The Škoda Fabia is a series of passenger cars produced by Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto since 1999. It is the successor of the Škoda Felicia, which was discontinued in 2001. The Fabia was available in hatchback, estate (named Fabia Combi) and saloon (named Fabia Sedan) body styles at launch, and from 2007, the second generation was offered in hatchback and estate versions. The third generation Fabia was launched in 2015, and the fourth in 2021.
First generation (Type 6Y; 1999)
The first generation Fabia (given the internal type code 6Y) was officially presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1999 and production of this model started in July the same year. The estate version Fabia Combi was introduced in September 2000 at the Paris Motor Show. It was the first model to use the Volkswagen Group's A04 platform, which it shared with the Volkswagen Polo Mk4 and SEAT Ibiza. In the United Kingdom, for 2000, this car won What Car?s "Car of the Year". The range started with the 1.0 8v Classic (which was cheaper than Volkswagen's smaller 3-door 1.0 Lupo when it went on sale) to the 2.0 Elegance; eventually the 1.9 PD TDi RS was added at the top of the line.
Part of the Fabia's success was the fact that all of its mechanical parts were developed by or in conjunction with Volkswagen, but were offered in a package that is priced to undercut other models in the Volkswagen Group. The only traces of non-VW Škoda left in the Fabia are the 1.0 and 1.4 "MPI" engines, pushrod designs with three-bearing crankshafts. These were modifications of Škoda's own 1.3 engine, and were used in pre-Volkswagen Škodas such as the 130 and Favorit. The low cost 1.0 was introduced in April 2000. The pushrod 1.0 and 1.4 ended production in April 2003, not long after the introduction of the Czech-made, three-cylinder 1.2 MPI engine. This model was a locally developed three-cylinder derivative of Volkswagen's 1.6-litre four and was built in Mladá Boleslav. In 2003, the name of the three-cylinder engine was changed to HTP, for "High Torque Power", indicating the engine's ample torque, low peak power notwithstanding.
In the summer of 2004 the Fabia received a facelift, with changed front fog lights and grille, slightly different rear lights, new steering wheel and revised specification levels. The RS also had its final gearbox ratio changed. Most importantly, the Sport model was added, with the 1.4 petrol being offered with a manual transmission. This engine was quickly swapped to the 1.2 HTP for the Fabia Sport; while not as powerful, it was a much more free revving engine, giving a more sporty feel and flexible drive. The Sport also had its specification changed to include red seat belts and sunset privacy glass from the B pillar to the rear.
Again in 2006, the Fabia range was shown at the Geneva Motor Show had minor specification revisions. These include a centre rear headrest, a central three-point seatbelt and an additional four bodywork colours. The 1.4 16v petrol engine was replaced with a more powerful 1.4 16v engine.
Trim levels At launch, the Fabia was available in three trim levels: Classic, Comfort, and Elegance. Later in the Fabia's life the mid-range Comfort model was dropped for the name Ambiente to fit in with the rest of the range. Other models available throughout the car's lifespan included Ambiente SE, Blackline, Silverline, Sport, Bohemia (estate only, run-out model) and RS. Various safety features and minor changes were made over time. Easy and Junior models were sold in Eastern European markets where the buying power is lower. Some of these Fabias do not have painted bumpers, side mirrors or gloveboxes. The Junior didn't have power steering and the steering wheel was 'borrowed' from Octavia I. Because of that, it was slightly bigger, with a diameter of 380 mm instead of the regular 370 mm found on all the other Fabia models. Also sold in such markets is the Fabia Praktik, which is a panel van version of the Fabia with the rear windows and seats removed. A less powerful version of the 1.4 MPI with just was also sold in Eastern Europe.
Fabia RS Introduced in 2003, the Fabia RS (vRS in the UK), while not the first diesel hot hatch, was the first exclusively diesel hot hatch, having no petrol equivalent. The engine is Volkswagen Group's 1.9-litre Pumpe-Düse Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engine, producing and at 1900 rpm, with a six-speed manual gearbox. It was named the "Diesel Car of the Year 2003" in the Scottish Car of the Year Awards. It also falls in a low tax band (Band C) in the UK, further increasing its cost benefits over its (chiefly petrol-powered) counterparts.
Official figures state 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 9.6 seconds, but several motoring magazines and websites have measured faster times (around the 7.0–7.5 seconds range) (Autocar: 7.1 seconds, Auto Express: 8.1 seconds, and FastHatchbacks.com: 8.5 seconds). The in gear acceleration times are 50–70 mph in 5.6 seconds, quicker than BMW's 330i which takes 6.0 seconds. 20–40 mph in 2.4 seconds is as quick as the Lotus Elise 111R. Despite this the Fabia RS can achieve better than . The Fabia RS has a top speed of .
The RS was shown to be quicker than a similarly priced MINI Cooper around Top Gears and Fifth Gears test tracks.
For the UK market in 2007, 1,000 Special Edition Fabia vRS models were produced featuring individually numbered black leather seats with blue piping, sporty red brake callipers, "Race Blue" metallic paint, cruise control, darkened rear windows and a six CD autochanger. This model was known as the Fabia vRS SE.
The last Mk1 Fabia RS came off the production line in March 2007 – being UK 2007/07 registered.
According to Škoda UK, there were only 22 of these 2007 registered marks (not including the 1000 Special Edition RS SEs).
Safety
Engines The term MPI (Multi-Point Injection) is used by Škoda to differentiate from 16v models and (in the case of the Octavia Mk2) FSI engines. The version of the 1.4 16v was only mated to Volkswagen's four-speed automatic transmission with fuzzy logic operation until the addition of earlier Sport models which mated it with a manual transmission. The 1.4 8v was dropped in 2003. The Fabia's overall performance and fuel consumption figures fall behind other city cars and small family cars as it is larger and heavier. However, the 1.2 HTP (High Torque Performance) engine was developed by Škoda specifically for the Fabia and offers better performance and fuel economy, and was later used in Volkswagen's own Polo due to its high acclaim. The four-valve, twin cam version of the HTP became available at the beginning of 2003 and was, unlike the single-cam version, also available on the saloon and Combi. It was also the highest displacement three-cylinder petrol engine until 2014 and BMW's 1.5-litre turbo engine.
Model YearsEngine and code Displ. Power TorquePetrol 1.0 8V 1999–2000 I4 AQV/ATY/ARV 997 cc at 5000 rpm at 2750 rpm 1.2 MPI/HTP 6V 2002–2007 I3 AWY/BMD 1198 cc at 4750 rpm at 3000 rpm 1.2 HTP 12V 2003–2007 I3 AZQ/BME 1198 cc at 5400 rpm at 3000 rpm 1.4 MPI 2000–2003 I4 AZE/AZF 1397 cc at 5000 rpm at 2600 rpm 1.4 MPI 1999–2003 I4 AME/AQW/ATZ 1397 cc at 5000 rpm at 2500 rpm 1.4 16V 2000–2007 I4 APE/AUA/BBY/BKY 1390 cc at 5000 rpm at 3800 rpm 1.4 16V 2006–2007 I4 BUD 1390 cc at 5000 rpm at 3800 rpm 1.4 16V 1999–2007 I4 AUB/BBZ 1390 cc at 6000 rpm at 4400 rpm 2.0 8V 1999–2000 I4 ATF 1984 cc at 5600 rpm at 2400 rpm 2.0 8V 2000–2007 I4 AZL/BBX 1984 cc at 5200 rpm at 2400 rpmDiesel 1.4 TDI 6V 2005–2007 I3 BNM 1422 cc at 4000 rpm at 1600–2800 rpm 1.4 TDI 6V 2003–2005 I3 AMF 1422 cc at 4000 rpm at 2200 rpm 1.4 TDI 6V 2005–2008 I3 BNV 1422 cc at 4000 rpm at 2200 rpm 1.9 SDI 8V 1999–2006 I4 ASY 1896 cc at 4000 rpm at 1600–2800 rpm 1.9 TDI PD 8V 2000–2007 I4 ATD/AXR 1896 cc at 4000 rpm 1.9 TDI PD 8V RS 2003–2007 I4 ASZ/BLT at 1900 rpm
Second generation (Type 5J; 2007)
The second generation Fabia (internal type code 5J) was officially presented at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2007 and was sold from April 2007. It still uses the PQ24 platform. The car is however slightly larger than its predecessor and takes styling cues from the Roomster, Škoda's small MPV. The exterior of the two cars, Roomster and Fabia, were designed simultaneously to create synergies by Thomas Ingenlath and Peter Wouda.
The estate variant was officially announced in August 2007 and was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007. Compared with the first generation the new Combi is longer, higher and the boot has grown by 54 litres (to 480 litres total). The engine portfolio is the same as the hatchback version, without the 1.2 44 kW one.
The initial petrol engine line-up was a mixture of newer engines from Audi and some carry-overs from the outgoing model. In comparison to the 1st-generation Fabia, both basic 1.2-litre 3-cylinders gained 4 kW each: new power peak was 44 kW (60 PS), and 51 kW (70 PS). There was only a single 1.4-litre 16v petrol on this model, producing 63 kW (86 PS). The range-topping petrol engine was the 1.6-litre 4-cylinder with variable valve timing producing 77 kW (105 hp). There was also an option to mate this engine with a 6-speed tiptronic transmission sourced from Aisin.
The diesel range featured the same 51 kW (70 PS) and 59 kW (80 PS) 1.4-litre Pumpe-Düse 3-cylinders from the predecessor model. The top-of-the-range diesel was a 1.9-litre Pumpe-Düse 4-cylinder producing 77 kW (105 PS).
The second generation Fabia trim levels were Classic, Ambiente, Sport and Elegance. In the UK the trim levels were called 1, 2, Sport, 3, and GreenLine (later S, SE, Elegance, and GreenLine). In India, the trim levels were Active, Classic, Ambiente and Elegance. All models sold within the EU were equipped with ABS, front passenger, driver and side airbags. Curtain airbags and ESC were available as an option.
Though the sedan body, and the VRS version were discontinued (the latter until facelift in 2010), the 2nd-generation Fabia offered variety of new choices. The GreenLine model was the most environmentally-friendly Fabia, with 59 kW 1.4-litre diesel 3-cylinder consuming 4.1 L/100 km, which is 109 g of per km. At the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) 2007 Škoda presented near-production-state design study of the Fabia Scout: a rugged version of the Fabia Combi. However, it was until May 2009 when this car finally started to roll off the production line in Mladá Boleslav. The new-generation Fabia featured a specific design element: a roof in different colour than the rest of the body was available as an option.
Facelift
The facelifted Fabia and Fabia Combi (estate/wagon) were premiered at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The updated version can be easily distinguished from prior versions by the different shape of the front bumper and front fog lights. The facelift to the second-generation Fabia also brought Xenon headlights as standard on higher end models. Inside, new steering wheels were a noticeable difference. Though their shape remained the same, headlights with a projector module underwent technical changes: for full beam, a separate reflector is fitted on the inner side of the lamp, while the projector module (providing a dimmed beam) is on the outer side.
The engine line-up was updated along with a facelift, too. 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engines came as a replacement of the previous 1.4 and 1.6-litre MPI engines, providing significant improvements to fuel consumption and corresponding reductions in emissions. The Aisin automatic transmission previously used was also replaced with the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox (optional on 77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) 1.2 TSI models), providing a reduction of over 30% in emissions for the 77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp) automatic derivative (compared to the previous 1.6-litre). Diesel engines were updated to the common rail system and four-valve technology.