Used Skoda Fabia 2021-present review

Replacing one of our favourite small cars of all time was never going to be an easy task for Skoda.

We loved the 2015-2021 Skoda Fabia, but the good news is that we reckon they've got it just about right with this all-new 2021-onwards Skoda Fabia too. It's good to drive and smooth, and feels much more refined than its used sticker prices might lead you to believe.

Engines: There's plenty of petrol engine choice, for starters. The Skoda Fabia's entry-level 1.0 MPI 80 engine does without a turbocharger and on paper is a little slow. The turbocharged 94bhp 1.0 TSI 95 has more oomph, but the 109bhp 1.0 TSI 110, which also comes with a six-speed manual gearbox rather than the five-speed you’ll find with the other two engines, feels smoother and swifter. All engines are decently quiet, though, and the Fabia is a relaxed companion for city and motorway use.

For maximum performance, the top-spec 1.5 TSI 150 is only available with the top-of-the-range Monte Carlo trim, but it cuts the 0-62mph sprint time down to 8.0sec. There’s no manual option with it, so you’ll have to go with the DSG automatic gearbox.

Ride & handling: For ride quality, the Fabia is equal to and in some respects better than one of the best, the Volkswagen Polo. It’s softer than the Ford Fiesta and the Seat Ibiza, and not far off the Peugeot 208 for its ability to isolate you from poor surfaces.

The Fabia's steering is usefully light for city driving, and there’s plenty of grip too, although there's a fair amount of body roll.

Trims & equipment: There are four trim levels available with the Fabia. Entry-level SE Comfort trim gives you alloy wheels, LED headlights, air conditioning and various infotainment features. Colour Edition brings visual upgrades, with rear privacy glass, black colour coding on the roof, wheels and door mirror caps, and a 10.3in digital instrument panel. SE L trim is tempting and gives you 16in alloy wheels, electric rear windows, cruise control, ambient lighting, a larger 9.2in touchscreen infotainment system, built-in sat nav and dual-zone air conditioning.

Top-of-the-range Monte Carlo trim gives everything a sportier edge, introducing 17in alloy wheels into the mix, alongside sportier styling, artificial leather and fabric sports seats and carbon fibre details on the dashboard.

Interior & practicality: The Fabia’s driving position is excellent. It’s also easy to set everything up just how you want it, with all trims offering seat height adjustment. There are proper buttons and dials to control the air conditioning, so changing the interior temperature isn't too distracting. Colour Edition and Monte Carlo models come with a 10.3in digital driver display behind the steering wheel, while cheaper trims have analogue instrument dials.

The entry-level trim, SE Comfort, comes with a 6.5in touchscreen that’s smaller than what you’ll get in most small cars. That said, it’s easy to use and has physical shortcut buttons placed on either side so you can efficiently hop between functions. The larger 9.2in set-up that comes with SE L trim and the 8.0in version that comes with Colour Edition and Monte Carlo trim may look a bit more upmarket, but they can be more prone to crashing and aren’t the most responsive touchscreens in the class.

Space-wise, the Fabia offers plenty of space for those sitting in the front. The rear space isn’t quite up to the standards set by the Jazz. It matches the Seat Ibiza though, and is far more accommodating than the back of the Ford Fiesta.

Boot space is very impressive. We managed to fit six carry-on suitcases under the parcel shelf, which is the most we’ve fitted into any small car and is a match for cars from the class above, including the Ford Focus.

If you're interested in buying a used Skoda Fabia or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Prices for this generation of Skoda Fabia start at around £12,000 for a 2021 1.0-litre car, more usually in SE Comfort trim. It'll most likely have a low mileage and be on sale at a franchised or independent dealer. That's a useful saving on the price of a new one. Spend between £13,000 and £17,000 on good, clean cars from 2022, and around £18,000 on later 2023 models, a little bit more for 2024 cars.

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MPG

According to the official figures, the Fabia 1.0 TSI 95 can do more than 55mpg, but in our real-world tests it only managed 41.3mpg. That's not bad, but the equivalent Seat Ibiza proved slightly more frugal, while the Jazz and Yaris, which have hybrid power, both deliver much better economy, especially around town.

Road Tax

All Fabias of this generation will pay a flat rate of road tax or VED. This rate is currently £180 a year.

Servicing

Servicing costs are moderate for most examples, and you can arrange a fixed-price servicing plan. Maintenance alternates between interim and major services every year or 10,000 miles. An interim service costs £159 and a major one £249.

Insurance

Insuring the Fabia won’t cost a fortune, either, with insurance groups starting from group one for the least powerful 1.0-litre engine. Add a turbo to that engine and the ratings jump to eight for the 94bhp version, or 11 for the 109bhp.

Engine

This turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol has 94bhp and can get the Fabia to 60mph in around 10.5sec. Okay, that's hardly going to set the world on fire, but acceleration is perfectly adequate for all types of driving. This is our favourite engine.

Specification

If you want to keep costs down, entry-level SE Comfort trim is the one to go for. It manages to undercut almost all the Fabia’s rivals but still gives you 15in alloy wheels, front fog lights, rear parking sensors, a height-adjustable driver’s seat (with adjustable lumbar support), a leather-wrapped steering wheel and handbrake lever, LED headlights, manual air conditioning and a 6.5in touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

Our favourite Skoda Fabia: 1.0 TSI 95 SE Comfort

The main rival for the Fabia in this class is the Ford Fiesta, which was always one of the best-selling cars on the UK’s roads. It has always been a cut above its rivals to drive, with peppy engines and delightful steering and handling. It’s comfortable, too, with a smart, well-equipped interior, and it comes loaded with safety technology. It’s pricier than the Fabia, though, and it’s not quite as practical.

The other main rivals both hail, like the Fabia, from the Volkswagen Group: the Seat Ibiza and the VW Polo. The Ibiza is both great to drive and remarkably spacious. It’s efficient, too, and has no major weakness in any area.

The Polo has a deserved reputation for taking all the good qualities of that evergreen car, the VW Golf, and compressing them down into a small car. It’s a well-built and entirely logical car, with a good range of engines and trims and, despite it having a higher purchase price than the Fabia’s, there are still some good used cars to look out for.

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If you're interested in buying a used Skoda Fabia or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.