag that can lower the risk of injury between the front passengers in a side collision, but it scored top marks for side impact tests, regardless.

Mazda offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty across the range, under which the Mazda2 will be covered. That's on par for the market, although some rivals, like the MG3, come with a seven-year term.

Scheduled servicing costs for the first seven workshop visits range from $334 to $587, and are undertaken every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first).

Like other Skoda models, the Fabia is offered with a five year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

The servicing schedule is every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first.

Capped-price servicing packs for the Fabia Monte Carlo cost $1500 for five years or $2100 for seven years, both breaking down to a reasonably competitive $300 per service.

Skoda has also just launched service and maintenance subscription plans that allow owners to pay a monthly fee to cover servicing and some parts costs.

The Fabia is covered by an initial one year of free roadside assist, but if you continue servicing your Fabia with a Skoda dealer, it will be topped up by a year for a maximum of nine years.