Some small cars are cheap—and they feel it. Others wield a hefty price tag, but leave you wondering where the extra value’s hiding. Then there’s the Škoda Fabia, which seems to offer far more than the sum of its parts—and for less than you’d expect those individual parts to set you back. That’s why 4.5 million Fabias have hit the road since it launched back in 1999.

The Fabia offers a range of engines, all petrol, with power ranging from 78 to 148bhp. The newest fourth-generation model comes with full LED head- and taillights, digital instruments, and even a heated steering wheel and windscreen. But before we get into the details, let’s check out its key stats.

Equipment, options and extras

The entry-level SE Comfort gives you plenty of standard kit, including aircon, LED headlights and various infotainment features. You might be tempted by the slightly pricier SE L, which includes 16in alloy wheels, a larger 9in touchscreen infotainment system, electric rear windows, dual-zone aircon and a builtin satnav. Then at the top of the range is the Monte Carlo, which gives everything an all-round sportier edge: 17in alloy wheels, snazzier styling, faux leather and fabric sports seats, and carbon fire details on the dash.

Costs, insurance groups, mpg and CO2

The entry-level Škoda Fabia makes for decent value as a cash purchase, undercutting the starting prices of rivals the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta while costing just slightly more than the Vauxhall Corsa. In fact, even the top-level Monte Caro trim is only marginally pricier than the entry-level Honda Jazz. That being said, the Polo and Jazz hold their value longer—historically, the Fabia’s depreciation has been average for the small car class. The Fabia 1L TSI 95 can hit over 55 mpg, which is only a little less frugal than its competitor the SEAT Ibiza. On the other hand, the Jazz and another rival the Toyota Yaris, which both have hybrid power, deliver far superior economy, especially around town.

Safety and security

In 2021 Euro NCAP has awarded the Škoda Fabia a full five stars for safety. That being said, its rival the Volkswagen Polo scored even more highly, as did competitors the SEAT Ibiza and Honda Jazz, although they were last tested in 2017 and 2020 respectively, whereas Euro NCAP’s criteria had become even more stringent by the time of Fabia’s 2021 test.

Reliability

Every Škoda Fabia comes with a 3-year warranty with unlimited mileage for the first 2 years and then a cap of 60,000 miles in its final year. That matches the warranty you get on the Fabia’s competitors the Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz and SEAT Ibiza—and doesn’t even come close to the 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty you get with the Fabia’s rival the Hyundai i20.

The Car Planet verdict

The Škoda Fabia is practical, comfortable, and excellent value for money. It remains one of the best offerings in the small car class—and while it’s not as engaging as its rival the SEAT Ibiza or as efficient as its competitor the Honda Jazz, the Fabia will certainly cost you less than those while still managing to be above average in every key area.

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