Skoda Fabia long-term test: report 5

The car Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI 95 SE Comfort Run by Kiall Garrett, senior videographer

Why it’s here To see if this budget-friendly small hatchback can suit the high-mileage and practicality needs of What Car?’s videographer

Needs to be Have acres of space for camera gear and equipment bags, while also being comfortable on long journeys and not too expensive to run

Mileage 1105 List price £17,990 Target Price £17,433 Price as tested £19,540 Official economy 55.8mpg Test economy 53.2mpg

25 January 2023 – Family size?

Recently, I've found myself as the designated driver in my Skoda Fabia, ferrying slightly tipsy family members to and from various houses after a round of parties.

This was my first full experience of transporting a Fabia full of people (and dogs) instead of camera equipment.

Was it up to the task? Well you will not be surprised to hear that it is not a limousine. But while the full-size adults I carried around couldn’t exactly stretch out and luxuriate like they could in some larger cars, they had little to complain about.

Plus, sliding my 6ft 2in frame into the back, I sampled first-hand the Fabia's surprisingly roomy rear seats. True, my long legs are pressed up against the seat in front of me, but it’s not bad for most journeys, and I have some headroom to spare.

Given this is a small car whose rivals include the big-selling Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, most Fabia buyers likely won't be buying one in the hopes of filling it up to the gunwales at every opportunity. But it’s good to know that for the occasional people-carrying duty, it is well up to the task.

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