► 2021 Skoda Fabia revealed
► Now uses MQB A0 platform
► New luxuries and engine range
Now this is how you do a new supermini. Skoda has revealed the fresh Fabia supermini hatchback, not long after Seat and VW facelifted the Ibiza and Polo. But, unlike the parents of the Ibiza and Polo cousins, Skoda’s actually put some effort into updating the Fabia.
It’s longer than before, boasts a low drag co-efficient, offers engines the Polo and Ibiza won’t and introduces some luxuries new to Skoda’s supermini.
Honey, they shrunk the Octavia
Given Skoda’s recent raft of new models refreshing the brand’s design language, the last-gen Fabia started to look like the odd one out. This new one, meanwhile, looks like someone squashed the larger Octavia hatchback front to back, with a stubby frontal area and lighting nicked straight off the bigger model.
It’s 111mm longer front to rear than before, with a 94mm increase in its wheelbase, and is 48mm wider. This new footprint is due, in part, to the Fabia’s migration onto the MQB A0 platform also used by the Polo and Ibiza. The new Fabia boasts a 380-litre boot volume – something Skoda claims is the largest in the supermini segment, and is just one single litre off the volume of a VW Golf. In a supermini, remember.
Active cooling shutters in the front help reduce the Fabia’s drag co-efficient to 0.28Cd, with fresh new colours and alloy wheel options available. LED lights are standard now, too.
Any interior and tech changes?
The new cockpit is a significant overhaul in its layout, and features details introduced in other recent Skoda models – namely a two-spoke steering wheel, digital instruments and optional climate control.
You can also spec the new Fabia with connected navigation, an Amundsen audio upgrade, VW Group’s Travel Assist (which bundles lane keep, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise into one system).
What about the Fabia’s engine range?
Interestingly, there is more contrast here when compared to the Ibiza and Polo. The range starts with naturally-aspirated 64bhp and 79bhp three-cylinders, moves on to a 108bhp turbocharged three-cylinder and tops out with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 148bhp. That last engine is unavailable to those wanting a new Ibiza or Polo, at least in the UK.
New Skoda Fabia: prices and spec
Skoda says the range will start from under €14,000 on the Continent, which roughly translates to around £12k in the UK. Given spec and engine differences are expected for the UK market, expect that entry price to be around £15k-£16k.
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