Skoda Fabia 2000 test drive - 2007 -

All photos of Skoda Fabia 2000 - 2007

Three big differences

A good station wagon is not only a capacious trunk
Skoda-Fabia Combi was the second version of the model debuting in the fall of 1999. Fabia Combi was first shown last year in Paris. It has become available to customers in Europe this spring, and in Russia in the summer. It is equipped with gasoline engines with a volume of 1.4 to 2.0 liters (50-85 kW) and 1.9 l diesels (47-74 kW). Automatic transmission is provided for modification with the Volkswagen engine of 1.4 l (55 kW).

Fiat Palio is a project of a world car developed by Fiat for developing countries.

It is produced in Brazil, Argentina, Turkey and Poland. Engines-gasoline from 1.0 to 1.6 liters (40-76 kW) and diesel with a turbocharged 1.7 liter (46-51 kW). The engine power and the degree of compression vary depending on the market. The Fiat Palio Wicent with the Staging Service has been manufactured in Poland since 1997. Universals only with a 1.6 -liter gasoline engine enter the Russian market.

Kia Rio has been produced in the Republic of Korea since 2000. It has two body options - a sedan and a station wagon. To choose from - two gasoline engines: 1.3 and 1.5 l (55-72 kW). In 2001, the assembly of cars at the Autotor factory in Kaliningrad was established instead of the outdated model of Kia Avella. The Russian buyer is offered these machines only with a 1.5 liter engine, mechanical or automatic gearboxes.

Small and practical

What is more important for a compact station wagon: bright appearance or practicality, a large trunk? It is difficult to answer on the move. Then let's try to figure out what we are dealing with.
First about the size. Three competitors differ little from each other in dimensions - the difference in the wheelbase, length or width is not enough to write off leadership or lag on it. Short fiat is inferior to a long skoda only 90 mm, but exceeds the medium -sized kia in the wheelbase. However, we will still have time to climb the salons and trunk with roulette and landing mannequin. Now - about something else.
More recently, few, except for the creators of the car, seriously talked about the branded style of Skoda. Now is another matter. To begin with, the front part of the old Felicia was led to the common denominator, and the new Fabia completely became a finished example of a corporate identity. The combi version looks even more impressive - elongated, compared with the hatchback, the rear overhang and additional glass make the car more proportional and visually easier.

Bright, expressive, sometimes on the verge of reasonable Italian style ... This is not about Fiat Palio. Unlike expressive models for the European market, its design is deliberately calm and moderate. The machine was not created in order to assemble crowds of fans and deteriorators at every appearance. Its task is not to cause any negative emotions in anyone, and the developers coped with this task perfectly. You will not hear a bad word about the appearance of Palio, but it will not work to draw from memory.
Kia Rio, on the contrary, demonstrates an extraordinary individuality: a rapidly rounded silhouette with a insinuating-appropriate smile of the front. A kind of friend of Ford Focus. However, such a comparison does not at all detract from the advantages of appearance - after all, the proportions of Kia Rio are completely different.
If you put the trinity in profile, you will immediately see that there is only one real station wagon here - fiat. Kia and Skoda are rather combi: their rear window is painfully tilted strongly. As a result, the trunk volume when loading to the ceiling is noticeably smaller.

Facing the consumer
An inexpensive imported car should be primarily a reliable and convenient vehicle and only then a device to satisfy the driver's ambitions. Therefore, we will change the traditional order of acquaintance with the car a little, starting not with a driver’s, but with the fifth door.
Let's try to open it. Here are the times! All locks are encouraged, but it is possible to penetrate the trunk on the move only on Skoda - its central castle acts on all doors. Kia and Fiat require the key, however, Palio allows you to use the remote drive - the handle on the floor at the driver's seat.
A similar situation with the rear shelf is a full -fledged hard folding structure this time only at Fiat. Skoda and Kia demonstrate a flexible approach - they only have a curtain. You can’t put here more or less significant luggage here. However, do the station wagon buy to carry the little things on the back shelf? It's time to see what the luggage compartment is suitable at full armament.

Until it came to the folding of the rear seat, Fiat was leading - it has a minimum loading height and the largest doorway. But if the luggage does not fit, you have to sacrifice passengers. In fiat immediately three - the back of the rear seat is whole. Kia and Skoda leave options with a four- or triple interior - their backs are cut. At the same time, in Fabia, you can put in parts not only the back, but also the seat pillow, receiving the smooth floor of the trunk even in a truncated version.
The convenience of passengers in all cars is at a high level, but tall is most spacious in the rear seat of Fabia. If you need to sit back the three of them - it will be freer in Rio, but more convenient - again, in Skoda. Fiat is comfortable behind only two, preferably not too high.
Chair number 1
The Germans' passion did not bypass the cars - the ergonomics of cars from Germany deservedly receive the best grades.

If you blindfold an experienced expert and put Fabia’s wheel - he will almost accurately say: Volkswagen. Comments are unnecessary, if we remind you who almost owns Skoda almost undividedly. The driver’s workplace is close to the ideal. Only the most thinly can complain - the distance between the lateral stops on the hard back and the seat of the seat implies regular use by the owner of the foamy drink and pork legs. The adjustment range is the largest of the trinity, and the steering column adjustable in length and angle easily solves the problems of drivers with a non -standard hand length or waist volume.
But the low and thin will be at the ease of Palio. A high landing, a soft chair, closely located pedals, a good visibility of back - in this fiat is noticeably different from the rest. Finishing? The rough plastic of the front panel can be forgiven, but the steering wheel made from a similar material is not too nice to hold in your hands.
Kia Rio, in contrast to Fiat, surprised the low, almost sports planting of the driver. Of course, the length of the cabin is not consumed so economically, but the feeling of merging with the machine is higher. The seat is a cross between Palio and Fabia, the steering wheel is also, but without adjustments. However, something can be achieved by changing the height and tilt of the pillow - there is such an opportunity.

Running
It would be a big mistake to directly compare the dynamic qualities of these cars. After all, the engine chosen for the Skoda test is noticeably weaker. (Fabia Combi with a stooping engine costs at least $ 13,300 - it is too expensive to actually compete with fiat and kia.) Excuses to each car can be found, but we better comment on the measurements on the dynamometric road.
The backbone of the Skoda in acceleration is understandable - in her motor, three dozen horses are less. But the maximum speed and run eloquently indicate the best aerodynamics of the Czech machine, the excellent quality of assembly and adjusting its chassis.
The holder of the most powerful engine Fiat Palio Wykend could claim record indicators, but ... the acceleration intensity is determined not only by the engine and transmission, but also by the mass of the machine. The heavy fiat showed the best maximum speed, but lost a little light kia in acceleration, despite the shorter gears.

However, the matter is not only in excess mass, but also in the character of the engine - until it is unwinded up to 4000 rpm, it does not show the proper enthusiasm. To extract everything that he is capable of from Fiat, you have to pretty much to work with a gear lever.
If the best car was determined only by the motor, Kia would become it. Its one and a half -liter sixteen -valve engine allows you to go very dynamically, despite the stretched gear. He spends the least gasoline and most ... noisy. But this, as they say, is another story.
We will leave the Danimenka straight as an arrow and go to squeak with tires to mountain serpentine. If you arrange a ring race for the Trinity, Kia would have come out the winner. Thanks to the rigid short -flowing suspension, Rio passes the steering of a serpentine noticeably faster than opponents. The steering wheel with a rubber reactive effect and prone to overheating of the brake almost do not interfere with this. Driven in a critical regime, Kia Rio helplessly hangs the front (!) Wheel, losing the craving at the exit from the turn and notifying the driver about this not only by the roar of the motor, but also with a desperate squeak of rubber.

After Kia, confidence does not come at the wheel of Fiat immediately - large rolls and a noticeable delay in the reaction of the machine to the turn of the fast steering wheel (2.6 turning from the stop to the stop) are scared. But there is nothing wrong with this, the behavior of the car in marginal modes is normal: the swing is absent, and the sliding begins gradually and immediately with all the wheels. True, with an increase in speed, the confidential interval is sharply reduced, and the car begins to break off too unexpectedly. One of the possible explanations is the evil tires of the Pirelli P6000, which usually equip more high -speed cars.
Skoda-Fabia Combi demonstrates moderate abilities to quickly passing turns and enviable foolishness. She does not want to drive in the turn, and she only responds to the driver’s demolition to the driver’s provocation. With the increase in speed, behavior improves: insufficient rotation gives way to neutral, and reactions become faster.
Provincial interest
Let the forever hurrying inhabitants of the capital interpret the abnormalities of the engines and tenacious tires. Those whose paths run over hundreds and thousands of kilometers to the east are more important how convenient and confident you will feel in Russian autobahns.

On uneven roads, it is comfortable to go only on Fiat. Its long -flowing pendants joke, even with serious flaws of the canvas. And the moderate rigidity of the pendants in combination with good damping allows you to go quickly and without unnecessary shaking where others are forced to reduce speed.
Developing a package for bad roads, Fabia designers, apparently, set the main goal to increase the energy intensity of the suspension. They succeeded, but the smoothness of the stroke on uneven coatings had to be sacrificed. As a result, Skoda is not afraid of irregularities on the asphalt, but she is noticeably shaking.
But the driver of Kia Rio will have to overcome the tram tracks at the turtle of speed and slow down in front of the waves on the asphalt. Unless, of course, there is no desire to listen to what his pendants say, triggered to the limiters.
Although Kia (160 mm) became the formal leader in road clearance, large overhangs and the lack of protection of the motor compartment do not add courage when the pavement is offered. The fiat -Palio Wykend is formally inferior to this (155 mm), but its lower point is protecting the rear support of the power unit. A car with short overhangs and arched rapids (in the middle under them 265 mm!) It easily goes even along a strongly broken primer. After him, the look from below on Fabia (a road clearance of 140 mm) raises many questions. Partially plastic protection of the engine compartment and almost completely (!) Plastic, of course, are good against abrasive wear and corrosion. They also improve aerodynamics and reduce noise. But you should not in contact with something more firmly of loose snow.

Taste and color ...
A little about the price. Skoda -Fabia Combi can be bought for about $ 10,500, FIAT -Palio Wykend - for $ 11,600 (with air conditioning - 12,200), and Kia Rio for $ 9600 (and already with air conditioning). Do not expect to get a gorgeous equipment for this money. Only Fiat offers the front windows, fog lights, electrically adjustable mirrors and heated seats of wipers. Otherwise, he is identical to Skoda and Kia - there is an amplifier of the steering wheel, the driver’s airbag and the central castle. However, at the basic Kia, performed by the LS, the door will have to be closed by the old fashioned way.
None of the candidates boasts excellent assessments in all disciplines - in an accessible price class, it is not worth expecting miracles. However, Skoda-Fabia Combi demonstrates the maximum possible almost everywhere. The Fiat Palio Wycent is strong on bad roads and in the snow-cold season. Kia Rio is a finished resident of a metropolis who does not like to leave even streets and highways.

SUMMARY
Fiat Palio Wicent
A good preparation of the machine for harsh living conditions costs a lot both direct and figuratively. Is it possible to forgive the car with a cheap finish and not in all the optimal ergonomics - the buyer will decide.

+A powerful engine, good equipment in the basic configuration, a comfortable suspension, a good adaptability to poor roads and winter operation, a large luggage compartment with a hard shelf.

-Eye basic price, sports characteristics of the engine, strong rolls in corners, modest decoration of the passenger compartment, the back of the rear seat does not fold in parts, unsuccessful material of the steering wheel, high fuel consumption.

SUMMARY
Skoda-Fabia Combi
A proven combination is German quality at the Czech price. The asset contains impeccable comfort and functionality, but for good equipment and a powerful engine you will have to pay a completely different price.

+Modern design, high comfort, spacious interior, excellent assembly quality, wide selection of additional equipment, clear gear shifts, understandable brakes.

-Combor equipment of the basic configuration, moderate dynamic qualities with a base engine, high price of machines with improved equipment.

SUMMARY
Kia Rio
Others will be touched by the view of your car, but its owner will repeatedly think about the consequences of love at first sight, realizing that comfort is leaving much to be desired. Consolation is in good accelerated dynamics, the presence of air conditioning and a low price.

+Bright appearance, spacious interior, good dynamics, air conditioning in the basic configuration, good economy, small turning radius, moderate price.

-Wam engine, mediocre smoothness on uneven roads, small energy intensity of the suspension, the absence in the basic configuration of the central lock and protection of the motor compartment.