The build quality feels pretty faultless too, but you know what? Whisper it, but it doesn’t feel class-leading any longer…the interior plastics and fittings can no longer be described as the best in class. Also, some more imagination could have made a difference to the interior, for things like the fonts on the instruments, for example.
Interior and comfort
The Fabia in Elegance trim has a two-tone black and beige interior and beige fabric seats. If our test cars are anything to go by, then these soil easily. The grain of the plastics also feels slightly rough to touch. The four-spoke steering wheel is Audi-inspired in design and the chunky rim fits well to hand. The Elegance trim has a height-adjustable driver’s seat, useful for shorter drivers, but all versions of the Fabia enjoy steering wheels which adjust for rake and reach. A dead pedal is an added comfort on long drives. The seats are comfortable on long drives too.
At the rear, there is ample space for two adults to sit comfortably. The Fabia is also one of very few hatchbacks that can accommodate two six-footers comfortably one behind the other.
The car’s boot is among the biggest in this segment and the
rear seatback folds down to liberate even more room. However, the seatback does not split, limiting flexibility somewhat.
Performance and handling – 1.6 petrol
The Fabia shares the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with the Polo 1.6 and Vento petrol. Even the state of tune and gear ratios are the same, so we were quite prepared to expect performance comparable to what the Vento delivered in our road test a couple of issues ago. Indeed, so close are the figures in almost every department that the differences are negligible. The Fabia 1.6 took 12.1 seconds to reach the tonne, which, while a decent time, doesn’t really set the test track on fire. What I particularly liked about this engine is its drivability. It’s smooth and the chunky 153 Nm of torque comes into play at a mere 3,800 rpm, which means city driving goes like a breeze. If anything, the slightly gruff engine note spoils the party as you approach the nether regions of the rev range. This engine does not like to be revved hard.
