Used Skoda Fabia 2015-2021 review

Our opinion of the Skoda Fabia has never been kept under wraps. This third-generation version is a previous What Car? Car of the Year winner, then it became our Used Small Car of the Year 2021. Both new and used, we think very highly of it.

Engines and performance: Why? Well, first off, its engine range is strong and varied. The small car is available with a non-turbo 1.0-litre petrol unit putting out either 59bhp or 74bhp (depending on your chosen variant). You also have two turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol units of 94bhp and 109bhp, and a further two turbo petrols of 1.2-litres producing either 89bhp or 109bhp. There’s also a trio of 1.4-litre diesels in 74bhp, 89bhp and 103bhp flavours, each of which can return excellent fuel economy if you clock up lots of motorway miles.

Ride and handling: Whichever version you choose, the Fabia is good to drive, surprisingly refined and very comfortable. The basic non-turbo 1.0-litre engine is adequate around town, but we'd seek out one of the turbocharged petrol models; these have more get up and go for motorway use. The diesel options all have plenty of low-down grunt, but aren't quite as smooth and refined as the petrol engined-cars.

Around town, the Fabia's ride can be a bit unsettled, but at higher speeds things settle down and it all becomes much more composed. In corners, the Fabia steers well, and there's plenty of grip, and it handles in a secure and competent fashion. Overall refinement is good, with low levels of both wind and road noise.

Looking for a newer car? Read our Skoda Fabia 2021-present used buying guide

Interior and practicality: Inside, there's an excellent driving position, with good visibility, and the dashboard and surrounding areas are all laid out in a logical fashion. The 6.5in touchscreen is clear and easy to use, too. Space-wise, there's more than enough up front, and generous amounts of leg and head room in the rear, at least for two; three is a little bit of a squeeze. The boot is a competitive size, too, and is usefully square in shape. However, fold the rear seats flat and there is a noticeable step in the boot floor.

All in, though, the Fabia is a great car, and it should be fairly light on your pocket, too, with some excellent buys appearing on the used car forecourts.

Trims and equipment: Trims range from S, which is a little too basic for our tastes, through to SE, which is our pick and offers such niceties as alloy wheels, air-con, rear parking sensors and a 6.5in colour touchscreen featuring Skoda’s Smartlink sat-nav, up to the sportier-looking Monte Carlo and increasingly more opulent SE L, with its climate control, cruise control and keyless start.

"The Fabia is an ideal first car. If I were 17 again, I'd be very happy with one." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

If you're interested in buying a used Skoda Fabia or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Used examples of the Fabia represent good value. Prices for this generation start at around £3000 for an early example with plenty of miles on it. However, we'd suggest you spend £6000 to £7000 or more to get a 2015 or 2016 example in SE specification with an average number of miles. Step up to the £8000 mark and you’ll find a good facelifted 2019, 2020 or 2021 model. Meanwhile, £10,000 should secure you a facelift car from a franchised dealer, with a full history and often lower-than-average miles.

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MPG

Choose one of the older diesels if maximum fuel economy is what you need; the 89bhp 1.4-litre has a combined figure of 78.6mpg under the older NEDC tests.

Most will be well served by one of the turbocharged 1.0 or 1.2-litre petrols. Those looking at earlier models will end up with the 1.2, which gets a figure of 60.1mpg in 89bhp form under the older NEDC tests; later 94bhp 1.0-litre engines do a little better at 65.7mpg, or 52.3mpg under the newer and more realistic WLTP tests.

CO2

All diesel engines and the 89bhp version of the 1.0-litre petrol sneak under the 100g/km threshold for free road tax. The more powerful 109bhp 1.0-litre emits 105g/km, followed by the non-turbo 59bhp 1.0-litre at 106g/km. Even the older and larger 1.2-litre petrol isn't that polluting, with figures such as 107g/km for the 89bhp version and 110g/km for the 109bhp model.

Road tax

Annual road tax (VED) for cars registered before the tax changes of April 2017 came into force will be based on CO2 emissions, while those registered after that date will be charged at the flat rate, which currently stands at £195 per year.

Servicing

Servicing costs are moderate for most examples, and you can arrange a fixed-price servicing plan. Maintenance alternates between interim and major services every year or 10,000 miles. An interim service costs £159 and a major one £249.

Insurance

Insuring the Fabia won’t cost a fortune, either, with insurance groups starting from group one for the least powerful 1.0-litre engine. Add a turbo to that engine and the ratings jump to eight for the 94bhp version, or 11 for the 109bhp. The 89bhp 1.4-litre diesel is group 10.

Safety

When it was safety tested by Euro NCAP in 2014, the Fabia was awarded the maximum five-star rating. This is an expired rating, though, since the test has been updated several times since then. It also makes it incomparable to modern cars tested under different regimes.

Reliability

The Skoda Fabia scored well for reliability in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, based on real-world owner reviews.

Petrol and diesel versions were generally seen as dependable, with few serious faults. However, some owners reported frustrating warning lights that were tricky to diagnose, leading to multiple trips to the dealer. Electrical niggles, especially with infotainment and sensors, were also mentioned.

While some praised Skoda dealers, others experienced delays, costly out-of-warranty repairs and part shortages.

Overall, the Fabia is a solid used buy, but the dealer experience may vary.

Discover more about used Skoda Fabia reliability on our dedicated page.

Engine

At the launch of this generation of Fabia, Skoda offered two turbocharged 1.2-litre engines, one of 89bhp and the other of 109bhp; our preferred version is the lower-powered variant. However, this was replaced in 2017 with the smaller but slightly more powerful engine known as the 1.0 TSI 95, which is certainly quick enough and very economical. It's the one to go for if you can afford it.

Specification

The base S trim is a little too basic, so we'd suggest you go for an SE trim car instead.

A facelift in 2019 brought one or two minor cosmetic and trim updates, but the 1.0-litre SE continues to be our favourite of these later cars.

Our favourite Skoda Fabia: 1.0 TSI 95 SE

The main rival for the Fabia in this class is the Ford Fiesta, which is one of the best-selling cars on the UK’s roads. It has always been a cut above its rivals to drive, with peppy engines and delightful steering and handling. It’s comfortable, too, with a smart, well-equipped interior, and it comes loaded with safety technology. It’s pricier than the Fabia, though, and it’s not quite as practical.

The other main rivals both hail, like the Fabia, from the Volkswagen Group: the Seat Ibiza and the VW Polo. The Ibiza is both great to drive and remarkably spacious. It’s efficient, too, and has no major weakness in any area.

The Polo has a deserved reputation for taking all the good qualities of that evergreen car, the VW Golf, and compressing them down into a small car. It’s a well-built and entirely logical car, with a good range of engines and trims and, despite it having a higher purchase price than the Fabia’s, there are still some good used cars to look out for.

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If you're interested in buying a used Skoda Fabia or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.