You are here : Research » User Written Reviews » Skoda Fabia Ambiente 1.2 MPI » Skoda Fabia Ambiente 1.2 MPI Reviews

Fabia the fabulous

A Review by Anoop Saxena on Skoda Fabia Ambiente 1.2 MPI
17 August, 2008 (Last Updated: 22 November, 2008)


Average User Rating :
Model Rating  :   99 reviews
Version Rating:   6 reviews
Write a review
User's Ratings for the car

Style
Comfort
Performance
Value for Money
Fuel Economy
 
Overall
Pros : seeing is believing
Cons : 1.4 liter MPI engine would have been better.
Review Popularity

Total Views 955
People Liked 5
People Disliked 0

 


Updated at 7500 kms.


After purchasing and driving first 1000 kms Fabia 1.2 MPI ambiente I would say "NOTHING COMPARES".  The car spells class and looks that drives you crazy. After driving Octavia for the last five years I was impressed by the quality skoda has built in. Therfore I did not check any cars and simply settled for a smaller Fabia.


Please note that 1.2 MPI is a three cylinder engine and not four as mentioned in Technical specs in Carwale. Spares are not very easily available since the car is built on imported CKD kit. So spares have to be imported and that needs time again. Even common parts such as tyres and battery are also imported that came with the car.


Stereo is good, but no rear speakers are provided by Skoda, however there is provision in rear doors for rear speakers and provision in stereo is there for fader. Aux input jack is also provided good feature you can connect your ipod or any other equipment that supports 3.5 mm stereo jack. A good feature if you get any warnings they are also audible in stereo speakers. The GALA setting in stereo increases the volume automatically as you speedup the car. The central locking locks the car automatically once it reaches a speed of 15km/hr. So do not worry if you forget to lock the car after reving up. This feature may not be present at the time of purchase you have to tell dealer to activate.


Skoda calls it a rough road pakage and I found that it is really a rough road car. The car has never touched the bottom though driving on extremely bad roads. On the same track Octavia '2003 touches the botom.


A word about the build of the car : thrice people have banged the car from behind, the bumper got scratched but that's it no damage to car.


A word of caution to all Fabia owners: Excercise extreme caution while reversing the car:



  1. The car is not as small as it appers in the rear view mirror.
  2. Since the roof of the car is tilting backwards the rear windshield is comparitively smaller.
  3. Rear head rests and even your own head rest interferes with the rear view.

So I would say that the view in the rear view mirror is not very encouraging. On my inaugral ride I gave a gentle bump to a Santro car and landed with two small scratches on the rear bumper, and every small scratch on the car leaves a big scratch on your heart.


AC chills in no time, rear AC ducts are below fornt seats and very comfortable for passengers sitting at the back seats. Heating is perfect, the temperature setting knob controls temperature perfectly.


Interestingly the rear seats in Fabia are more spacious than Octavia. No doubt.


I would say a good overall product. Try it you will know the difference.


 




Was this review helpful to you ? Yes | No

21 Comment(s) on this Review

  1. on 18 Aug, 2008 at 12:27 PM Bhushan Msn (Bangalore)

    Anoop,

    Congratulations on your new Fabia Ambient 1.2 MPI. I can see neighbours envy!!

    Request you to kindly also post details of fuel-mileage now that you have crossed the 1000km mark. A split (city/highway mileage) would be helpful.

    Also do comment on the build factor. How do the suspensions work. And ofcourse an indicative price / special offers which you got.

    Thanks,
    Bhushan

  2. on 18 Aug, 2008 at 01:45 PM Anoop Saxena (Gurgaon)

    Dear Bhushan,
    Thanks for writing in. Actually to workout fuel efficiency I need some time to verify. I will post actual figures later sometime.

    Suspension is really good, I can tell you this because every road in Gurgaon is broken now because of rains and the car handles it well.

    Build is better than average cars on road but again Fabia is not Octavia.
    There were no special offers as we had to wait for the car. The car is built on complete imported CKD kit.
    Regards,
    Anoop

  3. on 18 Aug, 2008 at 06:12 PM Robin Singh (Bangalore)

    I bought a Fabia 1.2 Amb, about 20 days ago. So far have done 700 kms.I got highway mileage of 17-18 kms/lt. In city it is around 10 kms. But I am happy to put the blame on Bangalore's traffic condition and my frequent very-short distance trips (it's a crime ;)) for poor city mileage. The car feels very stable even at 120-130 km/h. I hear a rare "tud" kind of noise from the boot side, when driving on very uneven surface. Yet to figure out the cause. Over all I am happy.

  4. on 19 Aug, 2008 at 09:34 AM Anoop Saxena (Gurgaon)

    Robin,
    Why don't you check in boot spare wheel and tools are properly secured or not.
    Regards
    Anoop

  5. on 19 Aug, 2008 at 05:43 PM Balasubramanian M S (Bangalore)

    Hi Anoop ,
    Nice intro to Fabia 1.2 . I am seriously considering the same option . But I am not getting right feedback on Fuel efficiency . Sales man claims 13 in city with AC where as Robin says only 10 which is very low . do u have your report on city usage .

    Bala

  6. on 19 Aug, 2008 at 07:44 PM Anoop Saxena (Gurgaon)

    Dear Balasubramanian,
    Actually it is difficult time to calculate Fuel efficiency. I have filled up the fuel tank to limit and since this filling the car has done 396 kms and still I have fuel to spare. So once it reaches low level as it is indicated by an alarm in the car I will provide you the actual figure. But again I would say that this may not be correct as I am driving on extremely bad city roads at very slow speed and in first gear where you cannot claim any good fuel efficiency.
    Anoop

  7. on 19 Aug, 2008 at 09:45 PM Robin Singh (Bangalore)

    Hi Bala, I would say, a nice way to judge fuel efficiency is the highway condition.Reason being, different traffic conditions in different cities. I have lived in Delhi,Pune and Bangalore. Traffic conditions in Bangalore is by far the worst. Anyways, don't expect Fabia to beat Maruti's in this deparment.

  8. on 19 Aug, 2008 at 09:52 PM Robin Singh (Bangalore)

    Hi Anoop, the wheel and the tools looks well screwed. Will get it checked this weekend. But reproducing the sound is not easy. Lets see.

  9. on 19 Aug, 2008 at 11:34 PM Anoop Saxena (Gurgaon)

    All those concerned about fuel efficiency, Please check this:
    Tank size 45 litres out of wich 7 l is reserve. That leaves 38l of consumable fuel. In 38 L car has done 402 kms. This means the achieved fuel efficiency of 10.58km/liter.
    Conditions : A/C was on all the time. Road conditions extremely BAD,
    So if our roads improve I think we may achieve little better.

  10. on 20 Aug, 2008 at 07:56 AM Robin Singh (Bangalore)

    I have done 640 KMs in 52 lit. With around 240 Km of highway condition. Planning another out station trip this weekend. Will keep posting. Please don't go by sales guy's words on this. They will say anything.

  11. on 20 Aug, 2008 at 11:25 PM Anoop Saxena (Gurgaon)

    By the way SKODA does not recommend Speed or power fuel plain unleaded fuel is required. Please note that these fuels with additives do not have higher octane number. And running car on speed or power will not improve fuel efficiency. On the other hand I have found in practice on other car the fuel efficienct falls if you are using speed etc.

  12. on 23 Aug, 2008 at 08:21 PM Balasubramanian M S (Bangalore)

    Hi Anoop and Robin

    Thanks for the inputs . Fabia apparently can not beat Maruti or even Huandai . Having said that 10.5 is not bad considering Bangalore roads . The sales man says that it should give minimum 12 in citi roads . I am looking forward to your further feed back at the end of this week . By the by what is reserve level in Fabia . Is it 7 ltres . Bala

  13. on 23 Aug, 2008 at 10:49 PM Anoop Saxena (Gurgaon)

    Dear Bala, It seems you have simply ignored the safety aspects of Fabia to fuel efficiency. Fabia is a heavier than any other models you have in your mind. This affects the power to weight ratio. Fabia is a safer car compared to others. Dual air bags and sturdy frame adds to your safety. The central locking of the car activates as soon as the car reaches 15 km/hr. The engine immobliser in the car resets to a new code as soon as you withraw the key from ignition. Makeup your mind go for fabia.

  14. on 25 Aug, 2008 at 11:28 AM Robin Ro (Mumbai)

    Hi Bala,so far I have used approx. 70 litres and done 905 kms.(320 highway,30 hills and rest city).The right car for you would depend on your priorities.Fabia is certainly not the most cost effective car in its segment(not a road burner either)and by looking at its sales target,they are not even intended to be. But over all,it is a good package.It is the most secure and safest car with lots of comfort and features that you can buy at this price,provided you are not hell bent for a boot. Robin

  15. on 28 Aug, 2008 at 10:18 AM Nag

    I got a molage of 9 with AC in worst traffic conditions

  16. on 28 Aug, 2008 at 10:18 AM Nag

    I got a molage of 9 with AC in worst traffic conditions

  17. on 28 Aug, 2008 at 11:59 AM Balasubramanian M S (Bangalore)

    Hi Anoop.Robin, Nag
    I believe the first batch had a problem with fuel efficiency as the cars were not tuned to indian petrol.Skoda have done some software modifications to address this issue and even for first lot modifications are being done when they are driven to the service centre. May be nag can say when he bought the car to understand this issue. bala

  18. on 11 Sep, 2008 at 04:04 PM Balasubramanian M S (Bangalore)

    Any further feedback on Fuek efficiency power for highway /steep clib as in malls ?

  19. on 11 Sep, 2008 at 04:05 PM Balasubramanian M S (Bangalore)

    I am taking the car for a long test drive . Dealer agreed for this . will report after the drive . I am looking at 1.2 petrol ambiente .

    Bala

  20. on 14 Sep, 2008 at 01:17 AM Robin Singh (Bangalore)

    I am getting 11+ in city now. The pick-up in the 1st,2nd and 3rd is good.In the 4th and 5th gear response is not great, so requires some down shifts while overtaking on highway. But it makes up by providing a very safe feeling even at high speed. I don't drive the car much. So far have done 1200 KM in 97 litres (overall, in Bangalore).Robin

  21. on 14 Sep, 2008 at 09:53 AM Anoop Saxena (Gurgaon)

    Dear Robin,
    I was recently at the workshop of Skoda, After third service that is after 30,000 kms they will change the setting thru software to increase fuel efficiency. But that is technically termed as starving engine of fuel, and is bad for engine anyhow. I agree with you that in terms of feeling the 4th and 5th gear not much of a difference. I also feel that the fuel efficiency has become better but not calculated the exact figures.
    Anoop

Write Your Comment

Please Note: Please be nice, don't be personal in any given cirumstances. If you don't like the review or you think that the information provided is inappropriate, use Report Abuse link just below the review, CarWale.com administrators will take care of it. Any personal attack, harsh comment, abuse or any other kind of offensive comment will be deleted immediately.


Maximum Characters : 4000

Enter the code shown above (If you can't read it: )
Your Email


What's Next
Write your own review Research Fabia at CarWale.com
Sell your Fabia at CarWale.com Read forum discussions for Fabia
Buy used Fabia Read blog posts for Fabia