The award-wining hatchback hasn’t been on sale long but there’s already an even more practical estate version here already.
The Fabia itself is pretty much new from the ground up; the exterior is all-new, there’s a stack of new engines to choose from and the suspension is heavily revised. The Estate version adds to this a substantial load area at the rear which Skoda claims is the biggest in the class. It majors on the practicality front elsewhere too, with novel storage features like a rubbish bin in the door pocket and bottle holders on the inside shoulders of the front seats.
It’s not hard to distinguish the Fabia Estate from its hatchback cousin thanks to the significant changes at the rear. However the estate rear is sensibly integrated into the original shape, as long as you choose a model with decent-sized wheels.
The Fabia Estate is one of the most sensible cars money can buy, so it’s understandable that its image is pretty well grounded rather than flash. If you’re a bit more adventurous with the options you can create a Fabia Estate with more than a dash of style.
As you’d expect, the Fabia Estate is designed to be practical but it’s a remarkable feat at just how spacious this small car is. With the seats up there’s 530 litres of space on offer – more than some estates from the class above – and with them folded there is 1,395 litres on offer. Passengers are looked after too, and although getting five adults on board might be a squeeze it’s big enough for family duties.
There’s very little to distinguish the Estate from its hatchback sibling from behind the wheel, which is a credit to Skoda’s efforts. There’s no noticeable increase in noise despite the extra space behind you, and it drives with the same assured composure and comfort as the regular car.
Engine choice is slightly reduced compared with the hatch, which is sensible considering the extra loads it may have to carry. The 1.2 TSI petrol is arguably the pick of the bunch, offering a flexible 89bhp and generous torque, spinning sweetly and quietly in normal driving but happy to rev when required too. Although slightly larger and heavier the Fabia Estate is very composed through corners, with the electric power steering providing a decent amount of feedback and the suspension remaining unfazed by road imperfections.
The Fabia in third generation form is a little more expensive than before, but one thing it certainly doesn’t skimp on is equipment. All models come with Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio, electric front windows and heated door mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering column and tyre pressure monitoring as standard. The only significant omission here is air conditioning, which comes with SE spec along with alloy wheels and an upgraded audio system.
Your sensible friend would queue round the block for a car like the Fabia Estate; it’s the kind of purchase that needs no justification, given that it is relatively inexpensive, is frugal with fuel and the amount of space it takes up on the road but never feels cheap or pared-down. It might not set your pulse racing but you’d never regret buying it either.
Facts & figures
Model: Skoda Fabia Estate SE 1.2 TSI
Price: £14,535
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol unit producing 89bhp and 118lb/ft of torque
Performance: Top speed 115mph, 0-62mph in 11 seconds
Economy: 60.1mpg combined
CO2 rating: 107g/km