After almost eight years, Skoda is showing a new Fabia. It is now the fourth generation of the small car, of which over 4.5 million vehicles have been sold to date. So this dart should hit the triple 20 best. So that this succeeds, the Fabia finally uses the MQB-A0 platform of the recently launched VW Polo and its buddies Audi A1 / Seat Ibiza.
Let’s take a look at the future Skoda Fabia in all its glory after we were able to drive a camouflaged pre-production model weeks ago. One thing is certain: this small car is no longer that small. And optically, Skoda remains true to its line, “factual-modern” or “sober-boring”, depending on the eye of the beholder. We would say a mix of the previous Fabia plus Scala and Octavia in terms of design.
Speaking of Octavia: The number four Fabia has a larger wheelbase than the first Neo-Octavia in 1996. Compared to the first three generations, the new Skoda Fabia is larger both inside and out, while the weight remains almost unchanged.
With a length of 4,108 millimeters, it crosses the four-meter threshold for the first time. Compared to its predecessor, the new edition is almost eleven centimeters longer. The wheelbase has grown by 94 mm to 2,564 mm and the width has increased by 48 mm to 1,780 mm.
Thanks to the 94 mm longer wheelbase compared to its predecessor, the new Skoda Fabia offers even more space for passengers, especially in the rear. At 2,564 mm, the wheelbase of the compact car is, as already mentioned, longer than that of the Skoda Octavia from 1996, which was 2,512 mm.
The enlargement of the overall dimensions enables an even more spacious interior, as we already noticed in the first preliminary test. Skoda has also significantly enlarged the trunk of the Fabia: The new Fabia now offers 380 liters of trunk volume, which is 50 liters more than before. By folding down the rear seats, the trunk volume can be increased to 1,190 liters.
With a drag coefficient of 0.28, the Fabia is the most aerodynamic car in its segment, which – in combination with the optional 50-liter tank – should result in a range of over 900 km in the WLTP cycle. A 40-liter container is installed ex-works.
A small design gimmick can be found on the front doors: the lines of the body stylize the characteristic triangle of the flag of the Czech Republic. The headlights with LED technology, which is always standard, extend to the radiator grille. The taillights can also be designed as full LEDs as an option.
The new Skoda Fabia has a larger roof spoiler with side fins that optimize the airflow. Smaller, specially developed aerodynamic rearview mirror housings further reduce air resistance and direct the airflow backward in a targeted manner. At the front, the air flows through air inlets in the front bumper, the so-called “air curtains”, particularly efficiently along the sides and away from the wheels.
Nine body colors are available for the new Skoda Fabia, with two metallic paints celebrating their debut with “Orange Sunset” (see photos) and “Graphite Gray”. “Graphite gray metallic” and “Black Magic Pearl” can also be selected as contrasting colors for the roof, the mirror caps, and the edge of the radiator grille.
Depending on the equipment and market, the new Fabia is available on 14- and 15-inch steel wheels and nine different aluminum sizes from 15 to 18 inches. The optional 18-inch “Libra black burnished” alloy wheels are the top version.
With up to nine airbags, the new Skoda Fabia is one of the safest compact cars on the market. It is also the first Fabia that can be equipped with the Travel Assistant, which offers automatic longitudinal and lateral movement support. This can be activated at the push of a button and combines several assistance systems.
Up to a speed of 210 km / h, the adaptive cruise control (ACC) automatically adjusts the safety distance and the speed of the vehicle about the vehicles in front.
The lane assistant helps, as the name suggests, to keep the Fabia in the lane by making corrective steering interventions if necessary. With the Hands-on Detect technology, the travel assistant checks whether the driver is consistently touching the steering wheel.
The new Side Assistant is another option. This system warns the driver of vehicles that are approaching from behind at a distance of up to 70 m, that is overtaking or that is in the vehicle’s blind spot.
The Fabia can now also support the driver when parking: the parking assistant works up to a speed of 40 km / h, shows suitable parallel and perpendicular parking spaces and, if required, takes over steering control when parking.
When parking, the maneuvering assistant uses sensors to detect an obstacle in front of or behind the vehicle and automatically activates the brakes. Traffic sign recognition and Front Assist with predictive pedestrian and cyclist protection are further new features of the Fabia.
Good to know for mothers, dads, and grandparents: ISOFIX and top-tether anchorages on the rear side seats are standard equipment. Thanks to the top tether eyelets on the passenger backrest and the outer seats in the rear, the Fabia can accommodate three securely attached child seats.
Fabia 2021 Engine
All engines meet the Euro 6d emissions standard. The 1.5 TSI with an output of 110 kW (150 PS) and standard 7-speed DSG transmission is the top variant. The models up to 70 kW (95 PS) are equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the 81 kW (110 PS) 1.0 TSI is optionally available with a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG transmission.
Skoda offers two gasoline engines with multiple injections for the Fabia, which is equipped with a front-wheel drive. These 1.0 MPI three-cylinder engines have a displacement of one liter and produce 48 kW (65 PS) and 59 kW (80 PS) respectively. That is 4 kW (5 HP) more than the engines of the previous generation. Diesel units have not been in the Fabia since 2018.
Interesting: the two 1.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engines hardly differ in terms of driving performance. So if you can do without quartet values and are relaxed on the road, you might get a bargain with the 65 hp machine. This unit is also aimed at Citigo customers, while the 1.5 TSI with 150 PS is almost a disguised RS.
Skoda Fabia 2021 Interior
We come to the interior of the new Skoda Fabia: The dashboard is visually impressive thanks to the independent infotainment display with a size of up to 9.2 inches. In addition, the Fabia can for the first time be equipped with digital 10.25-inch instrumentation. The Fabia is equipped with analog instrumentation plus a 3.5-inch information display between the instruments as standard.
Comfort features found in higher segment vehicles, such as a heated windshield and a heated steering wheel, are other options that are making their debut in the Fabia. The new Skoda Fabia will be available for market launch in the three well-known equipment variants Active, Ambition and Style.
The symmetrical dashboard with its central display and horizontal decorative strips, for which six different variants are available depending on the equipment level, underline the width of the interior. From Ambition, the front of the dashboard is covered with fabric and provided with contrasting stitching. The large, round air inlets on the left and right – with a chrome strip from Ambition – and the newly designed door handles, also in chrome, set new visual accents.
Contrasting copper-colored and gray decorative seams and moldings bring new color accents to the interior of the Skoda Fabia. The new LED ambient light (standard with Style) enables the driver to illuminate the trim strips on the dashboard in white or red. The center console and the front door handles can also be illuminated; Ambient Light also includes LED reading lights at the front and rear.
Newly designed steering wheels put the finishing touches on the interior of the Fabia. The multifunction steering wheel is available in leather and as a three-spoke sports steering wheel and has shift paddles for the DSG transmission. A heated steering wheel and a heated windshield make their debut in the model’s accessory range and ensure greater comfort and safety in winter.
The fourth generation of the Skoda Fabia is available for the first time with two-zone automatic air conditioning. When equipped with this optional air conditioning, the center console has two physical knobs that can be used to set the temperature separately for the left and right sides of the vehicle. All system functions can be operated intuitively using eight buttons.
There are three different infotainment systems to choose from for the new Skoda Fabia. Swing, the entry-level system, has a modern 6.5-inch color touchscreen, a radio with a digital DAB receiver, and four front speakers as standard. The Bolero offers a radio, an 8-inch screen, a Bluetooth hands-free system, and two additional surround sound speakers in the rear doors.
A smartphone can be connected wirelessly via Wireless SmartLink and Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, while the optional Phone Box enables inductive charging. The Amundsen system has an individually adjustable 9.2-inch display and a navigation function supported by online data.
This option also includes a Wi-Fi hotspot. Music streaming services can be accessed via a paired smartphone. Maps can be stored on the 64 GB SSD hard drive and updated online.
Gesture control is standard here, while online voice control via the digital voice assistant Laura, who understands 15 languages, is optional. The new Fabia can be equipped with five USB-C sockets for charging additional mobile devices – one of which is located on the rearview mirror, for example, to charge a dashcam. The Skoda sound system with an additional amplifier and a subwoofer in the trunk is a special feature that offers even better acoustics.
For many years, Skoda has been making everyday car life easier for its customers with new and ingenious Simply Clever solutions. The new Fabia brings five new ideas onto the road that are making their Skoda debut. In the storage compartment of the center console, for example, a new clip for credit cards or parking tickets and a rubber band keeps things tidy.
A removable cup holder between the front seats is optionally available, while a container on the transmission tunnel offers rear passengers a clever way of storing small items.
The new Skoda Fabia will hit the market in September 2021. On paper, it will be a little more expensive than its predecessor, but in return, it offers more standard equipment. A Monte Carlo variant with a sporty touch will then also be available.
