Engine and Performance
The Skoda Fabia is available with three different powertrains and comes in eight different variants. Customers looking for petrol-powered Fabia can choose between a frugal 1.2-litre MPI petrol and a more potent 1.4-litre MPI petrol. Whereas for people who are in the market for a diesel hatch, Skoda offers a 1.4-litre TDI diesel engine equipped Fabia.

The 1.4-litre MPI petrol engine is the only four-cylinder engine among the three engines available and produces 86PS of power and 132Nm of torque at 3800rpm. It is also by far the most spirited performer of the three. The remaining 1.4-litre TDI diesel and the 1.2-litre MPI petrol both produce 70PS but exhibit different torque figures of 155Nm at 1,600-2,800rpm and 108Nm at 3,000rpm respectively. Both these engines don't feel as refined and responsive as the 1.4-litre petrol.

The 1.2-litre MPI petrol Fabia requires a lot of gear changing to extract the maximum out of it, but the 1422cc diesel’s performance is much better even after taking into account the slight turbo-lag below 2,000rpm. The diesel unit uses Volkswagen's Pumpe Duse method of diesel injection instead of the current norm of using common rail direct injection. The Pumpe Duse system of fuel delivery makes the diesel Fabia quite responsive however it also has a drawback. It causes unusual amount of diesel clatter due to very high injection pressure that the system creates within the engine. Engine response is further aided by a fixed geometry turbocharger that helps the Fabia perform reasonably in city traffic.

All the engines' shortcomings are quickly forgotten when the Fabia getting moving. Its suspension impresses with a fine blend of ride damping and handling. All the bumps and potholes are absorbed without any protest, to give a sedan rivalling comfortable ride. Fabia's fantastic suspension also bestows it with rock-solid straightline stability that makes cruising at high speeds very easy and stress-free.

See Specs of Skoda Fabia

The slick and precise 5-speed manual gearbox found in all Fabia models is by far the best gearbox found on any hatchback. Period. Paired with an efficient electro-hydraulic steering wheel that gives good feedback, makes the Fabia quite fun to drive! The fat 185 section tyres provide a good grip of the road while manoeuvring around corners and together with the suspension package give the Fabia excellent handling as well.

The Fabia carrying the 1.4-litre petrol engine can achieve a top speed of 173kmph and complete the 0-100 dash in 12.3 seconds, while the diesel variant can top 168kmph. One shining aspect of the diesel Fabia is its fuel-efficiency. Delivering 14.4kmpl in the city and 18.3kmpl on the highway, the diesel Fabia is easily one of the most economical cars in India!
Exterior
In the looks department, the Fabia is unmistakably a Skoda. It is hard to miss the characteristic Skodadesign cues like the centre crease on the bonnet and a big chrome-plated bar above the grille. The car's Swedish designer, Dirk Van Braekal hasn't strayed far from the traditional Skoda design, which has always been sturdy and chunky, but with elements of style, elegance and sophistication.

The swooping bonnet, large wrap-around projector type headlamps and the sleek flanks make the Fabia stand out among its competitors. The Fabia measures 3,992mm in length, 1,642mm in width and 1,513mm in height.
Interior
Before you step in you will want to stand back and appreciate Fabia's fabulous interiors. The wraparound windscreen, the two-tone soft-touch dashboard, high quality fabric and leather upholstery make a very good first impression. Once seated Fabia's fantastic build quality envelops you and immediately comes to the fore. The interiors feel as solid as an Octavia's but with even better appointments! Everything has a tactile touch to it and it is difficult to find poor-quality plastic bits.

A 300-litre boot, which can be expanded to 1,163 litres by folding down the rear seats, makes the Fabia quite practical too. The Maruti Suzuki Swift in comparison offers only 232 litres of boot space. Being the largest in its segment, the Fabia also feels very spacious inside and can easily accommodate five adults comfortably. Fabia's interiors are easily its strongest point.
Comfort and safety
The height adjustable front seats in conjunction with the tilt and telescopic steering wheel make it very easy to have the best seat and steering setup for a comfortable drive. The beautifully incorporated in-dash MP3 CD player, whose displays doubles up as a display for the rear parking sensors, belts out crystal clear music through 4 door-mounted speakers. The music system features an auxiliary audio input port for one to hook up their iPod and a very novel automatic feature which lowers the volume of music when the car is reversing to help the driver hear the beeps of the rear parking sensors.

Ventilation, cooling and heating duties are all taken care of by the automatic air-conditioner, where as the electric tilt and slide sunroof lets in just the right amount of sunlight. The most outstanding feature of the Fabia's interior has to be the ample head and leg spaces, both in the front and rear seats. The seats are very comfortable and offer good lateral support. Even though a hatchback, the Fabia is as comfortable as any good sedan offering superb ride quality, front and back.

Driving and passenger comfort are further enhanced through features like an anti-glare inner rear-view mirror, sunglass holder, electric windows, on board computer with adjustable illumination to inform the driver of the outside temperature, instant fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, distance travelled, time, driven time and average speed. An array of warning lights and buzzers help and warn the driver about lights being left on, seatbelt not engaged, amongst others. Fabia also boasts of electric and heated side rear-view mirrors, powerful projector headlamps, adjustable front armrest-firsts in its class, fog lamps, split folding rear seats with adjustable headrests and rear window washer with defogger.

Skoda has left no stone unturned in making sure the car is safe as well as comfortable, which explains its popularity in Europe and the world as a whole. The car boasts of state-of-the-art safety features such as dual SRS airbags, seat belts with pre-tensioners, ABS, BA & EBD.

The Skoda Fabia variants are priced between Rs. 5,51,898 (ex-showroom Delhi) and Rs. 7,89,478 (ex-showroom Delhi).