Skoda Fabia test drive since 2007 -

Second birth

When the Skoda Fabia hatchback appeared on the European market, it immediately became popular. For the minds of Russians, Czech had to fight longer. Indeed, at one time, Felicia was a success in our country, because it turned out to be the first available new foreign car for former Soviet citizens. Fabia, who came to her, was already forced to compete with Korean cars that poured into Russia, both quality and price. It seems that Fabia of the second generation took into account the lessons of history now it is both fashionable, and quite affordable and extremely solid.
The Fabia procession in Russia cannot be called triumphant, although Skoda managed to stay on a market switch only thanks to it. Of course, Octavia also made its contribution, but the mass consumer gradually imbued with European values, preferring a compact hatchback to a classic sedan. The growth of sales of the Czech brand gained momentum gradually, in fact, like the company's cars themselves, mainly equipped with small engines that require promotion before starting. Only after the positive sales results, Czechs developed Skoda sports modifications, wearing proud nameplate with Latin letters RS, like Audi, which, incidentally, is also part of the Volkswagen concern. Perhaps the general policy of the company is just designed for the success of Czech models in third countries, where they would like to buy new Audi, but there is clearly not enough money. The tricky move, given that once the Volkswagen brand closed the cohort of prestigious cars, corresponding to the name of the folk car. Now on the bronze pedestal they put a Skoda younger brother of the United European Corporation.
The appearance of the second generation Fabia now meets the corporate principles of the brand. A massive two-story grate of the radiator, a vertical windshield and large eyes-fara migrated to Fabia from Roomster a new informal model of the company. At the same time, the black front racks and a crushed roof gave the car their, unique charm. The second Fabia looks at the world much more joyfully more strict, excessively solid to class in his predecessor. Of course, feed, decorated with crystals of trematic lamps, became noticeably more attractive.
However, technological progress, which transformed Czech cars, relied on the vast experience of the brand, which did not lose its traditions in the era of socialism. Hence the quality of the assembly of the car, which is characteristic of all Europeans, the corresponding level of safety and decoration of the salon and, of course, predictable behavior on the road. The new Fabia added not only in dimensions, but also in other indicators: this is a confident movement in a straight line, which indicates a clear calculation of engineers, and the modern body design confirming the status of a fashionable car that meets the cultural traditions of the West. Finally, the balanced controllability, the intelligible reactive effect of the steering wheel at the slightest deviation, and in the turns of the reaction, the steering wheel turned out to be expectedly fast, but at the same time without excessive sharpness. However, the reckoning for good handling was mediocre smoothness, but the previous Skoda Fabia suffered a similar ailment.
A pleasant impression remained from a 1.4-liter engine with a capacity of 85 hp, although its Golfovsky 105-horsepower is a volume of 1.6 liters looks preferable. The flat promotion of the motor up to 6000 rpm of the crankshaft is accompanied by a quiet buzz, and the dynamics of the motor are enough so as not to feel like an outcast in the city transport stream. True, the average fuel consumption was somewhat surprised at about 12 liters of 95th gasoline per hundred. From the experience of communicating with less voluminous Skodovian power units, it can be noted that with a 1.2-liter Fabia engine, it looks much more modest on the road. This is not to say that the base motor is very weak, but it accelerates the car rather thanks to the successful settings of the mechanical gearbox. By the way, the good old diesel 1.9 TDI is the most popular among Europeans now added a 1.4-liter unit to it.
The new Fabia has become much safer than the same. This applies to additional pillows for the rear passengers, and the effective operation of the brakes. Summary: an excellent slowdown with excellent feedback, although a somewhat rude operation of the ABS standard system. The driver of Skoda Fabia also has electronic assistants in the form of an ESP system that control the behavior of the machine in vihi. In the name of the safety of pedestrians and in the hope of a five -star Euroncap rating, the hood of the new Fabia raised 30 mm and increased the front overhang by 14 mm.
As often happens with the products of foreign manufacturers, some of the Skoda Fabia configuration caused bewilderment in the Russian consumer. The same can be observed with the new model. For example, Sport, as it turned out, has nothing to do with sports. After all, the machine is not equipped with the most powerful 1.4-liter engine aggregated with a manual gearbox. But the front seats are made in the best traditions of sports vehicles by a bucket -shaped uniform with pronounced lateral support. A three -spoke steering wheel and, of course, alloy wheels of larger diameter are installed here. The complete feeling that you have a rally version of the car. But on the road there is no corresponding drive of the car almost standard. Then what does Sport prefix have to do with it?
However, it seems that with the sale of the new Skoda Fabia there will be no problems, of course, it turned out to be interesting and, in general, is fully consistent with the money that the manufacturer asks for it.
Our certificate
Mikhail Moshkov, Head of Skoda Group of Companies Automir:
The new generation of the Skoda Fabia car has retained all the parameters that prompted buyers to purchase a first -generation model. The external design, the offered taps of the body, as well as the combinations of materials and colors used in the design of the cabin, carry a positive emotional charge.
The new generation of the FABIA lineup belongs to the largest representatives of the class of small -scale cars. According to the decisive parameters of comfort for drivers and passengers, the new Skoda Fabia is one of the leaders in this class of cars. The appearance of the new Fabia car has become more expressive, sports and dynamic. The body looks compact, while the total length of the new Fabia increased by 22 mm. An important argument in favor of choosing is the large basic volume of the luggage compartment, which is 300 liters, and with folded rear seats in a double version of the cabin, the volume reaches 1163 liters.
The running qualities of the new car correspond to the dynamics and freshness of the design. The proposed engines with a volume of 1.2 to 1.6 liters allow you to choose a car that is optimally suitable for you.
You can conduct a test drive of a car and form your opinion about the new generation of Skoda Fabia in the car dealerships of official dealers, for example, in our car dealership.
Text: Andrey Konstantinov
Photo: Yan Segal

Source: Mkobil [04.06.2007]