By the end of January 2015, an updated version of the Skoda Fabia Combi enters the European market. In this regard, its active advertising begins. The company has filmed a new video that shows all the innovations and privileges of this model, and also allowed the first test drive for the press. All this happened in France near the city of Nice. What did you manage to learn new about the Fabia in the back of the Combi after testing it?
If you recall a bit of the history of the Skoda Fabia, you will notice that with each new generation, the “long” versions of the body began to appear faster and faster after the release of hatchbacks. Take the first generation Fabia. Designers and engineers came to a more practical option in the station wagon body a year after the release of the hatchback. In the second generation, this period decreased to about half a year, but with the release of the third, the Fabia was simultaneously presented in both bodies, and the more practical station wagon turned out to be even more beautiful than the usual Skoda Fabia hatchback. Remember how it all happened, and what kind of stand Skoda had at the Paris Auto Show.
While the hatchback Fabia in the Czech market is designed to "defeat" a large number of competitors, the station wagon has a very small number of opponents. In essence, we are talking only about the SEAT Ibiza ST and Renault Clio Grandtour, well, you can add the domestic Lada Kalina station wagon to them. However, in the Czech Republic, its sales are not possible, since some norms are not observed, but in the Russian Federation it will be a worthy rival.
Why do you need a Fabia Combi if there is a hatchback? Practicality Test
We buy combi or station wagon cars mainly to increase the trunk, and in this respect the Fabia deftly outperforms its competitors. The main volume of its trunk is 530 liters, while with the rear seats folded it will be increased to an impressive 1395 liters. The seatbacks are split 60:40, which is not the case in the small body. This is another plus for the wagon. At first glance, the trunk with the rear seat unfolded may seem a bit inconvenient, as there is a difference of 10 centimeters between the main trunk floor and the lowered backrests. But the engineers managed to solve this problem by making the main floor two-level, however, this is for an additional cost, but then you get a flat surface for convenient luggage transportation.
The trunk lid opens very high and a person whose height is 190 cm can easily pass under it, and the inlet has a width of 1028 millimeters, which, as a result, gives very good access to the trunk and its contents. What's more, the station wagon's loading height is 611 millimeters (660 mm in the hatchback), which is 34 mm lower than in the second-generation Fabia Combi. At its narrowest point between the arches, the width is 960 mm, and compared to its predecessor, the difference is only two millimeters in favor of the Fabia 3. And besides all of the above, the new station wagon is endowed with clever technical solutions for securing cargo.
Due to the increase in the rear overhang by 264 mm, the roof has changed slightly, giving you about ten millimeters more headroom in the rear of the Fabia Combi. There will be no problem with this even if you pay extra $ 900 (21,500 crowns) and order a panoramic roof. Comfortable fit for all passengers and front and rear seats. Four adult passengers feel very comfortable in the cabin. True, slightly high thresholds create little difficulty in getting out of the Fabia's rear seats.
Test drive Fabia Combi with three-cylinder 1.0 MPI engine
The most important thing in the test drive was the assessment of the new Skoda Fabia Station wagon with its main and weakest engine. It is a gasoline unit, a three-cylinder 1.0 liter MPI, capable of delivering 75 horsepower (55 kW) at almost a maximum of 6200 rpm. Its torque is 95 Nm. Such an engine was first installed on urban Citigo, but after being modified in connection with the transition to Euro 6, it could become less dynamic.
In the city, you often had to go in first gear, but this is due to traffic jams, and if you don’t have any, then you will need to turn it on very rarely. A rather pleasant surprise was on the highway, where, despite the fact that the engine was revved up to 4,250 rpm, the noise level was not very high and did not create discomfort, and there was enough power to keep our Fabia Combi from falling behind more powerful fellow travelers. . The high speed adequately affected the fuel consumption, which during the first excursion was about eight liters of gasoline per hundred kilometers.
Test drive Fabia Combi with the most powerful 1.2 TSI gasoline engine
The next on the test was the Fabia with the most powerful gasoline engine, this is a four-cylinder 1.2 TSI capable of developing 110 hp. (81 kW) at 4600 rpm. This motor is familiar to us from the hatchback and we know its excellent dynamics and high-torque power. What's more, the lightweight station wagon body, which has a soft chassis setup, accelerates very well and feels great in tight corners, passing them very clearly. You should also consider the delicate work of the XDS electronic differential system, which can intelligently distribute the braking of individual wheels so that the car is as stable as possible.
The turbocharged petrol engine offers very good headroom and is considered by many to be one of the top selling options. True, to achieve a “push” you need to spin it up to 2000 rpm, since the compressor starts to work with them, but these are already nuances. But if you compare it with the previous liter one, then you need to unwind it almost to the limit in order to get something similar in dynamics.
Test drive Fabia Combi with 1.4 TDI three-cylinder diesel engine
The three-cylinder diesel unit, with a volume of 1.4 liters, with a capacity of 90 horses (66 kW) is the weakest of the proposed units for the new Fabia station wagon on heavy fuel. But due to the fact that the weight of the car is 1180 kg, there is plenty of it even for the most picky drivers who love to fool around and save money. On a test drive at a speed of 100 km / h, the engine is almost inaudible and no unpleasant vibration is felt. Its thrust starts from the very bottom and up to 4000 rpm. Regarding the sound of the engine, it is quite bassy even compared to its predecessor, the same 1.4 TDI with only four cylinders.
Officially declared consumption is 3.4 liters. But the test drive passed through the hills and serpentines of Nice on the Cote d'Azur, while the consumption was five liters of solarium per hundred kilometers, and on the entrances to the city and when driving in its environs it still decreased by half a liter.
Test drive results
On the road Fabia Combi is very confident. At first there was concern about the "inadequacy" of the main three-cylinder 55kW MPI. But thanks to the test, in the end, it turned out to be quite nimble, and able to meet the vast majority of the requirements of those potential buyers who are interested in a more practical version of the Skoda Fabia, namely the station wagon.
Buying a complete set with a strong 1.2 liter petrol or the most powerful 1.4 TDI will be even more soothing. They provide sufficient power reserve even with a maximum load of the trunk and passenger compartment when transporting four people.
The comfortably tuned chassis, which is considered one of the biggest advantages of the new Fabia, performs very well on the track and in tight corners and on bad roads. It is able to absorb much more energy from bumps than its predecessor, thus providing comfort to its passengers.
However, the Skoda Fabia Combi is not a perfect car. For example, for many, the interior of the cabin seems “poor” because the materials used for its decoration are not expensive. But this also affects the price. There were a couple of pitfalls that testers noticed in the MirrorLink-based navigation system. A couple of times she showed the wrong route. However, the company has already announced that from June of this year it will supplement the multimedia on-board system of the Amundsen car with a navigation function.
The Škoda Fabia is a front-wheel drive small city car developed by the Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto since 1997.
Modern Fabia is a five-door roomy hatchback (or station wagon). The first Mk1 generation (until 2007) had three body modifications (the last two and a sedan).
Skoda Fabia is a representative of European B class cars. This is a family car. Its main difference is compactness and at the same time low price.
Skoda Fabia interior
The seats are very comfortable with excellent lateral support. You can immediately see that there is enough space ahead. In the cabin of the Skoda Fabia there are 2 glove compartments: one is small, the second is standard. Interior color is very calm - gray. During the day, the backlight on the panel is almost imperceptible. The assembly of the car is excellent and all parts meet European quality standards.
The car has a spacious, modest interior, fabric seat upholstery, a high roof, a clear front panel, and many compartments, which was confirmed by a Skoda Fabia test drive.
Specifications of the Skoda Fabia
The car is almost the highest configuration. It has everything that a large car has. One of the notable advantages is that the engine is very quiet. You will hardly notice the noise of the 3-cylinder 1.2L engine. The car has a manual transmission. The gearbox is very comfortable.
The engine capabilities of the Skoda Fabia are great for buyers who won't feel crippled with a fully loaded car.
A test drive of the Skoda Fabia determined that the car is equipped with an economical, but powerful modernized engine (gasoline, diesel), well tolerates the loads of street roads, tracks with a skillful consumption of 6 - 8 liters, speed - up to 185 km / h, volume of 1.2 liters (possible 1.4 l, 1.6 l), ground clearance - 135 mm. The transmission of the car can vary: both a 5-speed manual and an automatic 6-speed gearbox are used. The boot capacity of 300 liters increases with the seats folded down to 1163 liters.
Exterior of Skoda Fabia
For small sizes, the Skoda Fabia has a very large and deep trunk. He is very capacious. To increase trunk space, the rear seats can be folded down. The suspension of the car is amazing.
A copy with a 1.4 liter engine and a manual transmission got on a test drive of the Skoda Fabia. This engine, according to its characteristics, is perfect for a manual transmission, and moderately stiff suspension makes this car a little “driving”.
Salon Skoda Fabia
Salon without any frills, in black and gray with aluminum inserts, quite spacious. Inside Fabius is much more than it seems from the outside. The front seats have developed lateral support, and the rear sofa folds 1 to 2. It will be crowded for three on the back sofa, but we must not forget that this is a utilitarian car for the driver and one passenger.
The interior of the Fabia is made a little monotonous, but in terms of functionality this car has no equal. This is a German car, so there are features of severity in it. Also during the test drive skoda, you can take into account the soft seats with the possibility of disassembling the rear seats. The trunk does not look very large, but if you look, you can see a very roomy and neatly trimmed trunk.
Equipment Skoda Fabia
Like many European cars, the Skoda Fabia has all possible safety systems such as ESP, ABS and airbags for the driver and passengers.
The Skoda Fabia presented for a test drive had climate control, a leather steering wheel trim, as well as a CD radio with the ability to connect an MP3 player.
Engines and driving performance Skoda Fabia
Unlike American and Japanese cars, European cars have different upgrades, and the engine capacity of this car is in the range of 1.4-1.6 liters. There are no sports versions of the engine because
Fabia is oriented for family trips and you can't ride off-road with its suspension. A 1.4 liter engine is better suited for a manual transmission, and 1.6 liter engines are already suitable for automatic transmission. 4 airbags and an ABS system are responsible for safety. In general, thanks to the right combination of low suspension, engine and mechanics, the car passes corners smoothly and can be driven at about average speed in tight turns.
In general, this car can be both family and sports. Good equipment with many bells and whistles and security systems can be bought for a reasonable price.
Test drive Skoda Fabia
I must say, the new Skoda Fabia turned out to be really spacious, as evidenced by the high roof and roomy trunk. With such data, the Czech hatchback claims to be the most spacious in the class. For the test drive, we got a Skoda Fabia in the Sport package, equipped with a 1.4-liter power unit with 86 hp. and a 5-speed manual transmission. In the interior, Skoda Fabia gives the impression of a strict car, clear, straight lines, it seems that you are in a car of a higher class.
Characteristic
All elements of the interior fit well, despite the abundance of hard plastic, nothing creaks on bumps. I would like to note that the audio system demonstrated, perhaps, the best sound in its class. Rides Skoda Fabia, as it turned out, not bad at all. Driving on the highway is a pleasure - the car keeps a straight line well. Clear and adequate reactions on the steering wheel allow you to feel confident on a suburban highway. Fabia willingly dives into turns, and if the driver "plays too much", the dynamic stabilization system is always ready to help. Let's try to turn off the ESP - Skoda Fabia allowed to start with a slip, the first turn, a slight skid - and again the electronics come into play.
A strong competitor in its segment"
On a cold dark evening, I went through the brands of cars in my head in order to find something that was not yet hackneyed, new and not tested by me ..
And here in front of me is a list of 10 cars scribbled in haste on paper, among this list I pay attention to the Skoda Fabia. I want to note right away that I have a specific attitude towards Skoda: once I had to ride in an old Fabia, which broke down in a thirty-degree frost. Freezing to the tips of my fingers, I decided never to mess with Skoda again, but that was a long time ago, so it's time to give this car another chance ...
How great was my surprise when in front of me was a nice little car, something that clearly looks like a Mini because of the white roof, square shapes and red color.
"Cute," I thought. From that moment on, pleasant surprises began to accompany me throughout the trip.
I liked the appearance of the new Fabia: a “naughty” front view, in which a confident attitude is read, and an equally pretty rear view. In general, everything is harmonious and in the style of restyled Skoda cars. Of course, I got the most interesting version of the car - Sport Edition, and this is a white roof and a beautiful red color, which looks very original and catchy.
Inside, Fabia pleasantly surprised me with good plastic, very comfortable sports seats and dimensions. The truth is, the green backlight looks rather boring, as if taken from past times. Because of her, it is so dark in the car at night that it is impossible to see anything. To find the phone lying at the bottom of the panel, I had to periodically turn on the light in the cabin.
The dashboard is made simply, but with taste, especially pleased with the bifurcated white-lit arrows on the instruments and the pleasant glow of the on-board computer. The machine has everything - climate control, heated seats, 4 airbags, rear parking sensors, MP3 radio, heated mirrors, fog lights, which turn on when the steering wheel is turned and illuminate one side of the road or another, were very pleased. Everyone knows about the existence of bi-xenon headlights, but I have never seen foglights perform the same function anywhere else. There is quite a lot of space in the cabin. I think Fabia can give first place in its class in terms of space in the cabin. Both front and rear passengers will be very comfortable here.
It's time to adjust the mirrors and take a ride to see what has changed in the ride quality of the car. . usually inside the cars everything is the same. After watching 10-20 cars, you stop getting used to them, you just got into it and drove off. But adjusting the side mirrors in Skoda turned out to be difficult for me, and the stubborn wheel did not obey and did everything the other way around, with random and erratic movements, I still managed to adjust them ... To press the gas, I had to press the pedal with all my strength, it turned out to be quite hard . Usually in cars, all the pedals instantly respond to pressing and it didn’t even occur to me that you could get tired of pressing the pedals, standing even for 3 hours in traffic jams, but it happened ... How tired my legs were already after 30 minutes, and on the road I stopped a couple of times to adjust the driver's seat. Thoughts ran through my head that maybe I was just sitting too far and I had to stretch, but no ... no matter how I adjusted the seat, I was still uncomfortable. For the life of me.. the photographer, having traveled in this car, did not experience such problems. Maybe this car is just designed for little girls?
Having lowered the fact of heavy pedals, the machine is perfectly manageable, it is nimble, it holds the road perfectly at speeds, a comfortable steering wheel instantly transfers your actions to the wheels. Yes, Fabia pleased me on the road. And it accelerates well: 105 horses and an engine size of 1.6 will not let you fail on overtaking, and the automatic transmission did not fail, surprisingly, it did not slow down anywhere and allowed the car to accelerate briskly when you press the gas. The suspension is quite stiff, you don’t feel it on the road, on the contrary, I think that without such a suspension at a speed of 120 km / h you would be demolished during lane changes, but no, Fabia stands on wheels with perseverance and very confidently. But on the “lying” rumbles and shaking are such that your head starts to hurt, so try to avoid them if you are going to buy this car for yourself.
And now about the price .. Fabia could become a 100% competitive product on the market in its segment, if not for the price .. Well, why, dear manufacturers, you finally made a good worthy car no worse, and in some ways even better, but could not meet the price, why???
In this configuration, the car would cost you about $ 22,000, and this is already the beginning of the price categories of cars of a completely different class. Of course, you can refuse a number of functions and buy this car for a more or less normal price, but you want maximum comfort :).
Summing up our test, I can say the following: the car is really good, Skoda did their best, I think, make it the same price as Corsa, and Fabia would have no less on the roads.
Egor Dobrovolsky: "Skoda Fabia is an ambitious, practical, functional and high-quality product"
Recent years have been very fruitful for Skoda. Global sales grew, and with the advent of completely new models, for example, the Roomster and Octavia Scout, positions only strengthened. Roomster has absorbed all the advantages of a sedan and a hatchback, while the novelty has the advantages that are characteristic only of compact minivans. And the all-terrain vehicle Octavia Scout expands the range of possibilities for its owner.
The new beauty Fabia should also develop success, otherwise it is impossible to characterize the appearance. The cute, chubby bodywork is particularly eye-catching in red, while the Mini-style white roof only emphasizes the individuality of this car. In fact, the new model is fully consistent both internally and externally with all modern Skoda models, which means a strict, but very cozy and solid interior, in which there are quite a few elements from the VW Group, which includes Skoda. Accordingly, Fabia also borrows many components and parts from VW, in particular, the range of engines, transmissions and suspension elements. All this, of course, is good, but thus Skoda has long climbed into the segment of far from cheap cars, but we'll talk about prices later.
Appearance Skoda Fabia is typical for modern Skoda. The front part is crowned with a large false radiator grill, which basically gives Skoda models recognition. But this decorative element on the Fabia does not look so aggressive because of the rounded lines. The front of the car generally looks good-natured, which is also facilitated by large oval headlights. In profile, the novelty looks restrained and proportionate: no intricacies, everything is simple, and most importantly, a large glass area provides an excellent view from the inside. But even with an external examination, it becomes clear that the machine is not the most spacious.
In length, the novelty reaches almost four meters, but with such modest dimensions inside the car turned out to be very spacious. If there are no special problems along the length of people of different builds and heights, then the shoulders inside the new Fabia are pretty tight. Our car is also top-of-the-line, which means stylish, well-supported sports seats in a leather/Alacntara combination. Just these "buckets" do not give rest on the way: you can't sit down correctly, comfortably, and the "ears" of lateral support mercilessly dig into your sides. But the range of proposed mechanical adjustments is truly huge, and coupled with the ability to adjust the steering wheel in length and reach, this compensates for the discomfort of the seats.
But we note a particularly large supply of headroom due to the high roofline. In addition, the ease of transformation of the cabin deserves great praise: in the standard position, you have 300 liters of usable volume at your disposal, and if you fold the backs of the second row, which does not require any effort, the figure increases to an impressive 1163 liters! The creators of the Skoda Fabia noted that they created the front of the interior specifically for the driver and his companion, which implies good ergonomics. So it is, except that the air conditioning unit would be better placed higher where the music system is located, i.e. swap them.
The front panel is similar to what we see today on modern models of the Volkswagen Group. So the same climate control unit with a nice little display is borrowed from the fourth generation VW Golf. All controls are located in convenient places, the center console and instrument panel are made in a simple style and very ergonomic. Finishing materials are pleasant both in appearance and to the touch. Front and side airbags, curtain airbags and stability control will be standard equipment, as will ISOFIX child seat mountings.
The range of engines for the Skoda Fabia includes three petrol engines with a volume of 1.2 liters, 1.4 liters and 1.6 liters. The main advantage of each of them is low fuel consumption. But with the dynamics, everything is not so rosy. Gasoline versions, except for the 1.6-liter 105-horsepower, accelerate sluggishly, although there is in principle enough thrust to maintain the pace in the stream. We have a 102-horsepower 1.6-liter Skoda Fabia modification on our test. This eight-valve engine is a real veteran. In order to meet modern requirements for environmental friendliness of the exhaust, the engineers “strangled” it: very good traction on the bottoms, confident pickup at medium speeds, and a complete lack of strength at the top. So there is no point in turning the engine, especially since fuel consumption increases and it becomes very noisy in the cabin.
The automatic transmission is quite comfortable in operation, but only in a calm rhythm: the box moves thoughtfully, with jerks in kick-dine. Manual mode is more of a sham than a practical feature. Regardless of the modification, all Skoda Fabia are equipped with electric power steering, thanks to which the parking process is not difficult. Another thing is that the steering wheel lacks information content, especially at low speeds.
The main rivals of the new
From now on, Skoda Fabia will be a fashionable, youthful, bright and fast car. Forget the high roof, upright seating position, dreary trim levels and practicality at the forefront! The third-generation Fabia crouched down and rang out in the shoulders. It has become 3 cm lower, and the width is now 9 cm more - this exceeds the average for the class. The hatchback actually looks more dynamic than before. But - exactly "than before", and not than the main competitors. On which Fabia has now become similar, having lost the stylistic zest of the previous generation in the form of a “vertical” usable space and visually divided into two levels of volume.
With a scope and a squint
“Painted” with an eye on young people, the new Fabia looks like most B-class cars: a fashionable squint of optics, a hood stretched forward, a low habitable superstructure shifted to the stern and a low overall silhouette. But now it can be considered as a car for a young family or as a second car in a family that has already taken place.
ColourConcept's extensive customization options are designed to enhance the youthful effect: it seems that no one in the class offers such a set of colors for exterior and interior design - 125 color combinations approved by designers! In the Fabia catalogs there are 15 colors for the body, four each for the roof, disks and mirrors, nine types of interior design plus seven “factory” options for its decoration ... So that the buyer can overcome this arithmetic without getting bogged down in a hundred pages of sketches and tables, Skoda has created the Style Guide, an electronic guide to its styling options. But we will leave the theory and move on to practice. Behind the wheel - all the more so, three cars are waiting for me at once!
And in fact...
The range of Fabia power units has been completely updated, and according to the creators, first of all, for the sake of high dynamics. In any Skoda showroom they will tell you that the fastest car in the B-class today wears a winged arrow on the radiator: Fabia 1.2 TSI (110 hp) has a “maximum speed” of 196 km / h and accelerates to a hundred in 9.4 c. Well, yes, yes, there are at least Renault Clio RS and Opel Corsa OPC, but with similar sizes they still play in a different segment and are sold for other money. We are talking, of course, about stock mass machines.
Since the Czechs are so insistent on the driver's habits of the model, let's approach her behavior with strict youth criteria. So, from the whole variety of Fabia new power units (4 gasoline engines and 3 diesel engines, from 1.0 to 1.6 liters and from 60 to 110 hp), I tried the most powerful options that could be acceptable for the conditions of the post-Soviet space.
1.6 MPI with "automatic" The largest Fabia engine is with distributed gasoline injection into the intake manifold, it will not be sold in Europe, apparently, its lot is the CIS countries, India, China and other second-order markets. But this is not the good old 1.6 MPI CFNA brand, which millions of owners of Octavia, Rapid and VW Polo Sedan fell in love with for simplicity and reliability.
And this is immediately noticeable in a comfortable start - the car does not shudder with its whole body, as happened with the Rapid and Polo Sedan. The new motor received an intake manifold built into the 16-valve block head and a phase shifter on the "intake" camshaft.
On the go, 1.6 MPI is indeed quite dynamic, and with intensive acceleration it also growls almost like an adult. The motor works comfortably and flexibly, but the maximum pickup is short - in the region of 4000 rpm. However, I only learned about this from the technical specifications printed on paper, since the automatic transmission took care of keeping the engine in the most favorable rev range.
This classic "automatic", with a hydraulic clutch and six steps, turned out to be the most striking impression of the new Fabia. Interesting in itself, this automatic transmission is perfectly coordinated with this 1.6-liter engine. As a result, its behavior differs little from that of some Fabias with small turbo engines.
Like the DSG, our classic automatic transmission smoothly shifts through the gears under gentle acceleration, switching “up” extremely early for the sake of fuel economy – already at 1800 – 2000 rpm. But the electronic brain of the "machine" understands well and quickly what the driver wants - and it is only once to press the accelerator more confidently, as the gear change occurs already at 3000 rpm. And with a kickdown, the car immediately starts to twist the engine to a cutoff at 6000 rpm. At the same time, in any mode, switching occurs without shocks and “freezes”, the moment of changing the stage is noticeable only by the sound (and even then not always) and the wave of the tachometer needle.
I liked the classic “automatic” Fabia in urban toffee - no “misunderstandings” when alternating decelerations and accelerations and the associated “up and down” jerking of the box.
Probably, due to the presence of a fluid coupling, this box does not save fuel as well as preselective “robots”. However, in urban mode, the Fabia 1.6 MPI trip computer with automatic transmission showed good results: 5.8-6.4 l / 100 km (depending on traffic) with a calm ride and 8.8 l / 100 km with an unrestrained active style.
1.2 TSI with "automatic"DSG The famous Volkswagen “robot” with seven gears and dry clutches, as if on purpose, was created as a partner for the 1.2 TSI motor, which is equipped with direct gasoline injection into the cylinders and turbocharging. The preselective helps the small-capacity “four” realize its best qualities: save fuel with a quiet ride, and, if the driver wishes, provide bright dynamics. The car is noticeably livelier than the 1.6-liter version, but there is still no feeling that the car follows every movement of the accelerator - it is felt that the motor does most of its work due to revolutions. And they still need time to collect!
However, it is surprising that the range of exciting acceleration of a supercharged engine is much wider than that of an atmospheric one: as such, there is none, although the turbo engine pulls noticeably weaker “below”. However, as in the case of the first power unit, the driver does not have to worry about this - the electronic brain of the DSG box decides for itself what speed, what gear and what moment to select it.
And he solves it this way: slowly moving along a city street, I see 65 km / h on the speedometer, 1200 rpm on the tachometer, and on the scoreboard above them - the 7th gear indicator. After the kickdown, upshifts occur at 6000-6200 rpm - if you keep the throttle open all the time, the compact car rushes forward very quickly, it takes your breath away.
Interestingly, this is how continuous acceleration looks like after switching the box to Sport mode. But with any release of gas, the “automatic” sport mode does not allow the speed to immediately fall to zero, all the while maintaining the power unit in readiness to “drop” down a couple of steps and quickly push the car forward. The sound of the engine reaches the cabin at high speeds, but its timbre is unpleasant and similar to the nervous buzz of road bikes.
Unlike many other "machines", I liked the manual mode of the DSG box - it is really useful. No, I didn’t manage to outdo the super-fast “robot” in dexterity, but it allows me to fully brake with the engine - just like I would do in a car with “mechanics”! At the same time, the electronics do not allow violence against the transmission and the motor, not allowing you to switch to an excessively low gear. When driving in too high a gear, the car does not interfere with the process, but only prompts the recommended step on the scoreboard.
1.2 TSI with "mechanics" The combination of the same direct-injection turbo engine with a six-speed manual has only one plus - a lower price. Since it is unlikely that anyone will be able to switch more accurately and faster than a “robot”. Fortunately, there are also few disadvantages: in order to realize all the advantages of 1.2 TSI, you will have to learn how to switch up as early as possible for economical driving and as close to the cutoff as possible - if you want to “break away”. It's easy - I did it almost immediately. The backstage of the MCP is impeccable: the VW Group school makes itself felt.
At the end of the "motor" topic, it is worth noting that all the engines of the new Fabia received a set of bold design solutions that claim to be innovative. For example, this is a timing belt drive with a wide belt with an increased resource. They say that it is not necessary to change it at all, but I don’t believe in this yet - let these motors first “run” 150 thousand each.
On the run
A separate chapter in the Fabia new press release is devoted to fine-tuning the driving performance of the car. To match the new look, the designers wanted to improve handling. They succeeded, the car became more interesting: for a mass civilian car, the steering wheel is quite sharp and poured, the rolls are small (unlike the previous “minivan” Fabia), and does not throw up the stern during sudden changes. On the native “fifteenth” Nexen Nblue HD tires, the car warns with a squeal about the imminent demolition of the front end.
The suspension handles most of the bumps comfortably. On asphalt waves, it tries to elastically dampen vibrations, although not always successfully, but it does not lose the road. On large hard potholes, the car shakes.
The brakes are not sharp, comfortable, but with one caveat: ABS is too sensitive and when decelerating on bumps, it comes into play every now and then. Only on the most powerful versions of the Fabia (for example, "my" 1.2 TSI 110 hp), the Czechs put disc brakes on the rear wheels. But this is rather a tribute to design: even with the most “evil” ride, there is no lack of efficiency on the “drums”.
New level
Skoda Fabia is not the first in the B-class who seemed to me worthy of a higher segment - other automakers are demonstrating a similar trend today. First of all, we are talking about acoustic comfort: the car is very quiet, the road is almost completely muffled (it is clear that we are talking about a flat road), the engine is heard only at high speeds, there are no vibrations. Secondly, the wealth of electronic equipment is surprising. Keyless access to the passenger compartment and engine start, start / stop system, auto-wipers and headlights, two parking sensors, speed limiter, driver fatigue control and automatic braking in case of an excessively short distance. Already in the base are four airbags, an ESC stability control system, MKB anti-collision brakes and an XDS + differential self-locking simulation module.
I liked the top Bolero multimedia system on one of the test machines - with intelligently spaced component acoustics and such a set of functions for connecting to a smartphone that any teenager would simply take their breath away. The Swing mid-range radio (it's in our photos) also sounds good, although its communicative functionality is limited to almost Bluetooth alone. I was impressed by the armrest, designed in such a cunning way that it does not interfere with the use of the handbrake even in the lowered state. Visibility from the driver's seat isn't great, and it's not the lowered seat, but the thick roof pillars. Well, five EuroNCAP stars don't come easy. The picture in the saloon rear-view mirror resembles the view in a tank triplex - narrow and small, but the side mirrors help well, so in general you can get used to it.
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There are other disadvantages as well. For example, the plastic parts of the top of the dashboard and the bottom of the center console look cheap, and two comfortable ceiling lamps above the rear seat, when turned on, terribly move the entire upholstery of the ceiling.
Genes in the glove compartment
Becoming over the past couple of decades, Skoda has passed on this genome to the new Fabia. No matter how the marketers of the brand with the youthful advancement and style of the Fabia III rush today, the notorious practicality is not relegated to the far corner. Raised to a cult, it shines through every crevice of the Fabia.
Everywhere there are pockets, pockets, niches, hooks for elastic nets and the nets themselves. The trunk is huge - 330/1150 liters, its shelf can be placed on two levels. I would make a serious reproach only for the back of the rear seat sticking out high when folded - because of this step, it will not be easy to stuff something heavy and long into the trunk. Maybe this is due to the fact that the Czechs adapted the rear seat from the previous generation Fabia? (In total, Fabia new has 9.5% of parts from the previous generation) And it’s also a shame that there was no air conditioner nozzle in the glove compartment: having appeared on the first Fabia, this feature was very useful for lovers of chilled drinks and chocolate in the heat.
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Dmitry Yurasov
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At first glance, in its new generation, Skoda Fabia has not undergone fundamental technical changes: a transversely mounted engine with three or four cylinders, front suspension - McPherson, rear - semi-independent on a torsion beam. But in fact, the model is now based on the latest version of the global Volkswagen MQB platform with its own designation MQB-A0. This means that the front module with electric power steering and other electrics is almost completely taken from the “older” Skoda Octavia (hence the increased wheel track), and the rear one is original, newly developed. The principal difference is that the MQB-A0 does not have an independent rear suspension option, as it is considered too complex and expensive for a B-class car. Nevertheless, the developers did not stint on modern materials: the widespread use of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels in the supporting structure of the body made it possible to save 50 kg of weight.
The range of engines in the new Fabia is also new, and all gasoline units belong to the EA211 family, designed specifically for the MQB. Its main design features are a completely aluminum construction instead of the previous cast-iron block, a belt drive for the gas distribution mechanism and the ability to turn off half of the cylinders in the “four”. Together with a few other technical tweaks, this has resulted in a lighter weight, more compact footprint and better economy, although doubts have been raised about reliability and maintainability. However, the manufacturer claims that the service life of the timing belt is equal to the resource of the engine as a whole, that is, replacement is not required.
The family includes a liter three-cylinder engine in power versions - 60 hp. (CHYA) and 75 hp (CHYB), 1.2-liter turbocharged “four”, also with various degrees of forcing - 90 hp. (CJZC) and 110 hp (CJZD), and a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated. The latter, familiar from the same Octavia, is designed specifically for Russians: it produces 90 or 105 “horses” and, in its most powerful version, can be aggregated with a six-speed “automatic” Aisin TF-61SN. The 1.2 TSI unit has a version with the proprietary Volkswagen DSG “robot”, and the “three-ruble note” works exclusively in tandem with the “mechanics”. The budget of this engine is also manifested in the absence of a balance shaft, due to which increased vibrations are observed in some operating modes.
like the Polo or the Fiesta have been bestsellers in Europe for decades, and with good reason. Their trump cards are cost, reliability, efficiency and practicality. The first two generations of the Skoda Fabia had similar advantages. Budget cars were to the liking of many and diverged like hot cakes. However, Skoda has recently changed its role, reborn from a brand for the people, which may not have shined with outstanding design and technical indicators, into something more, the models of which can already compete on equal terms with serious rivals from a higher class. In no way inferior to the leaders of the segment.
Let's start today's story from the very beginning. Fabia production was launched in 1999. This means that Fabia is one of the youngest models and also one of the most successful. It has always been based on the Polo platform, and affordable prices have meant that hundreds of thousands of people have been able to purchase this model.
The Fabia's main strengths also had a downside: it stood out for its boring design and outdated features. This became especially clear on the new 2007 model, the Fabia Mk2. Demand for it has seriously fallen in the last two years of its existence. Given that the project was super-successful overall, with 3.5 million people buying the Fabia during its release, the problem needed to be addressed.
The long-awaited replacement for the outdated model concept of the Czech auto giant was shown. In the back of this 5-door hatch, completely new and updated components were mixed. Skoda says that the car has 10% parts from the old Fabia, 40% improved, reworked parts from compact cars (Polo) and approximately 50% of the bodywork is presented using elements of "MQB modules".
Let's start our review of the 2015 Fabia with the exterior. Look at the yellow coloring and tell me what you see besides the flashy coloring? Fabia has changed dimensions, it has become wider by 90 mm and slightly reduced in height. Such rearrangements in the exterior had a very good effect on the appearance of the novelty. This instantly negates the somewhat unsightly appearance that the older model had.
We understand that the appearance of a car is always a matter of taste, look at the photos and decide for yourself whether the Czechs managed to create a beautiful and modern car? We are sure that most of us will answer this question in the affirmative. In black or silver, the hatch feels even more stocky and sporty enough, especially when compared to the 208 or Clio. However, Fabia really suits the yellow color, which gives mischievous slyness and summer mood. A kind of bumblebee in the city field flying between the beehives.
Josef Kaban, Skoda's chief designer, was tasked with making a small car that would look like racing Fabias from the series with its exterior. It turned out really good quality. Remotely, the car with its proportions and accents resembles rally ancestors. We are also sure that the designer of Skoda has received another, mutually exclusive task, to make Fabia such that it will still be of interest to older customers, who are extremely important for the Czech automaker.
Let's not forget, Europe's largest automaker by volume of cars produced and it is vital for him to hold on to existing customers, rather than muddy the waters by creating a car under the old model, with new characteristics.
From the front, the Fabia looks like a cross between a Polo 6R and an Octavia. Its square headlights fit snugly into the black grille, which is rimmed with chrome inserts. This cosmetic trick was used to make the front bumper look wider. Below, we see an additional, small air intake and fairly large fog lights, both design features carried over from previous Fabia models.
The profile of the 2015 Fabia is characterized by clean lines and simple shapes. It does not use overloaded design "constructions" and intricate lines with a hint of the presence of a second meaning. You won't find any hidden door handles here like on the Clio or a big, chrome-plated badge like on the 208. It also doesn't try to look sportier with a sloping roof like the Ford Fiesta does. Nothing superfluous, everything in moderation, a neat modern thoughtful design, that's the difference between Fabia and its advantage over competitors.
The trump card of this thoughtful design is that you get excellent lateral visibility and good aerodynamics.
Some will be disappointed by the appearance of the rear of the hatch. By today's standards, the design of the tailgate is too lean, lacking many of the trim elements, LEDs and other nice little things that we have become accustomed to lately. Or maybe it's for the better, a kind of rarely seen minimalism also has a place to be!
Any true "Skodaman" first of all thinks about functionality and practicality, so we need to open the trunk and look at the car from a different angle. 330 liters of interior space, not bad. No, great! The new Fabia is by far the best car in its class when it comes to shopping trips. In fact, it can be compared with some larger cars, such as. Ford has a luggage compartment volume of 363 liters, these are the tricks.
We think that the capacity of the trunk and the efficiency of diesel engines will be the two main reasons why people will choose the new Skoda Fabia.
Practical test: a trip to shops and supermarkets on the day off, we buy in full. Results: even despite the unsparing mode of operation during shopping (40 liters of bottled water, two large bags of groceries and a sea of other stuff were loaded into the car), the car passed the test with honor, not disappointing with the ability to absorb a considerable amount of goods into its bowels . The trunk in terms of volume is not just acceptable, but "bottomless", for its class of cars by itself.
We figured out the capacity, it's time to drive? OK. We sit in the driver's seat and carefully drive out onto the road, constantly keeping in mind the important cargo, eggs and service behind, otherwise they will suddenly be beaten ?!
In fact, the accuracy of Fabia 2015 does not occupy it, it comes with a large number of security systems, and in the cabin there are many convenient shelves and recesses for storing important and necessary small things, the same bottle holders, nets and shelves. We pay attention to the coasters, because they deserve it, as they have a rubberized bottom, which means that you can open the bottle with one hand. Here are the wise Czechs! Don't be lazy, think about it.
People often joke that small cars are like refrigerators on wheels, as they express their displeasure towards cars in this segment. But Fabia is a refrigerator for other reasons. For example, she has shelves in the trunk to conveniently lay out small things, just like you can put a bottle of milk on a shelf in the refrigerator door. The 2015 Fabia models do not have a raised floor in the luggage compartment, the engineers thought that he would “eat” the available space. However, the top shelf can be removed and installed in the middle of the trunk, essentially giving you two levels to put your stuff on. Again, this feature reminds us of refrigerators with adjustable shelves. These are the associations.
The doors are almost square in shape and open wide, so getting in and out is easy and comfortable. And when you wake up on a cold December morning and see that the windows are covered with ice, you do not need to climb into the car. On the gas tank hatch on the inside, caring Czechs placed a small scraper to clean the ice. You can argue about its practicality as much as you like, but it's still pleasant and unusual.
There are more practical features in the cabin, such as handy trinket pockets in the doors and nets where you can put things. The only thing that could be faulted in terms of practical convenience was a ledge in the trunk that made it difficult to load and the unfolded seats did not create a flat flat area.
What is unusual about the interior of the Fabia?
In the Fabia, you feel almost like in a Volkswagen Polo and the sensations behind the wheel are similar, even the hand rests on the armrest is identical to the placement of the infotainment system in the Polo. Skoda is apparently right that the Fabia 3 is wider than its predecessor, while the front track and wheelbase are identical to the German sister. Thanks to these changes, the capacity of the car inside has increased, but the external dimensions of the car have not suffered, which primarily affected the car's handling in urban conditions.
The similarities continue in the placement and design of the steering wheel, 6.5-inch infotainment system, climate control system, gear lever and handbrake. Of course, all these things are finished with a specific finish. In general, it turned out in two ways. On the one hand, class elements are present in a cheaper car - this is good news. On the other hand, there are elements from another car in the interior, and it somehow doesn’t sound very good.
Skoda has tried to cut costs wherever possible and save money to invest in the really important technology for the Fabia. That's why the plastic on the dashboard is hard, the same as on the doors. You can see the presence of savings here and there, in principle, it does not bother, at first glance it frankly surprises, then you get used to it.
Seen from afar, the Fabia's interior feels more premium than the Polo's, in part because of the brushed metal trim that runs through the front fascia. But mostly it seemed so because of the add. options that were on our test instance. It took a little time to make sure that all the gloss quickly disappears when you study the finish in more detail.
The most interesting option was a full panoramic roof that ran almost from the windshield to the trunk. Guess how much it cost? €2000? What about €512? It's so cheap that we think those who don't order the optional panoramic roof are making a big mistake. Sports seats with integrated headrests were available for €154, as was an "Audi-style" sports steering wheel for €186.
Why was it necessary to "shove" such options into a car, most of whose buyers are pensioners or adults? Most likely, it was just necessary to make a contrast, young people are also not averse to buying an inexpensive, small car, and in order to feel in an “expensive and sports car”, it’s not a sin to overpay extra money for convenience.
True, in motion, the “sports” steering wheel is not very comfortable in the hands, and okay, it looks great!
As for the seats, they are good and remind us of the typical bucket design. The only question for the manufacturer is whether advanced lateral seat support is needed on a car with an engine power not exceeding 110 hp? The question is rhetorical.
Engines Skoda Fabia 2015
Beneath all the fabrics and plastics, the 3rd generation Fabia is a mixture of brand new technologies and reworked old ones. The Czech company also claims that up to 65 kg of weight has been shed. For a small car in accordance with its class, the loss is decent. With a diesel engine and a DSG gearbox, the Fabia can approach 1.2 tons in weight. The third generation is wider and slightly lighter than before, which brings some dynamic advantages.
All engines offered on the Fabia are brand new. Base models come with a 1.0 liter engine and an MPI (Multi Point Injection) system, which is a naturally aspirated 3-cylinder engine that replaces the old 1.2 liter engine. The weakest version provides 60 hp. With. and 95 Nm of torque, then comes the model with 75 horsepower, but the same amount of torque as the previous version. Since the dynamics of small cars leave much to be desired in today's traffic, 15 seconds to reach 100 km / h is powerful (!), In quotes of course. Nor does the motor have any real advantage like fuel economy. Therefore, we believe that 1.0 engines must necessarily come with turbines.
Here are two slightly different 1.2 TSI units that can be found under the hood of the 2015 Fabia, which is another matter. One makes 90 liters. with., 160 Nm of torque and is available only with a 5-speed manual. A more powerful version with four valves per cylinder, has 110 hp. with., 175 Nm, it can be ordered either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed DSG box.
Consumption in the city is reduced by about 0.5 l / 100 km through the use of a start / stop system, brake energy recovery. The turbocharger on the "old-new" 1.2 TSI engine has also changed its position.
Why doesn't Skoda move from its 1.2-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine when Ford, Opel, Peugeot and Renault, and just about everyone, have been using 3-cylinder engines of 1 liter or less for a long time? The advantages of Skoda engines are: at least you don't need to change gears as often as it happens on small engines with a volume of less than 1.0 liters, you don't have to turn the engine to get maximum performance from it.
Racing enthusiasts may want to know that the ECU is tuned for a comfortable ride and low fuel consumption, but not for maximum performance. So below 2000 rpm, our test car didn't feel the way it should at the claimed 110 horsepower. For comparison: despite the lower torque, the naturally aspirated Mazda2 with 115 hp With. accelerates to 100 km/h 0.7 seconds faster than the Fabia.
Fabia is presented with 1.4 TDI. The best option for economical car owners. Three variations of a completely new three-cylinder unit, available in three power options: 75, 90 and 105 horsepower. At the end of 2015, the 1.4-litre Greenline diesel model will be fitted to the new Fabia, reducing emissions to 82g/100km.
Fuel consumption 2015 Skoda Fabia
The official fuel consumption on the highway is 4 l / 100 km. But in practice, no matter how hard we tried, the computer did not show consumption below 4.7 liters, and at the end of the long journey, we were completely content with 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
In the city, when driving in normal road conditions, the results were 8.1 l / 100km, almost 30% more than was officially announced. It is worth considering, however, that this is a new car that has not yet been fully run-in. After 5,000 runs, the figures for efficiency will improve, and by 10,000 they will finally be fixed at the required level.
Outcome
The Czechs know how to make good cars. 2015 Skoda Fabia is no exception. Among its closest competitors, this car stands out for its not pretentious design, beautiful shapes and mind-blowing solutions, no. It stands out for its gut, its essence and well-thought-out technologies, modern technical solutions. Pleasant little things (albeit sometimes controversial) are present. It can be seen that the engineers approached the creation of a car with a soul, trying to make a truly comfortable car. It will not shine with dynamics, but it will give its owner many pleasant moments in everyday operation. Which is required of 90% of cars.
