Refreshed Skoda Fabia lands ahead of Geneva motor show debut
The facelifted Skoda Fabia gets new tech, a tweaked aesthetic and ditches diesel.
To keep the Skoda Fabia fresh in the face of strengthening competition, Skoda has revised the model with a midlife facelift. Both Ford and Volkswagen released new versions of their respective supermini contenders in the shape of the Fiesta and Polo. In response, Skoda has updated the Fabia with new tech and sharper styling, and dropped the diesel engines, too. Set to go on sale in summer 2018, prices aren't expected to change much, starting at around £10,500.
Skoda has retained the current Fabia’s overall exterior design, imparting only a few minor changes. Upfront, new slimmer headlight clusters have been fitted, as well as revised fog lights. Skoda has also bolstered the options list with LED headlights and taillights, and also introduced new alloy wheel designs.
We won’t see the interior until the Geneva motor show, however Skoda has detailed the changes and new tech it's bringing to the Fabia. A reworked dial pack, new dashboard inlays and two-tone fabric seats should add a bit of excitement to the otherwise functional cabin.
Skoda’s Swing infotainment system, available for the first time on the Fabia, features a 6.5-inch touchscreen and comes complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink compatibility.
Skoda, like VW, is shunning diesel for its small models, so the 1.4-litre TDI motor has been axed. Four petrol engines will comprise the engine line-up – two naturally aspirated and two turbocharged – with the 1-litre, three-cylinder units ranging in power from 59bhp to 108bhp. They’ve all been lightly modified to deliver minor improvements in efficiency. Incidentally, those seeking an automatic transmission will be forced into the range-topping 108bhp TSI Fabia.
