Used Skoda Fabia for sale: everything you need to know
The Skoda Fabia has established itself as a leading light in the popular supermini class, forging a strong reputation for more than two decades. Despite plenty of capable rivals, the Skoda Fabia has emerged as a car to beat.
Challengers to the Skoda Fabia hatchback include the top-selling comfortable Ford Fiesta and the great Vauxhall Corsa. Beyond them are the brilliant Volkswagen Polo, the smart and stylish SEAT Ibiza and the reliable Kia Rio. It all results in tough competition for the Czech-made Skoda Fabia. Even the premium-badged Audi A1 could be an alternative, along with the practical Honda Jazz, and hybrid-powered Toyota Yaris.
Should you buy a Skoda Fabia?
The Skoda Fabia is a practical and dependable supermini, which also manages to add a little bit of style and good build quality into the mix. It really is one of the best cars to buy or lease in its class.
Aiding this appeal is a strong level of standard equipment. Every Skoda Fabia comes with alloy wheels, air conditioning and LED headlights from the factory. Even rear parking sensors and a multimedia touchscreen can be found in the entry-level SE Comfort version, with higher-spec cars gaining satellite navigation and dual-zone climate control.
Despite stuffing the Skoda Fabia with kit, Skoda has still left plenty of room for passengers and luggage. The rear seats are very accommodating for child seats, while the front has better headroom and legroom than the previous generation. Skoda also increased the size of the boot by 50 litres, making its 380-litre capacity one of the biggest in the supermini world.
Adding to the big-car feel is an overall sense of comfort and refinement. This includes a well-made cabin, which is easily comparable to the more premium Volkswagen Polo for quality. Skoda’s neat and clever touches, such as an ice scraper hidden inside the fuel filler flap, or an umbrella tucked inside the driver’s door on certain models, add to that feeling of luxury.
The Skoda Fabia also feels grown-up out on the road, absorbing bumps and broken tarmac with ease. It is easy to drive around town, but can also hold its own on the motorway, feeling refined and stable. The sportier Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is particularly good fun to drive.
The Skoda Fabia has long been a popular supermini, and the latest model does nothing to dilute its appeal. It is hard to find fault or flaw with, making the Fabia a near-perfect small car to buy used.
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What's the best used Skoda Fabia model to buy?
The Skoda Fabia range is pretty straightforward, although there are no hybrid or even mild-hybrid versions in the range like you get with the Toyota Yaris. That's not a huge issue as Skoda's 1.0-litre engine - in its various guises - is cheap to run thanks to its good economy.
We'd suggest the best variant is the 1.0 TSI 95PS which has more than enough get up and go to it, while still delivering on the economy front. Go for one in SE Comfort trim and you'll get plenty of kit including a multifunction steering wheel, rear parking sensors, front fog lights and height-adjustable front seats. It represents excellent value for money.
Used Skoda Fabia fuel economy and performance
This Skoda Fabia is offered with a choice of petrol engines in a range of power outputs. Most make use of a manual gearbox, but certain versions can be combined with a DSG dual-clutch automatic. All models are front-wheel drive.
Skoda Fabia 1.0 MPI 65: The entry point to the Skoda Fabia engine range when the car was introduced in 2021. It's a non-turbo 1.0-litre making a lowly 65PS, which means 0-62mph in slovenly 15.9 seconds. It's best avoided and you should aim for the 1.0 TSI 95 instead for a better all-round driving experience.
Skoda Fabia 1.0 MPI 80: This Skoda Fabia engine is a non-turbocharged 1.0-litre, producing a relatively lowly 80hp. This makes it ideal for new drivers, with the benefit of cheap insurance. A 0-62mph time of 15.5 seconds is combined with the potential to average 55.6mpg. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard here.
Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI 95: Delivering a little more poke for your Skoda Fabia, this is the core version of the turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. With 95hp, it sees the 0-62mph drop to less than 11.0 seconds, while average fuel economy actually improves to 56mpg. It is only offered with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI 110: Additional tweaks see the 1.0-litre turbo engine deliver 110hp, with the potential for a 0-62mph time below 10 seconds. You can pick from either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG dual-clutch auto gearbox. Choosing the manual results in better average fuel economy of 55.5mpg.
Skoda Fabia 1.5 TSI 150: Offered solely with the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo, and with the seven-speed DSG auto transmission, this 1.5-litre four-cylinder is the top petrol engine. With 150hp, it allows the Monte Carlo to deliver mild hot hatch thrills, with a 0-62mph time of 8.0 seconds. Despite all the extra power, fuel economy is still a respectable 49.7mpg.
What used Skoda Fabia trim levels are available?
The Skoda Fabia comes in a number of trim levels. These can be combined with a variety of petrol engines, and Skoda dropped diesels from this Fabia's line-up.
Skoda Fabia S: This was base camp for the Fabia range when it was launched in 2021, but the S was dropped as a trim in late 2022. It features LED headlights, Front Assist, Pedestrian Protection and Lane Assist. It also has DAB digital radio, a 6.5-inch colour screen infotainment system, and manual air conditioning. S buyers also benefit from e-Call+, a system that establishes an audio and data connection to a dedicated emergency call centre if sensors within the car detect a major accident.
Skoda Fabia SE Comfort: This is now the starting point for the Skoda Fabia range, but it has a generous level of standard equipment included. Features such as LED headlights, 15-inch alloy wheels and manual air conditioning are fitted. The SE Comfort does have a small 6.5-inch touchscreen media system, though.
Skoda Fabia SE L: Adding an extra degree of luxury, the Skoda Fabia SE L’s alloy wheels grow to 16-inch items. On the inside, dual-zone climate control and a 9.2-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation are standard. Skoda also fits its now-trademark umbrella, hidden inside the drivers door, to the SE L.
Skoda Fabia Colour Edition: As its name suggests, the Colour Edition brings extra brightness to the Skoda Fabia. The choice of a black or grey contrast roof is available, with bespoke paint colours to pick from. Skoda’s smart Virtual Cockpit display can be found on the inside, too.
Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo: Top of the Skoda Fabia range is the Monte Carlo, named after the company’s historic successes in the famous rally. For the Skoda Fabia, this means sportier styling inside and out, including black exterior details and sports seats. A set of 17-inch alloy wheels and Monte Carlo badging complete the transformation.
Used Skoda Fabia dimensions and boot size
The Skoda Fabia’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 4108mm
Width: 1780mm
Height: 1459mm
Ground clearance: 138mm
The Skoda Fabia’s boot space is:
Used Skoda Fabia road tax
None of the engines in the Skoda Fabia range create high carbon dioxide emissions. However, like all cars of its age, it will cost you the flat rate of £180 per year for road tax, so exactly the same as its key rivals such as the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, or Vauxhall Corsa.
How much is it to insure a Skoda Fabia?
With a wide selection of engines, the Skoda Fabia can be ultra-affordable to insure, depending on which model you choose. Versions with the 1.0-litre MPI 80 engine find themselves in the very low insurance group 3 (out of 50). Models with the turbocharged 1.0 TSI 95 engine start from insurance group 10, while the top-spec Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo with a 1.5-litre engine is in insurance group 19.
Read our full Skoda Fabia review
