Skoda Fabia Review 2026

It's all change for this generation Skoda Fabia as Skoda ditched the boxy looks of its predecessor for a far more attractive and desirable design. And this is a key thing as Skoda aims to shake off the staid and sensible image of the Fabia that has put off younger buyers who would rather go for a Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa. Of course some things remain... it's still practical, refined and represents excellent value for money, too.

Skoda has a reputation for sensible and practical - and the Skoda Fabia has been the epitome of that. But style has in the past taken a back seat. But that's changing with the 2021 Skoda Fabia which, shock horror, actually looks good. Finally a Fabia that's actually sleek and attractive.

With styling influenced by the Skoda Kamiq, the 2021 Skoda Fabia is a far better proportioned car that we think has what it takes to give the Volkswagen Polo a run for its money. But being a Skoda this remains a sensible, practical and affordable hatchback.

Its real forte is the ride quality. Few small cars (or even those from the Golf-sized class above) ride as well as the Skoda Fabia. It's great at ironing out rough roads and is just as capable on the motorway where the Fabia is very content - and quiet - cruising at 70mph.

Safe and reassuring to drive, yes the steering could do with more feel (a now common complaint on most small cars) and a Ford Fiesta is more enjoyable to drive, but it's very hard to pick fault with the way the Skoda Fabia goes about its business. It's an incredibly easy to live with hatchback.

It is also cheap to run - although we're surprised there are no hybrid or electric models. But with a range of frugal 1.0-litre engines, all of which can return at least 50mpg, this is a cheap car to run.

There's also more space than before - the Fabia now more than 4 metres in length for the first time. This means better space for both those in the front and back (handy for kids in car seats) plus a huge 380-litre boot. In fact it's the biggest of any small hatchback we know - even the ever versatile Honda Jazz.

With prices starting at around £15,000 for the entry-level Skoda Fabia S (which admittedly doesn't get alloys and has a plastic rather than leather steering wheel) the Fabia is no longer the bargain it once was. But it's also a far better and more generously equipped car than before. And when you consider that a Volkswagen Polo starts at more than £17,500, the Fabia looks great value.

If you're after a high quality and comfortable small hatchback that does everything incredibly well without costing a fortune, you can't beat the 2021 Skoda Fabia. It's one of our very favourite small cars. 

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Skoda Fabia review.

The Skoda Fabia isn't the best handling car in the small hatchback class, that honour goes to the fun to drive Ford Fiesta, but the Skoda is probably the best all rounder.

Like the rest of the car, it does everything with competence and minimal fuss, making it an easy and relaxing car to drive. Its certainly quieter and more refined than the old Fabia with less noise making its way into the cabin.

Around town the light steering is ideal for effortlessly negotiating those tight parking spots on the high street (rear parking sensors which are standard fit on all but the entry-level Fabia S model) and while that lack of steering feel isn't so great out of town, the Fabia still has good grip and corners reassuringly safely.

The ride is superb and copes amazingly well with uneven roads and broken surfaces, while on the motorway it covers miles in relaxed smoothness. 

The Skoda Fabia engine range is very simple with all the models powered by 1.0-litre engines with varying power.

The cheapest is the 1.0 MPI with 65PS and a five-speed gearbox. It only comes in Fabia S trim as part of the 'entry-level' model. We'd suggest the 1.0 MPI with 80PS which is a lot better and comes in SE Comfort trim which gets you a nicer interior and things like alloy wheels too. 

If you're doing longer distances or simply want a bit more get up and go, the turbocharged 1.0 TSI will suit you down to the ground. The 95PS model has plenty of zip and the fact it's a three-cylinder engine means it has some character too with a nice thrum when you accelerate.

At the top of the range version is the 1.0 TSI 110PS which is has six-speed manual earbox and is the only version available with an automatic - a DSG which has been much improved and should prove more reliable (time will tell). You'll pay £1000 premium though.

There's no Skoda Fabia vRS model but if you want a bit of performance there's a 1.5 TSI engine with 150PS is on the way. There will also be a Monte Carlo trim.

The 2021 Skoda Fabia hasn't been Euro NCAP crash tested yet, but its predecessor was awarded the maximum five stars when it was tested in 2014 and we think this new Fabia will perform just as strongly.

There's plenty of safety kit including both driver and front passenger airbags, curtain airbags and front side airbags. A knee airbag for the driver and side airbags for the rear can be added with the Safety Package - a £455 option. Adaptive Cruise Control is available but seems pricey at £460.

You're unlikely to buy a Skoda Fabia if towing is your priority, but it has a maximum braked towing weight of 1100kg for the 1.0 TSI 110 engine. As far as unbraked trailers go, it can tow a maximum of 600kg.

Skodas are renowned for their functonality and while it may be small, the Fabia is still very practical. It's bigger than before and that's good news for passenger room and boot space. Indeed, the 380-litre boot of the Skoda Fabia is the biggest around - besting even the versatile Honda Jazz and much larger than the likes of the Ford Fiesta with only 292 litres.

The wide tailgate opening and impressive depth means you can get a lot more than you'd expect, so those bags of compost from the local garden centre will easily fit in, although there is a slightly high boot lip.

Like all Skoda cars, the Fabia features trademark 'simply clever' features. These are designed to make life easier and include things like an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap. Simple but very handy - in fact we're surprised more car makers haven't copied these ideas.

The 2021 Fabia has five new features including a removable cup holder between the front seats, a box that sits on the rear tunnel for storing small items (handy for the kids) plus a boot tidy that fits on the side wall and can be pulled out to keep items from sliding around.

If you're coming from the old Fabia, you'll notice there's considerably more room inside, which anyone who sits in the back will really appreciate. There's also more legroom for those in the front.

The quality of the finish in the Skoda Fabia is excellent and it's well designed too, with everything close at hand and clearly labelled. Skoda hasn't gone down the minimalist route here, instead it has clearly labelled and easy to find buttons and switches for all the main controls.

The quality is a big step up from the previous generation Skoda Fabia and while there are still some hard plastics in places such as the lower door sections, they feel more hardwearing than cheap. We'd go as far as to say this is one of the best quality small hatchbacks around.

S models get a nice piano black gloss trim but do feel a bit more budget with plastic rather than leather on the steering wheel and gear lever. It's why we'd suggest going for an SE Comfort.

As is the norm on even small cars, the latest Skoda Fabia comes with a colour touchscreen for controlling the stereo. S and SE Comfort models get a 6.5-inch colour while the Colour Edition gets an 8-inch colour display. Go for a SE L and you get a big 9.2-inch screen with navigation as standard.

Whichever size screen you end up, you'll find it bright and clear, plus easy to use. The Fabia uses a different infotainment system than that found in the Octavia and we think that's a big plus. It's easier to use and more intuitive while things like the air conditioning are controlled through dedicated buttons, which we think is less distracting than having to go through menus on the touchscreen.

All models get DAB and Bluetooth (for music streaming) while a smartphone can be connected without the need of a cable via Wireless SmartLink through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which is an affordable £55 optional extra.

The list price for the cheapest Skoda Fabia S is just under £15,000 at the time of launch and while it is reasonably well equipped the lack of alloy wheels and the fact is has a plastic rather than leather steering wheel means we'd opt for an SE Comfort, which us closer to £17,000 list price.

The top SE L will set you back close to £19k while the style-led Colour Edition is £17,495 with its contrasting roof and black alloy wheels.

In comparison, the cheapest Ford Fiesta is more than £16,500 - the same as the Hyundai i20 while the Volkswagen Polo starts at close to £18,000...

The Fabia is designed to be affordable to run so all the engines return at least 50mpg according to the official WLTP fuel economy figures. All the manual gearbox versions of the Skoda Fabia, whether MPI or TSI, will return at least 55mpg regardless of power. Go for the DSG auto and this drops but it still 50mpg.

Servicing costs are very reasonable at Skoda dealers who also perform well for customer satisfaction in our annual Satisfaction Index. Unlike Kia and Hyundai, there's only a three year warranty from new but the Fabia is at least cheap to insure with the S models expected to sit in Group 1.

Entry-level Skoda Fabia S models have LED headlights, Front Assist, Pedestrian Protection and Lane Assist including road edge detection, DAB, a 6.5-inch colour screen infotainment system and manual air conditioning. Other kit icncludes e-Call+, a system that establishes an audio and data connection to a dedicated emergency call centre if sensors within the car detect a major accident.

Skoda Fabia SE Comfort models gain 15-inch Rotare alloy wheels, front fog lights and a two-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel along with rear parking sensors, height-adjustable front seats, adjustable lumbar support in front seats and leather-wrapped handbrake lever and gearshift knob.

The high Skoda Fabia SE L comes with 16-inch silver Proxima alloy wheels, chrome window surrounds and electric windows front and rear, comfort seats, chrome-edged air vents, ambient lighting package and microsuede grey lower decorative trim with art grey stitching. Inside there's an Amundsen navigation system with 9.2-inch colour display, Care connect and Infotainment online (1 year), web radio and six speakers. Dual-zone air-conditioning, along with two LED reading lights, a removable cup-holder and a front centre armrest are also standard.

Skoda Fabia Colour Edition models have 16-inch Proxima black alloy wheels, privacy glass and door mirrors painted in roof colour. Inside, the Fabia Colour Edition models have a Bolero radio with 8-inch colour display, Virtual Cockpit with 10-inch colour display and KESSY keyless engine start/stop. There's even an umbrella in the door pocket.