Skoda Fabia Estate Review

Growing up equals more space, whether it’s for expanding families or for those with sporty or adventurous lifestyles – usually this means one of two things when it comes to choosing a car, you’ll need an SUV or an estate car. A quality estate car is the best of both worlds, you get to have decent handling while also gaining lots more space when compared to a family hatch, so…

The Skoda Fabia estate is an interesting take on the traditional estate, it will appeal to those that just need a little more space while the sector is not diluted with rivals. In fact, there are very few at present, the only direct competitor is the SEAT Ibiza ST, whereas Nissan’s Note and Kia Soul could be indirect rivals thanks to the target market of these cars.

First impressions are good, the Fabia estate looks better, it’s bigger, there are more toys on the inside and it’s also lighter. On the costs front, the Fabia is the real deal, priced competitively it offers real value for money as it starts at just over £12,000.

Whether you fancy petrol or diesel power, there is plenty of choice. Three petrol engines are available starting with the entry-level 1.0-litre, three-cylinder unit with a power output of 74bhp and 95Nm between 3,000 and 4,300rpm. This equates to covering the benchmark sprint in 14.9 seconds and it will go on to a top speed of 109mph.

Next up is the 1.2 TSI with 88bhp and 160Nm between 1,400 and 3,500rpm, predicted to be the most popular unit in the Fabia Estate line-up. It is much more pleasant to drive thanks to a bit more power and can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 11 seconds flat and will go on to a top speed of 115mph.

The third engine is a higher-powered unit of the 1.2-litre. It produces 108bhp and 175Nm of torque. It will reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.6 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph.

If diesel is your preferred method of power then the Fabia Estate comes with a choice of two engines, a lower powered 1.4-litre unit producing 89bhp and a higher-powered version producing 103bhp.

The 1.4-litre diesel is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed DSG automatic. Sprint times are reasonable with both versions covering the benchmark sprint in 11.3 seconds and have a top speed of 114mph.

The higher-powered 103bhp version of the same engine can reach 62mph from a standing start in 10.2 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 122mph.

The Fabia hatch is an award-winning car and the estate looks every bit an award winner too. When it comes to driving dynamics, the Fabia Estate is actually good fun to drive. 

The steering is too light for us when driving enthusiastically, but it is direct which helps – although the light weighting is useful when in cramped town centres. Thanks to being part of the larger VW Group, Skoda has benefitted to a large extent, and the Fabia Estate has received the clever XDS+ front differential system, which has been offered in the Golf GTi to date. 

XDS is a brilliant little unit, it uses the brakes to slow the inside wheels when cornering, meaning less understeer and the car will go where you point it – result. Thanks to this clever piece of kit, the front-end grip is phenomenal.

The Fabia Estate has been on a diet when comparing to its predecessor, it has shed up to 65kg. You can really feel this when driving on challenging roads, the car feels more agile and fun. 

With every new Skoda, the comfort and refinement levels just keeps getting better and better. For a car that starts at just over £10,500, the cabin is a cosy place to spend time in. 

The petrol engines are all very quiet, whereas the diesel engines are a little more audible. The only down-side is the front seats, there was not enough side supports or bolstering when driving on long journeys. 

In the past few years, Skoda has been renowned for loading kit to its range of cars even from the bottom up and the Fabia Estate is no different.

Highlights on the entry-level S trim include DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, six airbags, stop/start and electric front windows.

Choose the SE grade and this adds as aircon, 15-inch alloy wheels, front assist, a multi-function steering wheel, a pair of height-adjustable front seats, a trip computer and black roof rails, USB and aux-in connections.

Prefer the flagship trim of SE-L or Elegance and this adds 16-inch alloys, climate control aircon, automatic headlights, cruise control and a keyless entry system.

With personalisation becoming greater in the UK, there is a wide array of options offered to allow your Fabia Estate stand out from the crowd. Skoda has given buyers a choice of 14 colours whereas as other options include a panoramic glass sunroof, rubbish bin in the doors, storage net for the boot, a bike carrier, cruise control, parking sensors, a fatigue detection system, automatic lights and wipers.

One of the standout reasons to purchase a Skoda is the level of practicality it offers. The Fabia Estate may be a relatively small car in estate terms, however, it keeps up the Simply Clever ethos of the brand and offers an abundance of space.

When comparing to its predecessor, it offers an extra 200 litres of load space in the boot, this equates to 530 litres with the rear seats in place and when folded this expands to an almost cavernous 1,395 litres. Loading heavy items is a breeze thanks to the low lip on the boot, while interior space is just as useful. You could squeeze three adults across the rear and Skoda has also enhanced the headroom making the cabin feel more airy.

Don’t forget, the Simply Clever items, such as the ice scraper on the inside of the fuel filler cap, handy in winter months and the all-new bottle holders. 

The most frugal engine on the line-up is the low powered 89bhp 1.4-litre diesel unit. It has a claimed average of 83.1mpg fuel economy while CO2 emissions come out at 89g/km.

Insurance and servicing shouldn’t break the bank, the Fabia Estate is competitive across its whole life costs. The best option on the servicing front is to choose a three-year pack and then you can future-proof costs on your car.

Skoda is now one of the most reliable brands on the planet, that’s largely thanks to the work put in at HQ in the Czech Republic but the maker has also got to thank its parent company VW for its reliability record. The Fabia Estate should fare well as all engines and gearboxes have been proven in other models.

Safety standards are high on the Skoda Fabia Estate. Standard kit includes six airbags, two ISOFIX child seat attachments, a tyre pressure monitoring system, front and rear seatbelt warning lights, remote central locking and a safety programme which prevents the car being unlocked from inside. While options include a low-speed automatic braking system (Front Assistant), a third rear headrest and hill-hold control for DSG models only.