New Skoda Fabia revealed

Czech car-maker Skoda has unveiled the all-new, sharper-looking, Audi-esque Skoda Fabia compact hatch, which is scheduled to roll into Aussie showrooms from around March 2022.

Riding on an all-new platform architecture (MQB-AO) shared with the Volkswagen Polo and Audi A1, the 2022 Skoda Fabia brings about advances in technology and connectivity, such as a big 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

Taking on the top-selling MG3 along with the Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio and Suzuki Swift, the new Skoda Fabia shows off a sleek exterior design, starting with new LED headlights that bookend the brand’s updated grille.

The overall design is sportier and more angular than before, with up-spec versions of the stocky new hatch getting sharp new LED tail-light clusters and a roof spoiler as well.

The compact Euro hatchback brings updated 1.0- and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines to the party, high-level safety equipment including nine airbags, improved semi-autonomous driver assistance systems and more interior room.

The new platform architecture underpinning the fourth-generation Skoda Fabia sees the city runabout grow 110mm longer from bumper to bumper, with a 4107mm length, making it longer than the top-selling compact car in Australia, the MG3 (4055mm).

The roof is now 7mm lower (1460mm) but it has 94mm-longer wheelbase (2564mm) and is 48mm wider (1780mm) which liberates more passenger and boot space, the latter increasing by 50 litres to 380L. That expands to 1190L with the rear seats folded down.

Top-spec Skoda Fabia models get an ultra-modern, upmarket cabin thanks to the fitment of the Volkswagen Group’s Virtual Cockpit, a customisable 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

It’s joined by a large 9.2-inch central infotainment touch-screen that enables gesture control, sat-nav and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Five USB-C ports are fitted – including one on the central mirror to attach a dash-cam – and niceties such as a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging and ambient LED lighting are available on some model grades.

Skoda also offers a range of its signature storage and convenience solutions such as a removable cup holder, a storage box for rear seat passengers and a storage pouch hidden underneath the parcel shelf in the boot.

Safety levels have been enhanced for the new baby Skoda, with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car, cyclist and pedestrian detection joined by long-range blind spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition.

Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, and lane centring/lane keeping assist, are designed to make freeway cruising effortless.

The new Fabia is expected to mirror the current range in Australia, which spans three models priced between $18,390 and $24,990 plus on-road costs, and are likely to be powered by 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engines generating 70kW/175Nm and 81kW/200Nm, depending on the variant.

Fuel consumption is claimed to be between 5.0 and 5.5L/100km, while transmission options include five- and six-speed manuals and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

European customers can choose cheaper, lower-power versions of the 1.0-litre engine (48kW/95Nm and 59kW/95Nm). There’s no word on hybrid powertrains at this stage.

There’s also a more potent 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine (110kW/250Nm), and while Skoda has no plans to develop a Volkswagen Polo GTI-rivalling hero model, Skoda Australia spokesman Paul Pottinger said such a model would be welcomed with open arms.

“If an RS Fabia became available, we’d most certainly want to expand the RS range,” he said.

The sportiest Fabia model will be the Monte Carlo, which gets cosmetic upgrades but no mechanical enhancements.

At present the Skoda Fabia can be had in a slightly more expensive wagon body style, which is currently priced between $19,490 and $26,090, and the Fabia wagon will once again return – although it’s not known how far off it is.

“We’d like it [the Fabia wagon]. Is there any room for it with Scala? We think so. It’s unique and there’s nothing else quite like it within the Skoda family, let alone from our rivals,” said Pottinger.

As it stands, the Skoda Fabia is one of the brand’s most popular vehicles in Europe but is one of the lowest-selling compact cars in Australia.

With just 178 sales for the first three months of 2021, it commands 1.5 per cent market share of the compact car segment. By comparison, the top-selling MG3 found 3410 buyers in the same period for a 28.1 per cent share of the segment.

Despite its slow sales, Skoda Australia says the Fabia is an important model for the brand Down Under.

“The significant thing for any brand to increase volume is to have a significant model for all walks of life. We need that segment covered,” said spokesman Kurt McGuiness.