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 Indians are getting used to paying premium prices for premium products. When the Skoda Fabia was first launched , it was One of the most expensive hatchbacks in the country , but its combination of style , luxe image and ample interior room meant it did appeal to a certain niche. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since , and the Fabia’s popularity waned with the advent of better-appointed competition which also offered more value. Realising that something needed to be done – and soon – Skoda India have re-launched the Fabia.
The ‘new’ car has a restyled grille and headlights , with slight changes to the chin as well , but you need to look hard to spot the differences. At the rear , not much has changed. But it’s not so much the styling package we are interested in; what have Skoda done to make the car more affordable? The current 1.2 TDI diesel in Elegance trim , for example , costs Rs 7.55 lakh (OTR , Pune) – a cool Rs 1.13 lakh cheaper than the earlier 1.4-litre TDI Elegance. The base petrol 1.2 Classic is Rs 60 , 000 cheaper than before. These substantial savings are sure to attract more footfalls in Skoda dealerships. An aggressive localisation programme , helped no doubt by the volumes from cousin VW Polo , plus snipping a few features have helped achieve this price.
There’s also a new 1.6-litre petrol four-pot , which will appeal to a small audience , but thank god for it all the same; not everybody wants a hatch with a weedy engine. On test with us are the 1.6 petrol and 1.2 diesel. So how do these two stack up now?
Design and build
As stated earlier , the Fabia has received a few minor tweaks to its styling , but these nevertheless add up to giving the car a more dynamic look. The re-profiled grille in particular appears more attractive. The stretched headlamps have crisper edges as well. Why Skoda chose to stick to the 14-inch wheels , however , is another matter. Fifteen-inch wheels , especially on the top-end versions , would have doubtless improved the car’s stance.
 The build quality feels pretty faultless too , but you know what? Whisper it , but it doesn’t feel class-leading any longer…the interior plastics and fittings can no longer be described as the best in class. Also , some more imagination could have made a difference to the interior , for things like the fonts on the instruments , for example.
Interior and comfort
The Fabia in Elegance trim has a two-tone black and beige interior and beige fabric seats. If our test cars are anything to go by , then these soil easily. The grain of the plastics also feels slightly rough to touch. The four-spoke steering wheel is Audi-inspired in design and the chunky rim fits well to hand. The Elegance trim has a height-adjustable driver’s seat , useful for shorter drivers , but all versions of the Fabia enjoy steering wheels which adjust for rake and reach. A dead pedal is an added comfort on long drives. The seats are comfortable on long drives too.
At the rear , there is ample space for two adults to sit comfortably. The Fabia is also one of very few hatchbacks that can accommodate two six-footers comfortably one behind the other.
The car’s boot is among the biggest in this segment and the rear seatback folds down to liberate even more room. However , the seatback does not split , limiting flexibility somewhat.
Performance and handling
The Fabia shares the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with the Polo 1.6 and Vento petrol. Even the state of tune and gear ratios are the same , so we were quite prepared to expect performance comparable to what the Vento delivered in our road test a couple of issues ago. Indeed , so close are the figures in almost every department that the differences are negligible. The Fabia 1.6 took 12.1 seconds to reach the tonne , which , while a decent time , doesn’t really set the test track on fire. What i particularly liked about this engine is its drivability. It’s smooth and the chunky 153 Nm of torque comes into play at a mere 3 , 800 rpm , which means City driving goes like a breeze. If anything , the slightly gruff engine note spoils the party as you approach the nether regions of the rev range. This engine does not like to be revved hard.
The Fabia has a comfortable and absorbent ride. The 185/60 R14 tyres make short work of bad roads and the reasonable ground clearance means you can tackle most potholes and speed-breakers with aplomb. You do get  some body roll , though , and while the Fabia is a competent handler , it isn’t particularly engaging to drive. The steering is well-weighted , but not particularly feelsome. The brakes are good and the car stops from 100 km/h within 43.41 metres , taking a shade over three seconds in the process. The Elegance version we drove gets dual circuit assist on the ABS with engine braking control thrown in for good measure , which means you’re always assured of a confident stop.
The Fabia 1.6 petrol returns 14.4 kpl overall in our mixed driving cycle , which , though quite decent , isn’t particularly easy on the wallet. That said , for those who want 105 PS , it’s a small trade-off which is to be expected.
The diesel engine in the Fabia is all-new , the 1.2-litre three-cylinder replacing the ageing 1.4-litre pump duse motor. This is the same engine as in the Polo and perfectly suited to the character of the car. Drivability is strong and the mid-range of this motor is delightful , meaning even a fully loaded car with the air-con on max doesn’t struggle on uphill sections. You can , however , feel the extra weight of the diesel vis-a-vis the petrol. The 52 extra kilos the diesel Fabia lugs around is mostly over the front axle and this , of course , affects handling. It doesn’t feel as nimble as the petrol with a mite more understeer. Surprisingly , despite the extra weight , the diesel car actually managed to stop from 100 km/h within just 40.57 metres , almost three metres less than the lighter petrol car. What will really put a smile on your face , though , is its fuel efficiency; the diesel Fabia managed 19.2 kpl overall , which is impressive. With a 45-litre fuel tank , you can actually stretch your range to nearly 900 kilometres between tankfuls , making the Fabia diesel a great car on long hauls.
Safety
All versions of the Fabia get a driver’s side airbag as standard , but the Ambiente and Elegance variants have an additional bag for the front passenger as well. The high-tech ABS is only available on the Elegance variant , though. Height-adjustable head-rests on the front and rear seats should make for good whiplash protection too.
Value
No doubt , price revision makes the Fabia a better deal now than it was a couple of months ago. It still is expensive , but there will definitely be more buyers at this asking price. Indeed , sales were hovering round a lowly 200 units per month not too long ago , but dealers are reporting a surge in interest now that Skoda have reduced prices. It’s been tricky pricing the car right; there are repercussions which might have been felt through the Volkswagen Automotive Group. There will be inevitable comparisons with stable-mate Polo , too , something which would be uncomfortable for Skoda and VW officials. So , yes , a price which is a few thousand rupees cheaper for every variant appears to be a sound strategy , but then there is also some skimping on kit. While the Fabia is a better deal than before , don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the best deal going today. What’s certain , though , is that sales will definitely go up. Somehow , one can’t shake the feeling that buyers of the previous versions might be left feeling a little short-changed.
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The ‘new’ car has a restyled grille and headlights , with slight changes to the chin as well , but you need to look hard to spot the differences. At the rear , not much has changed. But it’s not so much the styling package we are interested in; what have Skoda done to make the car more affordable? The current 1.2 TDI diesel in Elegance trim , for example , costs Rs 7.55 lakh (OTR , Pune) – a cool Rs 1.13 lakh cheaper than the earlier 1.4-litre TDI Elegance. The base petrol 1.2 Classic is Rs 60 , 000 cheaper than before. These substantial savings are sure to attract more footfalls in Skoda dealerships. An aggressive localisation programme , helped no doubt by the volumes from cousin VW Polo , plus snipping a few features have helped achieve this price.
There’s also a new 1.6-litre petrol four-pot , which will appeal to a small audience , but thank god for it all the same; not everybody wants a hatch with a weedy engine. On test with us are the 1.6 petrol and 1.2 diesel. So how do these two stack up now?
Design and build
As stated earlier , the Fabia has received a few minor tweaks to its styling , but these nevertheless add up to giving the car a more dynamic look. The re-profiled grille in particular appears more attractive. The stretched headlamps have crisper edges as well. Why Skoda chose to stick to the 14-inch wheels , however , is another matter. Fifteen-inch wheels , especially on the top-end versions , would have doubtless improved the car’s stance.
Interior and comfort
The Fabia in Elegance trim has a two-tone black and beige interior and beige fabric seats. If our test cars are anything to go by , then these soil easily. The grain of the plastics also feels slightly rough to touch. The four-spoke steering wheel is Audi-inspired in design and the chunky rim fits well to hand. The Elegance trim has a height-adjustable driver’s seat , useful for shorter drivers , but all versions of the Fabia enjoy steering wheels which adjust for rake and reach. A dead pedal is an added comfort on long drives. The seats are comfortable on long drives too.
At the rear , there is ample space for two adults to sit comfortably. The Fabia is also one of very few hatchbacks that can accommodate two six-footers comfortably one behind the other.
The car’s boot is among the biggest in this segment and the rear seatback folds down to liberate even more room. However , the seatback does not split , limiting flexibility somewhat.
Performance and handling
The Fabia shares the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with the Polo 1.6 and Vento petrol. Even the state of tune and gear ratios are the same , so we were quite prepared to expect performance comparable to what the Vento delivered in our road test a couple of issues ago. Indeed , so close are the figures in almost every department that the differences are negligible. The Fabia 1.6 took 12.1 seconds to reach the tonne , which , while a decent time , doesn’t really set the test track on fire. What i particularly liked about this engine is its drivability. It’s smooth and the chunky 153 Nm of torque comes into play at a mere 3 , 800 rpm , which means City driving goes like a breeze. If anything , the slightly gruff engine note spoils the party as you approach the nether regions of the rev range. This engine does not like to be revved hard.
The Fabia has a comfortable and absorbent ride. The 185/60 R14 tyres make short work of bad roads and the reasonable ground clearance means you can tackle most potholes and speed-breakers with aplomb. You do get
some body roll , though , and while the Fabia is a competent handler , it isn’t particularly engaging to drive. The steering is well-weighted , but not particularly feelsome. The brakes are good and the car stops from 100 km/h within 43.41 metres , taking a shade over three seconds in the process. The Elegance version we drove gets dual circuit assist on the ABS with engine braking control thrown in for good measure , which means you’re always assured of a confident stop.
The Fabia 1.6 petrol returns 14.4 kpl overall in our mixed driving cycle , which , though quite decent , isn’t particularly easy on the wallet. That said , for those who want 105 PS , it’s a small trade-off which is to be expected.
The diesel engine in the Fabia is all-new , the 1.2-litre three-cylinder replacing the ageing 1.4-litre pump duse motor. This is the same engine as in the Polo and perfectly suited to the character of the car. Drivability is strong and the mid-range of this motor is delightful , meaning even a fully loaded car with the air-con on max doesn’t struggle on uphill sections. You can , however , feel the extra weight of the diesel vis-a-vis the petrol. The 52 extra kilos the diesel Fabia lugs around is mostly over the front axle and this , of course , affects handling. It doesn’t feel as nimble as the petrol with a mite more understeer. Surprisingly , despite the extra weight , the diesel car actually managed to stop from 100 km/h within just 40.57 metres , almost three metres less than the lighter petrol car. What will really put a smile on your face , though , is its fuel efficiency; the diesel Fabia managed 19.2 kpl overall , which is impressive. With a 45-litre fuel tank , you can actually stretch your range to nearly 900 kilometres between tankfuls , making the Fabia diesel a great car on long hauls.
Safety
All versions of the Fabia get a driver’s side airbag as standard , but the Ambiente and Elegance variants have an additional bag for the front passenger as well. The high-tech ABS is only available on the Elegance variant , though. Height-adjustable head-rests on the front and rear seats should make for good whiplash protection too.
Value
No doubt , price revision makes the Fabia a better deal now than it was a couple of months ago. It still is expensive , but there will definitely be more buyers at this asking price. Indeed , sales were hovering round a lowly 200 units per month not too long ago , but dealers are reporting a surge in interest now that Skoda have reduced prices. It’s been tricky pricing the car right; there are repercussions which might have been felt through the Volkswagen Automotive Group. There will be inevitable comparisons with stable-mate Polo , too , something which would be uncomfortable for Skoda and VW officials. So , yes , a price which is a few thousand rupees cheaper for every variant appears to be a sound strategy , but then there is also some skimping on kit. While the Fabia is a better deal than before , don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the best deal going today. What’s certain , though , is that sales will definitely go up. Somehow , one can’t shake the feeling that buyers of the previous versions might be left feeling a little short-changed.
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