Skoda’s new fourth-generation Fabia hatchback rolls out of showrooms in early spring — more than two decades after the original version rocked the car market.
With orders open, I’ve been driving one ahead of first deliveries to remind myself how far the Czech marque has come in that time. It’s also grown, being the first Fabia to exceed 4 metres.
Launched in 2000, the Fabia became Skoda’s stylistic and engineering game-changer that made people sit up and take notice, helping Skoda shed its former reputation as the butt of jokes.
Proven performer: The fourth-generation Fabia demonstrates staying power
I well remember turning heads when driving an early pre-launch model through London’s Docklands, City and West End, with onlookers asking if it were a new Audi.
The fabulous new Fabia offers a choice of four frugal 1-litre 3-cylinder petrol engines: 65, 80 96 and 110hp.
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous 1 Next 
UK’s public charging network grew 37% last year with 7,600… 
The best new motor for 2022 is electric: Kia’s £41,000 EV6… 
Bentley’s off to a ‘flyer’: Luxury car maker is banking on… 
UK battery gigafactory lands £1.7bn funding: Abrdn and…
Share this article
Share
HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP
How to get the cheapest car insurance: Ten tips for cheaper car cover
A range-topping 1.5- litre 150hp engine is to follow. Initially, there will be four trim levels with prices from £15,305 for the entry level Hatch S with only a 5-speed manual gearbox; £17,195 for the SE Comfort; £19,380 for the S EL which I drove; and £17,895 for a more playful and personalised Colour Edition aimed at ‘gadget-focussed’ owners. A sporty Monte Carlo trim is to follow imminently.
All bar the S offer a choice of 5- speed and 6-speed manual and 7-speed automatic DSG gearboxes. My S EL fitted with that 7-speed auto transmission, priced from £20,730, is a nifty, comfortable and practical run-around which accelerates decently to 62mph in 9.9 seconds up to a top speed of 127mph. It’ll do up to 50.4mpg with CO2 emissions at 128 to 137g/km.
It’s spacious and well-appointed with a free-standing 9.2-in infotainment screen and is the first Fabia to have a heated front windscreen and steering wheel.
In the latest EuroNCAP safety crash tests, it won all five stars and has wheel options from 15in to range-topping 18in alloys.
It’s got a big, flexible and practical boot increased to 380 litres (1,190 litres with rear seats down). There’s even an umbrella in the door.
Everything covered.
Higher trim levels have a 10.5 inch Virtual Cockpit driver’s dashboard in place of the standard version.
It’s built on a new VW Group platform which means although longer and bigger, it’s no heavier.
Body lines in the front doors are designed to replicate the characteristic triangle in the Czech flag.
There’s a choice on nine colours including vibrant new Phoenix Orange and sober Graphite Grey metallic.
For a brand that has built its name on value for money, it’s getting proper posh, and is not always that cheap.
Over three generations, more than 4.5 million Fabias have been sold worldwide since 1999, including 375,000 in the UK alone.
Founded officially as Skoda in 1925, but with a history stretching back into the 19th century, it began as a prestigious European car-maker before pre-war invasion by the Nazis and then post-war occupation by the Soviet Communists, meant it ceased to be a mainstream player until the Volkswagen Group took over control after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.
Will it fit in my garage? New Skoda Fabia (4th generation)
Model: Skoda Fabia Hatch SEL
Engine: 1.0 TSI 3 cylinder 110 horse-power (PS) petrol
Transmission: 7-speed DSG automatic
Price this model: £20,730
Fabia model range: from £15,305
Length: 4108mm
Width: 1780mm
Height: 1459mm
Wheelbase: 2564mm
Weight: 1660kg
0 to 62mph: 9.9 seconds
Top speed: 127mph
Fuel efficiency: 47.1 to 50.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 128 to 137g/km
Boot: 380 litres
Rear seats down: 1190litres
FABIA FACTS
On sale in UK since 2000
Total global sales: 4.5million
Total UK sales: 375,000
Fabia Mk 1 (2000 – 2007): 142,500
Fabia Mk2 (2007 – 2014): 128,200
Fabia Mk3 (2014 – 2022) 104,100
Fabia Mk4 (2022 – )
UK sales 2019: 15,319
#fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle#mobile {display:none} #fiveDealsWidget {display:block; float:left; clear:both; max-width:636px; margin:0; padding:0; line-height:120%; font-size:12px} #fiveDealsWidget div, #fiveDealsWidget a {margin:0; padding:0; line-height:120%; text-decoration: none; font-family:Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif} #fiveDealsWidget .widgetTitleBox {display:block; float:left; width:100%; background-color:#af1e1e; } #fiveDealsWidget .widgetTitle {color:#fff; text-transform: uppercase; font-size:18px; font-weight:bold; margin:6px 10px 4px 10px; } #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {float:left; display:block; width:124px; margin-right:4px; margin-top:5px; background-color: #e3e3e3; min-height:180px;} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {margin-right:0} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle {display:block; margin:10px 5px; color:#000; font-weight:bold} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage img {float:left; display:block; margin:0; padding:0} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {border:1px solid #ccc} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage img {width:100%; height:auto} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemdesc {float:left; display:block; color:#004db3; font-weight:bold; margin:5px;} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemRate {float:left; display:block; color:#000; margin:5px} #fiveDealsWidget .dealFooter {display:block; float:left; width:100%; margin-top:5px; background-color:#e3e3e3 } #fiveDealsWidget .footerText {font-size:10px; margin:10px 10px 10px 10px;} @media (max-width: 635px) { #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {width:19%; margin-right:1%} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {width:20%} } @media (max-width: 560px) { #fiveDealsWidget #desktop {display:none;} #fiveDealsWidget #mobile {display:block!important} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {background-color: #fff; height:auto; min-height:auto} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {border-bottom:1px solid #ececec; margin-bottom:5px; padding-bottom:10px} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {border-bottom:0px solid #ececec; margin-bottom:5px; padding-bottom:0px} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem, #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {width:100%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {float:left; display:inline-block} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {width:35%; margin-right:1%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent {width:63%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle {margin: 0px 5px 5px; font-size:16px} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent .dealItemdesc, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent .dealItemRate {clear:both} } SAVE MONEY ON MOTORING Your legal duty 
Your legal duty Car insurance Compare policies Peace of mind 
Peace of mind Warranties Get covered Car servicing 
One-off or multi-year Save 40% One-off or annual 5,000+ dealers 
5,000+ dealers Sell your car fast Up to £1,000 more Every year 
Every year MOTs made easy Apply online Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. This does not affect our editorial independence.