Skoda Fabia Style 1.0 MPI - Which Options to Choose? (ENG) - Test Drive and Review

[@4tom2u]

I had a 1.2 Fabia with 54 ps basic model (2005) for 15.5 years, the best and most rewarding car I've had, especially when it comes to maintenance. The woman who bought it still drives it today.

[@McMike]

2008: New Octavia price: 14 to 22k euro, RS was around 23-25k 2022/3: New Fabia price 14 to 20k euro 2025: New Citigo price: 25k....1.0 60 hp

[@borabora8757]

Skoda is like VW ffor rich people

[@andersnielsen6044]

In Denmark.. a Fabia 1.0 80hp cost 35.500 euro.. Almost the same as a brand new Tesla Model 3. ;)

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

When I was in Slovakia, I saw so many Škoda Fabias. In fact, it’s the best selling car there.

[@BrunoMarinMusic]

I have a 2015 Fabia Ambition and to this day I never had a single issue. It's so worth the money, 9yrs later I got 36000km so it's almost new lmao.

[@nextbest]

I have a 2006 1.2 6v brought from new.Classic trim base model. It hardly been any trouble.Has an odd dent but for 16 years it's reliable.I love the new one but doubt it be trouble free in 16 years with all those gadgets.

[@xanpagebrown]

I have a 2010 1.2 Polo with 70hp, it’s more than enough for me so the 80hp MPI in the Fabia would be perfectly fine for me

[@andersnielsen6044]

But the new 1.0 mpi engine is MUCH weaker than your Polo 1.2. Huge downgrade from it!

[@ScottyJ1122]

Good Afternoon Marek, great review, I am a computer engineer but I prefer good old fashioned dials instead of the screens.

[@andycanfixit]

We just bought a 2021 Fabia 1.0 MPI with 19,000km on it for 11,400 euros from a nearby Skoda dealer, the vast majority of our driving is in small villages here in France, it's got a lot of room for it's size, and it doesn't have the annoying lane assist which is a pain on tiny country roads but does have android auto and carplay via a USB cable. Cheap to insure, should get us around well for the next couple years, and doesn't have the idiotic wet cam belt that is killing so many PSA vehicles. It's not very peppy but for our needs it's fine. Will probably swap it for an E-C3 in a couple years if they prove reliable.

[@addeade231]

Why electrico?

[@andycanfixit]

@addeade231 With our solar we can charge an ev for free when we switch and it will save us in annual fuel and maintenance costs. But that's at least a year or two away. Our car is paid for so there is no rush to switch

[@GinoFoto]

We chose 62 KW 1.2 four cylinder engine from Hyundai, that is noticeably quieter, more frugal unit, actually a great choice worth take it until the EU finally bans it , similar specified Fabia would cost us at least 4000€ more, no mention that infamously famous Skoda´s waiting list.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Yes, the waiting list is a problem, but Skoda is more roomy. Basically you're buying a smallish compact car.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

@Mgoblagulkablong because it's more expensive?

[@ast5515]

@@MarekDrivesENG This might be country specific but a Kia Ceed 1.5 turbo costs maybe 5% more with basically the same spec. This is in Hungary. It makes no sense to buy a Fabia or a Polo here.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

@ast5515 kind of like Suzuki in Germany :)

[@mplusm2m]

I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be to drive the MSI Fabias. I love the looks of the new Fabia so when the need for a second car in the family became evident, I got the ambition as it seemed the reasonable option out of the three available in my country (all TSI, the 95hp and the 110 hp ambition and style). I love a lot about this car but it does have a BIG IF that you should be aware of and I did not notice because I tested it on relatively long stretches with hardly any traffic. It feels terribly underpowered at low RPMs. Above 1500 rpm it is a cheerful and happy car, even fun when you are accustomed to driving a hefty Xtrail like me. When the turbo kicks in is bliss. I was pulled to it due to its relatively "big size for a supermini" and small motor. The only competitor I could afford at the time was the cheaper Suzuki Baleno (not available everywhere, but something in between a swift and an s-cross) and the Suzuki has a much more pleasant go-around-town feel with its 105hp 1.4 naturally aspirated motor. I know this because I have used many of them from a car sharing app. The baleno has the torque in the right place. The ambition shines on highway and uninterrupted main roads but pains me when taking corners slowly or accelerating after speed humps. If I had bought the car only to go around town in rush hour I would definitively feel disappointed. Luckily I didn't, but I would gladly sacrifice some fuel economy for some extra torque in the low range. Even the Xtrail is a lot nippier at low revs.

[@rc666]

Great review, sensible choice.

[@garethtalbot8950]

Great review. Will you be testing the monte carlo any time soon? Cheers Marek

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Thanks. Not if I can help it. There's enough Fabia on the channel for now. Also, bear in mind Monte Carlo has nothing to do with performance any more. It's just a trim level. You can have it with the same 80 ps 1.0 MPI engine.

[@wolfrick5300]

nice car and great review.idk if u did it on purpose or unknowingly but u spotted the main problem with the car... 6/10 words= "option"..its a shame such a great car and brand to be rolled down cause of..u know ^^. imho,noise,consumption and "options" hold this brand away from its rightful place.Anyhow,tyvm Marek,keep on the great work.Cheers!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Options allow Skoda to keep the base price low(ish), and then offer you things others don't or do only on the highest trim. If you're after rock bottom value, you get an M-spec KIA Rio or the equivalent Hyundai i20. But those same cars with more "standard" equipment force you to go for the highest trims.

[@JMNTN]

they start at 20660 euros here, not that long ago that was almost the base price for a golf

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

If this VW-derived 1.0 MPI is compared to other 1.0L multiple point injection engines made by other brands that you've tried before, which one is considered the best among these no-frills engines?

[@gustavomercado1599]

I’d go with Hyundai. I own a 1.2 Hyundai grand i10 and my ownership experience has been flawless: relatively good fuel economy (I use the AC all the time, quiet, good materials (hasn’t corroded) and extremely well built. The only things I’ve needed to change were the hatch opening button since the rubber covering it wore out and 2 rear abs sensors because my granny went over a smol sinkhole at highway speeds and that’s about it. 10/10 would buy again

[@andersnielsen6044]

The one in the Opel Karl is for me the most harmonic engine of all these small 1.0's ;)

[@extreme8808]

Am I right in saying that this little engine can be more thirsty than a bigger, turbocharged one, as you have to constantly rev it up to get a move on? If so, it's somewhat hard to justify it as a choice. I'm getting less than 6L/100km from a 1.4 TSI in my elderly T Roc, which is bigger, less aerodynamic and heavier. But the extra torque makes it much more elastic, so while I'm moving more with the gears, I rarely need to rev it out. As ever - great content and a great topic for discussion.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Uber+LPG.

[@tomasvelecky181]

Yes, if you drive on the highway at a speed of 130-140, the MPI will be even worse in terms of consumption than the TSI. But for commuting a shorter distance to the city, starting 6 times a day - delivering the children, direct injection of the TSI engine is simply wrong. MPI wins here in terms of consumption and lifespan.

[@ionion-hg5ce]

Mananci bors cu motor insetat. Cu rezervor de 40 de litri am facut 850-900 km. extern. In oras nu urca mai mult de 6 la ora pranzului. La mers constant pe pilot automat pe autostrada 130, 5%. Vezi ce inseamna sa fi habarnist, sa nu cunosti principiu de functionare al unui motor Atkinson cu distributie variabila ? Voi acestia cu ,,turbo,, pe creier nu stiti unde este motorul la o masina.

[@WeAreTheUnhappyMajority]

It's a shame they didn't do the estate version.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I guess it would cannibalise the Scala - a model nobody really understands :)

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Well, I always liked Skoda's and I like simple and cheap cars like the Sandero but about 2 years ago I had a trip in a 3rd generation Fábia and It was ok until we reached the motorway and then it was loud as hell and after a while, something in the texture of the dashboard plastics started to get into my nerves... Not sure wha as that never happened to me before but I was getting really anxious. (Later that happened to me on a 2021 Sportage too). I really don't know if I would consider the Fabia and let's be honest, 80hp in a super mini should had been enough to get you going. Something is wrong with this car.

[@erolzaimovic7631]

2017 I bought Golf 2.0 Tdi,manual, highline for 20000 €,this is just tooo much for Fabia with this engine

[@edgk490]

It is not 2017 anymore, unfortunately... But good price for 150hp golf, especially if it has some equipment.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

In 2017 the Mk7.5 came to the market with prices starting around 18k for the base 1.0 TSI. 2.0 TDI for 20k must have been a pre-facelift model. Good deal.

[@thomakis29]

I AM SORRY IN POLAND THE MEZURE MACH IS IN MILES BECAUSE IN EUROPE WE USE KILOMETRES AS I KNOW. WE ARE NOT ANGLO-SAXON PLS

[@gregj7916]

Simply Clever… blah blah blah…. The car looks good but the options and packs are Simply Stupid…

[@gustavomercado1599]

I’d only option the backup camera and alarm to be honest

[@ionion9897]

@@gustavomercado1599 you are a big stupid. Ha, ha, ha !

[@Xxj-y1n]

Avoid a turbo if you can just something else to go wrong and they do.

[@10mbc]

If you want to.buy a good Skoda, just buy a Hyundai. Instead of Fabia 1.0 NA, you have the 1.2 NA 4 cyl. Instead of Scala, just buy the i30. I was a long time Skoda fan until I got my first Hyundai i30 and never looked at Skoda again. I know prices in Romania are skewed and Hyundai has some special pricing here, but I got the i30 1.5 T-GDI 160ps with a bit of kit at the same money I would have got a 1.0 TSI 95 Fabia with a few options.

[@bondjamesbond9041]

Well said

[@ionion9897]

Un prostovan habarnist de orice cultura tehnica compara Skoda cu Hiunday. Blasfemie !

[@yanisyukams6680]

100% right decision. Skoda makes good cars, but overpriced a bit at the moment.

[@techpriestsgaming6525]

I would suggest what I did. I took my friends Škoda Fabia MK 1 Combi 1.2HTP 47kW for a spin around the dealer. Afterwards I tried the MK 4 with 1.0MPI 59kW. The MK1 is much more driver friendly. It feels more alive and its a car for 1400€. The new Fabia is already killed by emission limits etc. It also tries to kill you with all the "assistants" that it must have. For anyone I would suggest you to buy a used MK 3 1.0MPI 55kW (or 44kW its the same engine) and save the money there. New cars are overpriced and really not feeling good driving.

[@filofilo8127]

Noisy engine , underwhelming power. Great combo.

[@orcarcher]

How can it be so slow? My first car was a 1987 corolla sedan with 85hp and it was several seconds faster :D

[@MarekDrivesENG]

That Corolla in its heaviest form was probably lighter than the Fabia.

[@bokichko]

the Fabia is definitely one of the best in class (and one of my favourites, with the ones mentioned below) but that price is too much. Clio, 208, Fiesta, Yaris and Corsa can have the same equipment for less money

[@MarekDrives]

Equipment yes, but not space.

[@bokichko]

@@MarekDrives others are spacious enough i guess

[@bokichko]

@@Mgoblagulkablong Ceed, Tipo and I30 are the segment above, Honda Jazz good price?

[@bokichko]

@@Mgoblagulkablong if u compare it to the 25k€ Fabia, yes its good value (or any 25k€ car)

[@bokichko]

@@Mgoblagulkablong Mazda 2 is just old..

[@kevinn1158]

I think my blender has more HP... ;). Wow when you were listing all of those options I thought you were talking about a Porsche! It's a shame Skoda doesn't come to Canada. I think they'd sell well here. Except for the blender engines.... thanks for my Friday Marek fun!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Have a great weekend, and yes, the options list is like on a premium car.

[@kevinn1158]

@@MarekDrivesENG I’m going to Muskoka. near Huntsville. Look that one up. Hope the mosquitoes have mostly died off. They love city folk.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Pretty wet. I can see the mosquitoes on Street View :)

[@kevinn1158]

@@MarekDrivesENG LOL DANG!!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I looked around some more on Street View, and holly crap I envy the space you guys have up there. Here in Europe a relatively empty, picturesque, undeveloped piece of land usually means a national park. Over there it's just hectares of land, sparsely populated, visually unobtrusive (for lack of a better word). I bet people living in Huntsville complain about expensive deliver and lack of things to do, but still :)

[@BillyNoMates1974]

wow thats slower than a Dacia Jogger

[@nintendoatarikiller]

Now I get why Skodas are so cheap. All the options are a la carte or in packages

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Yes, it's simply clever like this :)

[@markbutcher4100]

I would pay to delete the “tech”

[@NigelRudyard]

Pointless car, will end up dirt cheap SH.

[@JohnyMcNeal]

Had this for a part of a day as a rental, omg it's bad. Everything is bad, previous gen yaris feels like a car from an above class compared to it.

[@bondjamesbond9041]

Another boring Skoda. Yawn! move on.