Little Euro pocket rocket

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5th October 2011 - News Review Messenger by Peter Barnwell

VOLKSWAGEN'S funny little ŠKODA Fabia 77TSi will be used on the Australian market to match Korean manufacturers on price, performance, features and quality.

Fabia, which is slightly bigger than the VW Polo, has been around for a long time in Europe.

It's been a long time coming here but the wait has been worth it.

This five-door Czech-made hatch offers something many competitors don't have character.

Some are plasticky looking whitegoods with a sterile feel and bland styling but none of that applies to the Fabia.

Though not a pretty car, Fabia is distinctive and practical, and has plucky performance from its tiny engine.

The motor delivers excellent fuel economy, rated at 5.5 litres per 100km.

VALUE

PITCHED at $18,990, Fabia is not the cheapest on the block but offers up plenty of goodies, including Bluetooth phone, air conditioning, cruise control, multifunction wheel, full-size spare, six air bags, stability control and trip computer. There's an optional Monte Carlo pack for an extra $3000.

In that you get a blacked out sporty look, alloys, sporty interior and contrast roof colour.

A six-speed DSG dual-clutch manumatic will be available next year for an additional $2300.

TECH

POWER comes from a 1.2 litre, direct injection, turbo four which delivers an 77kW/175Nm output.

It passes EU5 emissions regulations with 95 octane fuel delivered from a 45 litre tank. Fabia's underpinnings are pretty simple and come directly from the VW parts inventory.

It uses the least amount of fuel and has the largest luggage capacity.

DESIGN

STYLED along family ŠKODA lines, the boxy little Fabia looks distinctive from the front, generic from the rear.

The look is enhanced with a contrast colour roof and the Monte Carlo pack ratchets appearance up a few notches more.

It's a fairly standard hatchback design with five seats, 60/40 folding rear seats and a large load space. The interior is quite spacious.

SAFETY

IT GOT a four-star Euro rating back in 2007 and has not been tested since. It has six air bags, stability control and a rigid chassis design.

THE DRIVE

THE engine is sweet once you get into the torque band over 1500rpm and sings sweetly up to redline but it's no fire cracker and it doesn't need to be. We were impressed by the Fabia's controlled and comfortable ride, the smooth manual shift and quality feel of the car.

It's fairly simple mechanics should mean low running costs and the condensed ŠKODA style gives Fabia a point of difference in the market.