• Fabia
      • Fabia Hatch
        Fabia Hatch
        Model page Car configurator
        Featuring the very latest in Volkswagen Group technological and safety advancements
        • SmartLink to sync your car and smartphone
        • Rear View Camera
        • Front Assist with City Emergency Brake

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figure as per ADR 81/02 for 66TSI manual.

        • luggage305l /1125l
        • fuel4.8l/100km
      • Fabia Wagon
        Fabia Wagon
        Model page Car configurator
        Featuring the very latest in Volkswagen Group technological and safety advancements
        • SmartLink to sync your car and smartphone

        • Rear View Camera

        • Green Tech for improved fuel economy

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figures as per ADR 81/02 for 66TSI manual.

        • luggage505l /1370l
        • fuel4.8l/100km
  • Rapid
      • Rapid
        Rapid
        Model page Car configurator
        ŠKODA’s versatile compact car
        • Sporty freshness and dynamic elegance
        • A spacious, attractive interior with stylish three-spoke steering wheel
        • 17” Black Alloys and LED daytime running lights (part of Image Pack)​​

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figures as per ADR 81/02 for 1.4L 92kw DSG

        • luggage384l /1349l
        • fuel4.9l/100km
      • Rapid Monte Carlo
        Rapid Monte Carlo
        Model page Car configurator
        Exciting stylish urban dweller with compact body

        • Black designed elements, panoramic roof and tailgate with extended glazing

        • 17" alloy wheels in a glossy black design

        • Sports seats in a black/red combination, 3-spoke sport steering wheel

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figures as per ADR 81/02 for 1.4L 92kw DSG

        • luggage384l /1349l
        • fuel4.9l/100km
  • Octavia
      • Octavia
        Octavia
        Model page Car configurator
        A high performance family car in a class of its own
        • A powerful and fuel efficient engine​
        • ​Innovative comfort features and 5 star ANCAP safety rating
        • Adaptive Cruise Control now standard across the entire Octavia range

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figure as per ADR 81/02 for 110TDI DSG

        • luggage568l /1558l
        • fuel4.7l/100km
      • Octavia RS
        Octavia RS
        Model page Car configurator
        Turbocharge your family drive
        • Powerful 162TSI or 135TDI turbocharged engines ​​​
        • Advanced safety features including 9 airbags as standard
        • Impressive 8" touchscreen satellite navigation

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figure as per ADR 81/02 for 135TDI DSG

        • luggage568l /1558l
        • fuel4.8l/100km
      • Octavia Scout 4x4
        Octavia Scout 4x4
        Model page Car configurator
        Practicality of a family vehicle, with the appeal of an SUV
        • All-wheel drive technology adjusts to changing road conditions
        • Choice of powerful and fuel efficient diesel and petrol engine​s with Green Tech (Stop Start and Brake Energy Recuperation)

        • Uncompromising commitment to safety


          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figure as per ADR 81/02 for 110TDI DSG

        • luggage588l /1718l
        • fuel4.9l/100km
      • Octavia Wagon
        Octavia Wagon
        Model page Car configurator
        Not your everyday family wagon
        • More powerful, more fuel efficient engine
        • Innovative comfort and 5 star ANCAP safety rating
        • Adaptive Cruise Control now standard across the entire Octavia range

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figure as per ADR 81/02 for 110TDI DSG

        • luggage588l /1718l
        • fuel4.7l/100km
      • Octavia RS Wagon
        Octavia RS Wagon
        Model page Car configurator
        Turbocharge your family drive
        • Powerful 162TSI or 135TDI turbocharged engine ​​​
        • Advanced safety features including 9 airbags as standard 
        • Impressive 8" touchscreen satellite navigation 

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figure as per ADR 81/02 for 135TDI DSG

        • luggage588l /1718l
        • fuel4.9l/100km
  • Yeti
      • Yeti
        Yeti
        Model page Car configurator
        Put more in, get more out
        • Features a ​stylish and elegant design
        • VarioFlex rear seat system
        • Uncompromising commitment to safety​​

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figures as per ADR 81/02 for 1.2TSI 81​kw manual 4x2 / Max. luggage space is with the rear seats removed​​​.

        • luggage321l /1665l
        • fuel5.6l/100km
      • Yeti Outdoor
        Yeti Outdoor
        Model page Car configurator
        Introducing the great outdoors
        • Features a new stylish and elegant design
        • VarioFlex rear seat system
        • Uncompromising commitment to safety​

          Disclaimer: Fuel consumption figure shown is a combined figure as per ADR 81/02 for 2.0 TDI DSG 103kw 4x4 / Max. luggage space is with the rear seats removed​

        • luggage321l /1665l
        • fuel6.5l/100km
  • New Superb
      • New Superb Sedan
        New Superb Sedan
        Model page Car configurator
        Some see a badge, where others see Superb

        • 162TSI, 140TDI and 206STI engine variants

        • Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist

        • Impressive boot space: 625L
        • luggage625l /1670l
        • fuel4.8l/100km
      • New Superb Wagon
        New Superb Wagon
        Model page Car configurator
        Some see a badge, where others see Superb
        • 162TSI, 140TDI and 206STI engine variants
        • Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist
        • Impressive boot space: 660L
        • luggage660l /1835l
        • fuel4.8l/100km

CarsGuide: 2015 ŠKODA Fabia Review

8/07/2015
Reviewed by: Craig Duff
CarsGuide rating: 4 out of 5 stars

ŠKODA has made a serious pitch for the crown of best-value city car, launching a bigger and better Fabia hatch and wagon with pricing from $15,990 driveaway.
That is still a couple of grand above Suzuki's Celerio - and only a manual is available at that price — but the baby ŠKODA comes standard with automatic emergency braking, a bigger engine and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with SmartLink integration for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphones.

The Fabia is set to continue ŠKODA's sales momentum, which has been growing steadily after a slow start since entering the local market in 2007. The company's sales have grown by almost a third this year — albeit off a low base — and it is now nipping at the heels of Peugeot and Fiat.

THE INTERIOR IS BASIC BUT WELL BUILT
Sit behind the wheel of the new Fabia and it isn't hard to understand why buyers are browsing the Czech-built brand.

The interior is basic but well built. Soft-touch plastics aren't in evidence and the padding on the door armrests isn't plush but this is a vehicle about value rather than being in vogue. Accordingly there's reasonable rear room for a couple of adults and luggage capacity that ranges from 305 litres in the hatch to 505 litres in the wagon. The technology is the biggest highlight, though it isn't flawless.

ŠKODA Australia held out to get the latest 6.5-inch infotainment unit that lets smartphones connect and then uses the mobile's apps — based on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay — to operate most functions.

The upside is the $950 satnav option won't be needed and there'll be no requirement to pay for future map updates. The downside is users will need to monitor the mobile's data allowance or they could quickly face a blowout in their monthly bills.

A radar-operated autonomous city braking program is standard on all models and helped the Fabia achieve a five-star ANCAP rating, but controversially a reversing camera can't be had for any money. Instead, front and rear sensors and a simulated optical display deal with detecting obstacles. Storage spots are spacious and numerous from the increasingly rare glovebox with room for more than gloves to bottle and cup holders and a smart rear cargo area with blinds, nets and hooks to secure loads in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The entry car uses a 66kW turbocharged 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine matched to a five-speed manual gearbox. The $15,990 driveaway price grows by $1500 for the wagon version, identified by a longer body and silver roof rails. ŠKODA doesn't have the luxury of being able to sell the cheapest model in manual and auto guises, despite the VW Group fitting an auto to the same engine in the Volkswagen Polo. That will restrict the 66TSI's appeal to what Skoda predicts will be 20 per cent of sales. That leaves the 81kW version of the same engine as the hero of the Fabia range, albeit at a steep jump in price. Matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto, the 81TSI costs $20,290, the wagon $21,790. Beyond the drivetrain, the higher-output version adds a centre console armrest, cruise control and alloy instead of steel wheels.

Packs bundle the likes of fatigue detection, upgraded wheels and LED daytime running lights and there's now a "colour concepts" option that packages pre-set contrasting colours on the wheels, side mirror caps, windscreen pillars and roof.

ON THE ROAD
Take-offs are smooth in the auto and the seven-cog self-shifter seamlessly grabs gears as the pace picks up. It's a different story when heading downhill on a trailing throttle as the DSG 'box hangs on to third gear like it is locked in manual. It is presumably to help engine braking when the software detects a descent but the Fabia is far from refined in this mode. The manual doesn't suffer from this affliction. Five forwards gears is about par in the light car field and the Skoda's turbo engine only needs 2000rpm on the tacho to start hustling.

Hustling is a relative term - the auto hits the 100km/h dash about 9.4 seconds after launch; the manual comes in at a tick under 11 seconds. Again that's acceptable at this price and for a car destined to spend most of its life in the city.

The Fabia's handling is a lesson for many of the Asian carmakers. The steering is light with enough tactile stimulation to clearly identify which way the wheels are pointed and there's surprisingly little body roll through the turns. Noise suppression is also impressive, particularly when benchmarked against its light car rivals.

The autonomous emergency braking duly alerts the driver with a flashing icon and a beep before auto-braking if the human fails to respond.

SPECIFICATIONS
Price From $15,990

VERDICT
ŠKODA continues to kick goals and the Fabia is a shiny example of giving more for less. As such it deserves checking out.

ŠKODA Fabia
Price: from $15,990-$21,790
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km
Capped price servicing: Yes 3yrs/45,000km
Service interval: 12 months/15,000km
Resale: 50 per cent (est)
Safety: Five stars, seven airbags
Engines: 1.2-litre turbo 4-cylinder, 66kW/160Nm; 1.2-litre turbo 4-cylinder, 81kW/175Nm
Transmissions: 5-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutch auto, FWD
Thirst: 4.8L/100km (95 RON), 111g/km CO2
Dimensions: 3992mm (wagon 4257mm) (L), 1732mm (W), 1467mm (H), 2470mm (WB)
Weight: 1042-1111kg
Spare: speed-limited full-size steel

Read more

27/11/2013 SKODA Octavia 2013 launch review
Bigger, better-value Octavia MkIII feels more refined in almost every respect
Publisher: Carsales.com.au
​
27/11/2013 SKODA Octavia review first drive
Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the new 2014 Skoda Octavia at its Australian launch.
Publisher: CarsGuide.com.au
​
25/11/2013 New systems make ŠKODA’s production logistics more efficient and environmentally friendly
Modern top-level production logistics is the cornerstone of ŠKODA vehicle production. ’Simply Clever’: New systems simplify processes and protect the environment. The right part in the right place at the right time, now even quicker.
21/11/2013 1.5 million ŠKODAs produced at the Kvasiny plant
ŠKODA  AUTO has just manufactured its 1,500,000th vehicle at the Kvasiny plant, with the jubilee honours going to a ŠKODA Superb.
14/11/2013 Strong Growth for ŠKODA in October
Golden October: ŠKODA’s best October of all time. ŠKODA grew worldwide by 7.5% to 83,000 sales in October 2013. 768,700 customer deliveries in the first ten months.
11/11/2013 Successful production launch of the ŠKODA Yeti
Extensively revised ŠKODA Yeti rolls off the production lines at the Kvasiny plant. Two Yetis from one: ŠKODA Yeti and ŠKODA Yeti Outdoor. New distinctive design, fresh interior, innovative technology features.
9/11/2013 ‘Flying Finn’ wins again in ERC final in Switzerland
ŠKODA duo Lappi/Ferm triumph with a comfortable lead. Perfect end to a year full of title wins for ŠKODA.
8/11/2013 Lappi in the lead for ŠKODA in Switzerland too
​ŠKODA duo Lappi/Ferm also impressive in the ERC final in the Alps. A lead of 43.7 seconds ahead of final day of Rallye du Valais.
5/11/2013 Lappi sets sights on podium finish in the ERC final
​Esapekka Lappi and his co-driver Janne Ferm hope to secure a spot on the winners’ rostrum for ŠKODA in the final of the FIA ERC season.
3/11/2013 Lappi wins Rally China Longyou for ŠKODA
The perfect final: ŠKODA also clinches the manufacturers’ title in the APRC. Prestigious triple triumph in front of enthusiastic crowds in China.
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