Skoda Fabia User Reviews

Exterior I realised the quality of exterior when I attempted to open the door for the first time to sit on driver's seat. It is so heavy  that for a moment I thought as if I am opening some bank's locker. The bonnet is also very heavy to lift. The gauge thickness shows the obvious safety of the occupant. You cannot compare this car with any of its filmsy Japanese, South korean or American counterpart of same segment.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) This is hatchback car only for name sake giving total comfort of Sedan.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox  Initially I drove this car in 2nd & 3rd gear in city traffic of Thane which yielded  average of 8Km\lit. Later I had a long drive on Highways driven on top gear at 80Km/hour  which gave me amazing milage of 21 Km\lit. The gear shifting is very smooth.

Ride Quality & Handling It is  truly European car. You can realise the power of turbo when throttle is pressed slightly. It just keeps on gliding on good roads & driving is really effortless. You are in different world when windows are shut & AC is put on.

Final Words I decided to take this car inspite of reading so many adverse reviews & even knowing that this car is coming to an end in India. I  donot think that my decesion is wrong. It would not be an exaggeration if I say that this is poor man's Mercedes.

Areas of improvement Too early to comment.

every thing is goodNo Cons

Well, the car is already off the self and selling no more, but still couldn't resist to post my review after driven it for more than a year.

I bought Fabia 1.2 HTP Elegance model in Feb-2013. I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the car, both interior and exterior looks stunning and every bit of the material is of very high quality. I was worried about the milage and ASC of infamous Skoda. Luckily both of my fears proved wrong till now (touch wood :)

 

Exterior

 Nuetral design which looks beautiful. Not too funky but elegant looking. Very good build quality and feels very solid. Doors gives a solid thud while closing. Gives a feeling of very safe car comparing to a Maruti/Hyndai.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Very beautiful and practical. Quality of every bit of peice is top notch. Seating position is higher (driver side seat is height adjustable) and gives a commanding view of the road. Seats are wide and well cuishoned which gives supreme comfort. Good quality audio system have six dedicated buttons for preset FM channels which is very convenient. Full featured MID, including current trip meter, distance to empty, average mileage, instant mileage, distance/time traveled, clock etc. 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

 Enigne is adequately powered for sedate driving, but aggressive drivers would be disappointed. This car is built for smooth road and is best driven on highways where it can easily clock 100-120 kmph speed effortlessly. The car is heaving and takes some getting used to, to get maximum out of it. Gear box is butter smooth and quite addictive I must say :). Fuel economy is OK for such a heavy car. I am getting 14+ in city driving and 17.5+ on highway runs, which is good actually. 

Ride Quality & Handling

 Ride quality and handling on smooth roads is excellent, but not very comfirtable and just OK on bad roads due to stiff suspension setup. Ground clearance is great, never scrached its bottom even onces! High speed handling is great! Car feels solidly implanted on road and gives confidence.

Final Words

 Extremely satisfied. Comparing to other cars, I have personally driven Alto, WagonR, Swift, i10, Brio and have observed them thoroughly, the quality of this German is way ahead (Brio/i10/Swift felt like tin boxes comparing to this tank!) . Another very important observation that I would like to mention, it age very slowly and gracefully, 3 years old and still feels like new (not only interiors but overall mechanical's like clutch, break, which feels worn out within 6 months in a Maruti/Hyndai).

Things I love:

-Beautiful cabin lights (have dimming effect) comes on automatically, once ignition is turned off/car is unlocked and turns off once ignition is turned on or car is locked. very very handy, specially in basement parking where you always need it as it is amost dark.

-Power windows works even after switching off the ignition and pulling out the keys. very convenient really, otherwise you need to keep the car 'on' for operating power windows.

-Gear box is extremely smooth and long range ensures excellent city driving.

-Great turning radius is a boon(don't know about figures but feels much better than my other car Alto). taking u-turn even on narrow streets is a breeze.

-Glove box and Boot have lights which comes on/off automatically, when opened/closed. 

Areas of improvement  

-There is no provision to lock front doors from inside (Rear ones have child locks). My daughter have openned door few times, while the car was running!!! ...scarry I must say...

-fresh/inner air circulation mode switch (electronic in Fabia) behave somewhat in random manner. It always comes in fresh air mode, whenever car when ignition turns off and on. but sometimes, it remembers the last position.

 

Overall, if you are a sedate driver, love quality and are OK with slightly higher expenses on fuel/service then its the car for you. 

quality, comfort, pleasurable drivingfeels under powered if driven aggressively

Exterior Looks imposing, sturdy & polished. Fog lights add to beauty of the pretty face. Longest possible hatch (4 Mts./12 Ft.) Even, longer than new Dezire!.

Lift the bonnet & feel the weight of metal, the first line of defence (may be 3 times heavier to Marutis & Hyundis). "Thud"of closing door shall reinforce the fact. So, no cost cutting in safety front.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Features: Airbags, ABS, EBD, Good AC, Telescopic & Tilt steering, verticaly adjustably drivers seat, acoustics light, fog lights, adjustable lights, alloys, fuel supply cut-off in severe accident (engine falls 2 ground), bounce back power windows, auto lock of windows at 15km/hour, lights in dicky & glove box, reading lights, adjustable seat belts, Multi-function display (very nice & handy) and few more

Space is simply stunning even for taller guys. 315 lits. boot & even ample space for engine. So, everything get its own comfortable space.

Seats are good & driver has great comfort beacuse of height adjustabllity. So many features which make life easier.!.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine is 3-Cylinder MPI (1198) which is a bit of drag in low gears(must be necessary for deriving reasonable fuel economy for 1170 kg beast; 4-Cylinder may beat hell out of the average). people say its globla straegy for VW group for hatches (Polo has same 3-cylinder engine). So, all in all one point conceded there but not much of worry beacuse, its compensated with nice fuel efficiency. I have just done 10,00 kms. with 1.2 Elegance (petrol). I have done some sytematic measurements & its giving 17-18 kms/Litre (with some AC in way) in a continous 500 Kms Journey (Delhi to Palampur HP, fully loaded car in highways & hills).

Its potential for economy is quite well. In Patel Nagar,Delhi to NOIDA 125 It has done more than 20 Kms/litres, though in ideal morning conditions (Non-AC). In typical Delhi traffic (with its strong AC) its doing some 13.5-14 kms/litre (not bad for this premium hatch).

Its digital meter can instantly tell you as howz it drinking(I am sure its 95-100% correct). Gear box is pretty fine with unique reverse gear position (don't put fat floor mats; it hampers ideal clutch depression)

Ride Quality & Handling Ride quality is nice & relatively better in tougher conditions. Handing is out of world ( i drive fastest on curves). Very stable at high speeds (ABS & wider tyres 185 mm do help a bit).

Tough suspensions cearte lesser problems in ground clearance.

Final Words Greatest value for money for a premium European hatch (i got top model (Dec 2011)for 5.35 lacs on road Delhi). So Dec 2012 is best time to buy if you are looking for long term ownership. I am sure It shall make you smile only!.

After bargaining hard, save some money in insurance (do it yourself), Guess Arshia Motors in CP is best for Sales & ASS. Spares & service has become more economical (if you see its equivalent to Maruti only)

Areas of improvement Nothing much is possible, I guess in these price points.

Castle like Safety, Built quality & materials, Space, Fuel efficiency, handling, Snob value, BrakingNothing significant, still: Little less power in low gears,marginally sound(because of 3 cylinders)