Skoda Fabia test drive since 2007 -

freedom of choice

With proposals in the compact car segment, we would have a full order. However, it is this diversity that is fraught with the biggest problem of the problem of choosing.
 

It so happened that almost every manufacturer today offers in this class at least two, in fact, competing models. Take at least the Czech Skoda, in the line of which, in addition to Fabia, not so long ago, Roomster built on the same base appeared.
 

Since both machines have been on editorial tests more than once, we will only touch on their stylistic and dynamic qualities, putting completely different issues at the forefront. First, to whom are these cars addressed? And secondly, which of them in one case or another to give preference?

Let's start with Fabia. It is worth recognizing that the second generation of this model received a very decent and, importantly, distinctive appearance. This, of course, is not VW yet, but not the Czech stepdaughter who appeared at our turn of millennia. However, the creators of this car nevertheless, in my opinion, were not achieved in the design of the exterior, but in the development of the interior space.
 

As a result, the Skoda salon became not just more modern and high -quality, but also more correct from the point of view of ergonomics. The minimum of the protruding details, the widest ranges of adjustments, the excellently provided surface of the front seats and a huge supply of air over the head will provide passengers with an absolutely correct position, regardless of their dimensions. True, the rear passengers of the equally comfortable existence of Fabia will no longer be able to guarantee. Three adults here, with a great desire, will still fit, but it will be very crowded. Together, it is easier, at least they will not encounter their elbows and knees. However, in this case, they still will have to rely on the consciousness and philanthropy of the legs sitting in front of the legs is not enough.

By the way, the caps of the second row of Roomster is already unlikely to be faced with such difficulties, at least the author of these lines, possessing good (by basketball standards) growth, sat freely here, as they say, after itself. Thanks to the not-so-ordinary body structure on the back sofa of this car, the three of us can already be sitting, and there is, in general, more comfort here.
 

The second row compactwane consists of three parts independent of each other. The backs of each of them are easily adjusted to a particular passenger, and the seats themselves are regulated in the longitudinal plane. What is characteristic, any of these components can be folded or removed from the cabin. In this case, a complete disassembly allows you to turn Roomster into a kind of cargo heel, which will fit in nearly 1800 liters of luggage. However, this is by no means its main advantage, it is more important that the owner always has the opportunity to choose the layout optimally suitable for each specific case. For example, when transporting children or in the case when a full-fledged three-seater sofa is simply not needed due to the lack of the fifth passenger, in this case the middle part can be dismantled and moved, say, to the trunk, and the remaining side chairs can be moved closer to the center In this case, almost royal landing is guaranteed.
 

Nevertheless, all this is necessary only for family people. Lonely bachelors, obviously, is more suitable for compact Fabia. Those who give her preference, at least will not have to pay extra for excess metal and the options unnecessary during operation (like the already described system of transformation Varioflex). In short, ceteris paribus, this car today costs the buyer about 15 percent cheaper than Roomster. Moreover, we intentionally did not compare the basic versions of these cars, focusing on those that, in our opinion, are optimal in terms of reasonable sufficiency. So, a 1.4-liter car with a gasoline engine, aggregated with a 5-speed mechanics, equipped with ABS, a pair of airbags, three-point belts with pretensors, a steering wheel, a central lock, immobilizer, front electric windows, heating and electric side mirrors, heated front heels Seats and the driver’s height, in the first case (Ambiente version) will cost 409,000 rubles, and in the second (Style execution) is 70,000 rubles more. The difference is, by the standards of the segment, you see, very decent. Moreover, for the same money in Fabia, a self -clevering rear -view mirror was also found, but this already refers to the category of minor details.
 

The second and probably the last objective reason of the running qualities. Like any other compact hatchback, Fabia is originally designed to move in the conditions of urban chaos and the eternal deficit of free space, which means that it is a priori more maneuverable, more stable, faster and, of course, more dynamic than any such family one of such a family. According to the manufacturer, which has a 1.4-liter hatchback engine to 100 km/h accelerates almost a second faster than Roomster, while ahead of it in both efficiency and maximum speed.
 

The possession of a family car like Roomster, on the contrary, involves a reasonable compromise between practicality and dynamic ease. In general, he is likely not to amaze an active driver in motion, but the calm one is unlikely to disappoint his speakers in the city crowding such a driver will be more than enough. In addition, this compactiven is also distinguished by a fairly acceptable level of sled comfort and, by the way, very adequate behavior at medium speeds. So here, as they say, to each his own.
 

Our experts

Mikhail Moshkov, Head of Skoda Group of Companies Automir:
     
With the advent of Roomster and the new Fabia, you can conduct a new countdown in the history of the Skoda brand. Now this is not just the good old VW in Czech, but a company that produces interesting, original models. At the same time, new models have a more emotional design, but retained the qualities thanks to which the Czech brand cars are loved in Europe, including in Russia.
 

The features of these cars include a bright memorable appearance, good handling and a suspension perfect for our roads. Both cars are ideally adapted to life in the city. The characteristic differences of Roomster include ample opportunities for configuration of the internal space at the request of the driver and passengers, the machine can become two-, three-, four- or five-seater. Large lateral glass improve the review on the sides, which is especially true in the case of using a machine as a family car. In this case, a child sitting from behind will perfectly see everything that happens outside the machine.
 

Recently, Skoda has been deprived of the attention of the consumer, but I believe that the output of new models will allow to return the former popularity of the brand in the Russian market.
 

Vladimir Zhidkov
Author photo: Yan Segal
 
 

Source: Mkobil magazine [October/2007]