Around town: Light, accurate steering, a smooth engine and a soothing ride make driving the Fabia at low speeds a pleasure. The ride is the standout feature; where the Vauxhall can occasionally jiggle around, the Skoda shrugs off many of the same bumps. Some harsher imperfections can cause the occasional clunking sound, but it’s something that you hear more than you feel.
A & B-roads: If we’re being picky, it’s on twisty roads where the Fabia doesn’t excel as much as it does elsewhere. In contrast to many small cars, it isn’t particularly fun on a twisty back road, but that’s mainly because it feels so stable, composed and grown up. The steering is more precise than the Corsa’s, and body roll is kept in check at least as well, despite a more forgiving ride.
While the Fabia’s engine doesn’t have the initial low-down punch of the Corsa’s hybrid set-up, it’s much quicker once moving – something that is illustrated by its 0-62mph time, which undercuts the Vauxhall by a full second. The power delivery is more linear and the engine transmits less vibration into the cabin, so it’s very impressive overall.
Motorway: While some small cars can be jostled around by side winds and turbulence from large vans and trucks on a motorway, the Fabia is very composed at higher speeds. Throw in that ride comfort and overall refinement – the engine really settles down so that it’s barely audible at a cruise – and it feels like a larger car than it actually is.
Ownership
Nothing has changed too radically inside the Fabia for 2024, with the main updates coming in the form of a couple of extra standard features on each trim level. While the Skoda’s infotainment systems and driver instruments have been upgraded throughout the range, the cabin’s overall design remains the same as before.
