Skoda Fabia test drive since 2007 -

Claustfabia or love for a small Czech closed space

The previous generation was dispersed along the planet with a circulation of one and a half million cars. The same number of foreign cars was sold in Russia last year. The new model has not become worse, but it will no longer be so simple to gain the popularity of the new Fabia.

 
Skoda Fabia is an unexpectedly laconic hatch with an overwhelming efficiency. What is surprised, because Skoda has always been (for me, at least) a model of utilitarianism, practicality, rationality and pragmatism. Car and nothing more. The car as it should be. A car that has nothing to have been intended for the optimal execution of a given route.
 

To tell and show how Fabia looks from the inside, it was possible even before her appearance, taking a photo of the central console and devices from Roomster. In principle, nothing surprising, since the latter was collected from the front of Fabia and the rear Octavia.
 

The newcomer salon also liked (and someone does not like) the severity and seriousness of forms permeated by practicality and orientation towards a person.
 

Prices*
In the minimum configuration: from 329 036 rubles.

Price with automatic transmission: from 524 077 rubles.

Maximum configuration: from 364 067 rubles.

Wheels recommend: 1.4 liter engine in the Sport configuration from 435 422 rubles.

*At the rate of the Central Bank on the day of preparation of the material. Check the details with dealers.
 

Soft seats with good lateral support are altered in height and have the widest range of adjustments. The steering wheel is tuned in height and departure, even in the basic configuration, Classic. The plastic in the doors and along the bottom of the torpedo is hard, but on top (in those places with which the head of the passengers are possible) is soft. As in Roomster, there are two glove boxes, but a package of A4 format papers will not fit in any of them.
 

But the passenger space in Fabia will even be enough claustrophobes: three will be crowded, but two can sit from behind without touching each other. And between their knees and the front seat there will be free space even for a person with an increase above average. The trunk became more than 40 liters (compared to the previous Fabia). At the same time, we note that the car is built on the same platform as the previous generation.

 

To be content with small means to limit yourself in something. But not in this case: choose a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine instead of a 1.4- or 1.6-liter means to release some money, saving on gasoline. And at the same time no self -restraint!
 

Skoda is charged with a nimble, and most importantly, with a traction motor, the power indicator of which cannot reflect his true ambitions. I assure you, a machine with a 1.2 l engine is driving! They say that even that the 1.4-liter unit is not so excitement on the ring, according to the speedometer, Fabia 1.2 accelerated to 170 km/h, although only until 163 can be passport.
 

The acceleration of the three -cylinder motor is not easy. But the speakers are enough to overtake leisurely fellow citizens on domestic and elderly foreign cars. The speed set occurs with almost the same intensity: as soon as the driver and the passenger in addition.

  

And what a sound! At the top, a high and sonorous voice of the engine exhaust will give a head start to any sports. This can be configured any, even the most calm driver on a dynamic ride, especially if he knows that fuel consumption with a drowned pedal does not exceed 9 liters per hundred. And drives and save
 

Managing Skoda is easy and pleasant. The first, thanks to the electrical power that has transparent characteristics and does not fill the steering wheel with additional load. The second merit of a good chassis, timely and accurately reacting to the driver’s teams.
 

On the straight line, Fabia is confident, in corners it has insufficient rotation, heating, but is firmly held by a given trajectory. It slows down confidently, without problems, both at city and highways.
 

The checkpoint works clearly; Unless the inclusion of the rear is not quite familiar: the lever must be pressed down and then pass the route of the first gear to them. A matter of habit after five to six inclusions errors in working with the box will disappear.

  

And the new Fabia with a 1.6 engine can be equipped with a six -speed TipTronic automatic checkpoint. In general, the hatch was rich in additional options: Climatronic electronic air conditioner, Bluetooth Hands-Free system, an audio system with the ability to connect an MP3-player or iPod, cruise control, navigation system

All these options will bring the price of the car to the no longer basic Octavia, but will make the Fabia closed space in a new attractive space
  
 

The car was provided for the test car center for Khasanskaya


Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Author and Roman Zubko
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 120/2007]