Skoda Fabia User Reviews

Exterior Good.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Average.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Excellent.

Ride Quality & Handling Good pick up,comfortable drive,poor brakes.

Final Words We bought a base model fabia diesel in jan 2008. It was all gaa gaa days until the car met with an accident and was taken to the dealers -Marikar at Kochi. that was in October 2008. The car remained there for 4 months and not once did the dealers ring up to update regarding when the car would be released,when they would get the body parts.or worse even call to update. EACH TIME I HAD TO RING UP AND ASK. The head office calls were disappointing too. World class or cattle class??? Anyway the car was finally delivered in Feb2009,and we promptly filed a consumer case against the dealers. As I understand the company knows that the cars have good engines and so ,no matter what happens its goin to sell. Taking the car for a service doesnt have a "feel at home " sensation to it at all, the Hyundai is better at that. Then came the issue of fixing a lost wheel cup,and guys...they wanted the engine chasis number to order 1 wheelcup ,which they said would take 4 weeks to comeby,and when it did come they didnt inform me and casually gave it away to another guy. The car looked ugly without one cup and so its running on a different wheel cup on one of the wheels currently.

I would take my hats off to the company for making a world class engine. which frankly i really admire. but because of these horrible dealers and even worse parent company response to a customer's grievances. I suggest please keep off a skoda if u are looking for good after sales services. And buy it only for the sheer exhilaration of driving one. there have been umpteen times when i wished,with sorrow, the company would take my car back. Cuz there is limit for tolerance. I guess maybe the company caters better to costlier cars in their stable.

Areas of improvement Improve customer dealings. Give dealership to more than one party in a state. Competition helps.

I had done a lot of research before buying the Skoda Fabia Ambiente 1.2 petrol. We are a small family of three Me, my wife and our 8 months old son. The primary thing that I was looking out for was space and comfort as we do take the alternate weekend getaway drives and the extra space in the car comes in handy and fuel economy is also good (I am guessing because of the inputs from VW in Skoda cars the engine is the same used in VW 1.2 polo) . Prior to buying the Skoda Fabia I had driven the Swift(Didn't want to buy as a new model was coming in a couple of months plus the rear seats are not to comfortable), ritz(didn't like the gear shift may be it was the test drive vehicle and the back is certainly a put off) i10(good car but build quality is OK), i20(A great car loaded with features but pricey ouch), I did think of the Polo too, but the long waiting list and the interiors were cramped when compared to the Fabia.

Well anyways it was down to the Fabia ambiente and the i20 sportz, in the end, I did like the i20 alot but the extra 90k that was being asked for it make me go in favour of the Fabia, which after owning the car for 4 months now and having driven it around 5000kms seems like a very good decision. The car is an able cruiser and I have touched 165 KMPH on this car, though I believe that may be 170 KMPH is the limit for  the 1.2 petrol which is quite good as most of will never get to that speed   you will also love the comfortable seats  and stability of the car at high speeds and the interiors which are almost as good as some 3 box cars (Sedans) and space along with a Good AC the cabin of the car is a good place to be in, The car has given me excellent mileage on the highway of around 19 kms/litre if you go for a mix of city and highway the average consumption does drop down to around 16-17 kms/ litre and then in the strictly city driving the car gives around 14 kms / litre which is quite good considering the size of the car.

However, if you are looking to go for this car there are some drawbacks that you should consider though not too big but something that one should be aware of when choosing the vehicle.

When you start the car(1.2 petrol) the engine does sound noisy, the first time I cranked the ignition, I thought I was driving a Diesel car, but the noise soon dies down and the drive is smooth.

You cannot open the car boot without unlocking the car and then pushing on the rocker switch near the gear lever to open all the doors which is pain sometimes(only in the classic and the ambient models), also the fuel filler cap needs to be opened with a key. which in this day and age is a strict no - no.

And the central locking system is also a bit weird, one problem is you cannot open the boot without unlocking the car by clicking on the rocker switch near the gear lever and the other is my son who is usually seated on his mothers lap on the front seat and has a habit of pressing buttons and holding the door handle. The thing to look at here is although there is child safety locks at the back, but in the front anyone can open the front door by pulling on the door handle from inside even when the car is locked and with no physical door locks, like you get in the Maruti or the Hyundai cars, the door can be accidentally opened this is a draw back according to me.

If you can live with the above mentioned things this is certainly a good car. and yeah lastly just for people who might consider buying this car do remember to bargain with the sales people. My car's cost  on road was 5.5 lacs in Pune and after bargaining and the corporate discount the car costed me 5.19 lacs, I got a straight 7 - 8 k of the insurance the trick is to get a quote from outside then go to the dealer and in most cases he will match or better the offer you are getting.

Exterior Great looking car, The Skoda badge does have a brand (snob) value :-) the car is great to look at from some angles and the car when standing next to sedans like Hyundai Accent (Viva) it is almost the same length.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Lots of head room and cabin space, tall people will like the cabin space I am 6'1 and I fit comfortably.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine performance is good I would not call it excellent, if you like the spirited driving go in for 1.6 liter model(though the fuel economy might be less). Fuel Economy is great for Fabia Ambiente 1.2 petrol

Highway: 19kms/ Ltr +.

City and highway driving : 16-17 kms / Ltr.

Only City: 14 kms / Ltr.

The gear box is also silky smooth and has a good feel to it.

Ride Quality & Handling The suspension setup of the car is slightly on the soft side, so if you go hard into a pot hole you might bottom out the shock absorbers but the drive is very smooth over most surfaces. Handling is a one of the key aspects of this car  very composed and stable on high speeds a very able long distance car I have done almost 700 kms in 10 hrs and at the end of it I was hardly tired.

Final Words A great car to own, and with the reduced price the car has become a very good option in the premium hatchback segment. You get a lot of car for your money, there are few niggles that I have mentioned above. but those can be looked over in view of the bigger picture. From my ownership experience I will say it is a good car , nice mileage and handling and a very good weekend getaway car, good boot space. People who like to for long weekend drives will enjoy the balance that Fabia brings to the table.

Areas of improvement The engine noise, a better central locking system, and remote boot and fuel filler cap opener.

I hope this is helpful to anyone looking to buy this car. I would love to know anyone elses views regarding the ownership experience of Skoda Fabia.

Please feel free to comment if you have any queries regarding this car.

Regards,

Manojit.

Friends..

I just had a closer look at this Fabia( Classic and Ambiente) in one of the showrooms in chennai..i personally feel that this is over priced for this segement.(so called Premium Hatch back) .i was told that it comes in the price range of  5- 6.5 lacs but thats not the case..Diesel version is costing more than the petrol version. Classic is somewhere around 7.4 lacs and onwards..FYI..

But but but...the features are excellent. i will soon go for a test drive...and shall keep u all informed about more info..

Exterior:Looks are subjective and hence can be a matter of "love it or hate it" type when it comes to the fabia, certainly the I20 looks very nice and european, Punto looks Italian and very craftsman like work, Our Skoda looks straight from the battlefield. What makes the difference is the bulky look added with almost little or no curves make the car look a little less aerodynamic 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort): Now we are talking, as far as the features are concerned, no car comes even close to the features offered. Skoda Fabia 1.2MPI - Classic is a base model (Note that 1.2 Active is now discontinued). It comes with Power Windows, Electro - Hydro Power Steering- EHPS, Tilt - Telescoping Steering Wheel, Driver and Co-Passenger Airbags, Dual Row AC (Under Front Seats). Although the gray dash gives a dull look coupled with equally boring Gray Fabric seats, I chose to over look that aspect as even the best of handstiched seats can now be had for less than 5K in most of the cities.The car comes with integrated music system MP3/Radio and a semi automatic climate control. Again not available even in the best of the segments

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox: To be honest Engine is a bit noisy, I20 takes the lead on this front, cant comment on fuel economy as I have driven the car for just 60 odd kms so far and hence will post the details soon.I have been told in different forums and also have read on carwale that most customers are getting about 12-13kpl in city traffic conditions with AC on. Gearbox is smooth as silk and this is the place where the German Technology comes in full view, the car glides through gear shifts and despite being the heaviest in its class, easily touches 120Kmph.

 Ride Quality & Handling: I20 is too soft of the suspensions, and in a Punto it feels like sitting on a horse, Punto is a good car though on the other aspects and I feel that suspension is the place where they got it a bit too wrong. In Fabia the weight of the car gives you solid presense on the road and for some reason it seems to make people move out of your way. Handling is exceptional due to EHPS.

 Final Words: This car with its original pricing of over 6 lakhs was a straight no-no and highly over priced. But now skoda seems to have got the Indian demand right and with all the discounts pouring in, I got my car for 5.03Lakhs On Road in Pune. what made me buy the car was the manufacturers confidence in their product. Skoda Fabia has to be serviced just once every 15000kms !!! - Yes, even the first service is right after 15K. I expect the cost to be around 7K to 8K. Now my maths is simple for people who think this is steep. If you buy any premium hatch with service intervals of 5K, then you actually spend 3K * 3 = Rs 9000 ( Rs 3000 for each service on a lower side).Note that skoda fabia uses Synthetic oil and hence the cost. Last, never think of saving money by buying a car with thin doors, poor metal quality or less safety features, you might have a car that gives you 1km less per litre rather than compromising on your families safetly. I can assure you that at an accident mere 70kmph can be life threatening without the presence of Airbags and strong crumple zone design. In the end it is your personal choice.

Areas of improvement : Skoda is a great brand, it should look at increasing customer interaction directly. Set up webistes that help you share comments and ownership experiences. Gray seats are a no - no, and yes do something abt the logo, it can be pulled out easily...thats why you see it on autos, coincidently same issue faced by BMW,Merc and the Audi - German Cars!!

Exterior They are best. The front grill looks like a Skoda sedan. If you look from front side you will find that it looks like Laura or Octavia(or Superb). Cappuccino Beige looks very rich.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) These too are best. In elegance model I liked the dual toned dashboard. Dashboard is soft padded. Very nic interiors. Pleasant and refreshing.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Fuel economy is lil bit less than other cars such as Punto i20. But who cares when there is lot of other features.

Ride Quality & Handling When you sit in the car you get a very good feel which cannot be expressed in words. Handling is very good. I have driven my friend's Punto, it had many features like Fabia but it lacked in driving satisfaction and quality.

Final Words This car is for them who want comfort and not concerned about economy. This is really a fabulous car.price is very competitive. After sales service by Skoda dealer is very good. Fully satisfied by this car. If you are planning to buy a car in this segment please check Fabia also.

Areas of improvement I dont find any. Only fuel economy should be greater.

Exterior Front view of the New Skoda Fabia is the most impressive & prestigious, as per my preference, but the rear is not very appealing. Looks of a Car is always subjective. As it is said rightly “Beauty lies in the Eyes of Be-holder”. For me, nothing looks better than the New Skoda Fabia, especially in Magic Black Color. The Masculine Front Grill, The Chrome lining to the Grill, Wider and Dwell Lens Fod-lamps, Smooth Contours of Headlights, Refined Lining from the Front Skoda Logo, way back till the Bonnet hood end….every detailed finish is just perfect from my perspective. The New Alloy wheels give the desired sporty look, when the vehicle is moving.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Interiors: Once you enter the cabin, you realize that it’s got the best in class interiors, considering the quality of plastics, and fitments. The controls and gadgets are placed just where you want them to be, except the positions of Indicators and Wiper blade switches (Needs Swapping of the controls, for Indians Conditions). Steering is of the right size to give total control at any speeds. Driver Seat is perfectly positioned to have the required visibility of On-going traffic (Specially the Two-wheelers coming in all directions in Indian driving Conditions)

Dashboard: The dwell tone Dashboard with Soft Touch Feel is, one of a kind in the breed. No Hatchback in India is offering this luxurious touch to the Instrument Panel. It even comes with a multi texture combination, which is just amazing and gives a very rich feel to the Car.

The overall Beige feel inside the Car, gives a feel of owning a rich / upper class Car, but is little difficult to maintain over a long period of time, considering the dusty conditions in India.

Music System: Clear & Crispy, very good quality. It’s a partial package, when it comes to Qty. of Speakers. Skoda / VW needs to offer rear speakers as well. (Consumer does not expect to fit the rear speakers, by paying extra pennies, when a top end model is purchased).

Rear Seat Legroom: My Old Parents were in the Rear Seat for the complete 500 kms. Drive ( In 01 Day) and they did not complaint at all during the entire travel. This proves that every minor detail about the Leg-room, Head-room, positions of Headrest and inclination of rear back is just perfectly engineered to give 100% satisfaction to the rear seat passengers. This car has the best in class rear passenger comfort.

Fog Lights: Very Aggressive and Impressive. The front look of the Car is enhanced with the wider and dwell lens Fog-lamps. Fabia is the first in its class to give the Daylight feature in the class. Daylight feature is available only in the latest European Cars for the Europe market, and I am quite pleased to have this feature in my Fabia

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Engine: Engine is very refined and perfect for the Indian Conditions, Except a little lag of Power in the 2nd Gear (This can be a problem for New Drivers, especially in the busy traffic conditions).

The sheer Engine refinement is felt on the Highways, where the power train is extremely responsive and peppy. I drove down from Pune to Kolhapur & back on the same day (500 Kms.) giving me a mileage of 22.3 kms / litre, in a brand new engine condition. This is just amazing, especially with the totally new engine. I am expecting to give a mileage of 25+ after first 5000 Kms. In City I am getting a mileage of 17.5 – 19 kms / Litre, which is also not bad at all.

Ride Quality & Handling Since the Car is totally new, I have not pushed the pedal beyond 100 kms / Hour, and is sheer driving pleasure at consistent 90-100 kms / hour.  A Sense of Stability, Safety & Consistency is surely expected from this baby for its lifetime & every km. you stretch the throttle, you get the feeling of “Pura Paisa Wasul”.

Final Words In India, People have a general tendency of buying thing’s which are of more popular choice. In case of buying car also, people have the same mentality (Without even getting into the technical & Others important aspects for Car Assessment / comparisons). Even as of today, we see people buying cars which were launched in the market from last 5-6 years, without any value addition done by the car manufactures.

I would suggest the potential buyers to explore the possibilities, about New Skoda Fabia, I see a  tremendous improvement  from Skoda to change the Existing Perception of Fabia, and this car can give you the satisfaction, which no Car will give you in the current competition.

Areas of improvement Horn is horrible, needs to have the Same horn as that of POLO. Needs Climate Control Air Conditioner.

My first purchase... and what can I tell you... I had become a car maniac since a month.... There is no car which I hadnt read about, no car I did not take a test drive, no showroom where I tested the patience of the sales executive exhausting his knowledge about the machine... From Vernas...to Fiestas.. to Fusions... to Aveos... to Sx4 ....to Swift... to Dzire... to i10... to what not... Have test driven all... Though was impressed by Ford Fiesta 1.6 SXi initially until my eyes fell on this "Engineering Marvel" as it stood before me at the showroom magnanimously.... The moment I saw it, I knew that this was the car for me... I completely fell flat for the looks of the car.. its unique features.. Wait... This is not a car for the cost conscious buyer... Though the car is a little overtly priced, who cares if you can get all the luxury packed in a little hatch back...There were several factors working sub-consciously on my mind motivating me to go for it.. First and foremost, the brand name "Skoda"... Right from the car key looked unique.....Then there were other novel features like the sun and moon roof, the switches for the headlights uniquely placed on the dashboard, the innovative storage spaces though small but unique, the sun glass holder, the heaters on the front side view mirrors etc. etc. etc. I am greatly indebted to my friends out there on carwale.com who have written marvellous reviews on this machine who strengthened my decision about going for this car..I have read almost all the reviews about this car available on the net before going in for it.. The only drawback people seem to complain about this is slight over-pricing of this beauty... Like I said before, this is not the car for the cost conscious buyer...Another thing complained about is the ground clearance...This is a little true... As it is said "There is no rose without thorns, if it has no thorns, it is not a rose"... Hey... wait.. don't panic... With a little careful driving, you can avoid the bottom of the car from kissing the hump... Poor car, you cannot blame it for this... blame the admininstration, the civic authorities for those un-scientific Mt. Everest kinda road humps.... You can definitely avoid them by slow and cautiously driving on them.....

I am taking time to write this lengthy review only to provide the true insight of this car and encourage people to go for it... This car is my first purchase and will always remain "special" for me... HAPPY MOTORING !