I'm on my 4th Fabia. Suit me perfectly as an older driver. Reliable, roomy great practicality. Mines the 1.2 Turbo 109 bhp in SE vogue which performs really well around town and on the motorway. Love the auto brake assist , plain styling, superb infotainment and all round comfort. Although my present car is a manual I loved my previous DSG and may go the same way next time. As I say, suits me perfectly and I love it.
I have a question if you don't mind: Ever since I got my licence all I ever drove was manual, and I love matching and selecting gears I have considered the possibility of an automatic, but I fear that might take the fun out of driving and it would cost a lot to fix if the gearbox ever fails Did you find the DSG boring/bland at times or was it just as exciting?
@@StephenButlerOne Interestingly we are the complete opposite. Except in more basic trim, I think the new Polo looks a lot nicer than this (LED with correct wheels). Especially on the inside. I don't like 3 door hatches, I love the new creases in this Fabia and I actually like that these small cars are becoming slightly bigger for a bit more comfort and practicality.
@@StephenButlerOne Erm.. I beg to differ, it looks good yes, but that's partly because this is the Monte Carlo version, and I wouldn't generally agree that this looks better than a polo although it isn't far behind at all
@@Austin40424 you can fit any umberalla in your car anyway :) but i really like to hear your opinion again in 2 years on that small and laggy screen :)
Honestly I know seats and skodas are actually VW cars but their designs got better and I met a lot of people that said these are reliable ,I drove one when was I was training for my driving exam and the instructor told me all he did was change the clutch (for obvious reasons) and the consumables ,nothing else ,on a car that was tortured if I may add !
Skoda and Seat hasn't always been VW, Seat a really long time ago made rebadged Fiats for Spain and Skoda used to make cheap rear engined communist cars for Eastern Europe, imagine where these brands might have been today if VW never bought them
"However, the 1.2 HTP (High Torque Performance) engine was developed specifically for the Fabia and offers better performance and fuel economy, and was later used in Volkswagen's own Polo due to its high acclaim. It was also the highest displacement 3 cylinder petrol engine until 2014 and BMW's 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo engine."
To Mr Matt, seems like you've been spending wayyyyy too much time reviewing high end cars that you forget to treat the cars which people actually drive with some 'interest' . Are you forgetting the price point at which the car which you`re reviewing are sold? Too much emphasis on the quality of the interior , while at the back of your mind you`re prolly comparing the material used with an audi or merc. Please review the car with some 'interest' cause people might actually be looking to buy this car unlike the ridiculous range rovers and what not. Your body language just goes into 'this is crap' mode which reviewing a car like this one. i usually have never comment here , but with all due respect , please show some kind consideration or interest while doing the review. just flipping your hands carelessly all over the dash shows that you really are not interested in reviewing a car like this. 'just because its cheap doesnt mean its crappy'
well, to realize your method of thinking is wrong you need to check out new kia ceed or wait for its video :) better quality for almost same price so it is possible to have cake and eat it too:) when you consider your comment with this new knowledge you will see that mat is not under the spell of audis or mercs and just saying it would've been better but skoda chose not to.:)
You ultra sad Muppet. He finds five flaws with every car he reviews. The fact that the five things he mentions are small are a credit to the car and his enthusiasm for it. the fact that you can't cope with even these minor criticisms makes you look like a sad sack.
Rolls-Royce: look! This if you push this button on the door panel, there's an umbrella in case you need it Me: * slides front passenger seat of a Skoda Fabia * you mean like this one? 😑
I own the 2016 model(pretty much exactly the same) and I absolutely love it. Pretty quick for a 1.2 tsi. Very good on feul, got to London from Swansea and didn’t even hit half a tank!
For 95% of people 95% of the time, the Fabia ticks the boxes. As with all cars, it is designed to a price. You can't compare with the new Polo as this is built on the MQB AO chassis; which Skoda will launch in 2020 with the new Fabia. It's a facelift and i don't think it pretends to be anything else!
The new platform unfotunately has les safe characteristics on the moose test than the old one. There is a relevant chanell in YT, the Spanish 77km. Worth watching.
We test drove one of these the other day, although it was an early 2018 model. I was impressed with the engine, had plenty of low down pull, great for pottering about, and when you started the car, you had to check it was actually running it was that quiet. The car we test drove didn't have the sport suspension option, which I think the car in this review has, and the ride was lovely and soft. I was impressed with the car given the price and the discounts you can get through carwow.
love the face Mat make at 4:10 when explaining how the rear seats are. It's like going inside the fabia with two others made him reflect over every bad decision he has ever made.
I've had mine for a few months now and love it. On A roads/motorways I've got up to 67 mpg which is very good. That's with the 1.0 3 litre 95 ps engine. The normal suspension is fine around town, its the sports suspension that moves around at low speed. It is of course the same engine that's available across the VW range including Seat and Audi - so if you want a very refined engine that's powerful enough and has good mpg get the skoda unless you're a badge snob (for which you'll pay a lot more). Oh and I got almost 20% off with carwow - which makes the car great value as it included the first two year's service for £99 and roadside assistance for three years free.
What's the fascination with storage for 1 litre bottles and tea flasks? I'm yet to see anyone use the door pockets for that (unless travelling across the Simpson Desert).
First Carwow review that I’ve ticked down, Matt looked disinterested and disgusted with the whole idea of reviewing a less glamorous car from the outset... obviously been reviewing the more high end cars for too long and this is a bit of crash back down to earth for him. It’s a shame, as he’s definitely up there as being one of the best in his field.
I had the pleasure to drive a really basic one in my holidays and the car did a good job. The 1L engine had enough power for such a little car, I couldn't complain about the noise and parking in the city was easy (even without parking sensors) thanks to the size. You get a well made car for your money.
Hey Matt and the team, I could make you a proper carwow stick of truth and send it to you guys if you want? Complete with carwow colours and logo! Let me know if you are interested :)
Skoda in UK is quite expensive. Granted, they sell even the basic trim with stuff that is optional in other countries, but this car starts to lose appeal once it crosses the 13k mark. I bought mine in September, when they had no TSI engines available due to euro 6b expiration, I bought the sluggish 75ps MPI ..and it is ..just fine. The 0-100kmh in 15sec is bad on paper, but the fact is the 0-50kmh is very quick, which is all you need in a city, it can keep up with any other basic car, it gets worse with acceleration from 50 to 100, then again 100-120 is quite OK. If you are not driving on highway too much, the cheap MPI engine is fine, I average 5.4l/100km, but it is not that hard to drive for 4.6 if you just try a little. Bought mine for 9500 EUR with auto AC, cruise control, android auto/carplay. It is just a temporary car, but honestly, now that I drive it for couple of months (but drove only 5000km so far), I am not in a hurry to buy a bigger car. Maybe not even bigger, maybe I will take the Polo GTI, because car of this size really does wonders for me with frequent city street parking.
I think it is important to clarify that the cramped rear legroom is only due to the bulky sport seats in the Monte Carlo models. The normal FABIAs have got a decent amount of legroom that is quite impressive given it's ageing underpinnings. Since incorrect information like this might put of potential buyers for this car, it is my humble request for you to double-check information that is relevant to only one trim level and not the whole model range. But really, an excellent review as usual.
I think this monte carlo edition just cheapens the look of the car a lot, this kind of black and red design in a budget car just makes it look cheaper for some reason like it's tacky.
Its just to give it youth appeal, most of the super minis have this kind of trim available, Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, most Citroen hatchbacks. Its just a trend.
As a Fabia MY18 Combi/Estate/Wagon owner I feel that Matt is not seeing it for what it is. In Australia the spec level I bought is the top of the line (excluding Monte Carlo, but more on that in a minute) ‘Premium Sport’. I replaced a Saab 9-5 Aero Estate with Stage 3 BSR to buy my little Fabia and I am not disappointed. I drive to and from work in Sydney and do a bit of running around where I need a longish load hence the wagon. I have gone from 14L/100km to 7.3L/100km. It is not as luxurious as the Saab, but it is lighter and more nimble for city driving. The seats are firm and the sports suspension is jiggly over our crappy roads, but no more than my wife’s Mazda2. I bought an OBD2eleven and I have permanently turned off the start/stop. This was/is its only real frustration. The DSG is so poor off the mark that coupled with stop/start it was downright dangerous!. Matt, you keep quoting power outputs. Off the mark and around town usefulness is all about torque!!! This has 200Nm. When I bought it 16 months ago the Polo had 160Nm, Mazda2 140Nm, Mazda CX-3 192Nm and the Mazda3 200Nm. These were what I shopped it against as they are all the same length (except Mazda3). This and a brilliant 3 cylinder turbo makes traffic light GPs fun and cruising and overtaking on the highway between Sydney and Newcastle easy. I don’t mis the bulk and fuel consumption of the Saab (I still have a 9-3SS V6 Aero cabriolet for that) and it is a blast to drive zipping around the city. My 5 best features: keyless entry and ignition, space (530L in the boot which is bigger than most mid size SUVs), infotainment with Apple CarPlay, engine, fuel economy. 5 worst features: startstop, DSG gearbox, lack of good cup holders, armrest position to handbrake and price. Was $29,500 with options and premium sport, I paid $24,000 drive away. Sorry for the long post but I think the Fabia deserves it.
Haha. It‘s funny that when most manufacturers don‘t make he best car everybody is quiet. But when Škoda doesn‘t make the best car everybody goes berserk. Škoda just gets so much love and support from basically everybody, except Elon Musk‘s group. Don‘t get me wrong though, I love the Fabia. But my tip is to wait for the Scala than to buy one now.
A pretty good starter car for someone who doesn't need the latest tech or crazy performance. Cheap and does what it needs to. The engines though. Have some experience with the 110 HP TSi (last gen Polo) and it is a really good engine. Quick, responsive and I kind of like the noise of it. So if you want a cheap car with a good engine, shortlist this one. Only two complaints i'd have with this car, is that the technology inside the car feels a bit dated for a new car. Last gen Polo has the same infotainment for example. Which honestly, is still better than most infotainment systems in current-gen cars.
@@madern7 about 1200 people will die prematurely in west Europe because of vw 20-40 above the limit emissions news.mit.edu/2017/volkswagen-emissions-premature-deaths-europe-0303 not to mention monkey testing: www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/30/vw-suspends-media-chief-monkey-exhaust-tests-diesel-emissions
Great review of ‘normal’ cars as ever. I do think though they missed the trick with having back the old Fabia VrS diesel, which for me is the best Fabia there is
I have recently bought a late 2017 1.0 DSG. I traded in a 2018. Dacia sandero stepway. I was perfectly happy with. But due to knee problems I really needed an automatic. And Dacia don’t do one. This is the first car in a few years that I haven’t bought new. I’m very impressed with everything about the car. In my opinion the spec is very good. And I like all the little extra thought that has gone into things like the umbrella and ice scraper. Not important but just helpfull. I have to admit I’m a little scared of the gearbox going wrong but hopefully having full Skoda service history the car has been maintained properly
I'm on my 4th Fabia, it's no Merc A class or BMW 1 but it IS the best value for money car out there. Just a shame Matt lets his personal preferences cloud his judgement. "Decent size boot"?? it's largest in class Matt and the "five most annoying things" ?? wow! clutching at straws there mate? No arm rest 'fake' exhaust styling, Carbon fibre effect seat panels etc!"
@@tiger1995grvr oh really? Yes eventually you will overtake, but tell me the distance needed to do so. I had a car this weak and have to tell you, when i had to overtake there had to be absolutely no car in opposite lane almost a kilometer in front of me. Otherwise the car simply couldnt make enough speed and crash accident would happen.
I had the same feeling about the suspension... Vw put in the polo the perfect suspension set, Skoda seems a little bit soft and the seat is extremely firm
What Matt isn't giving you here, is conveying the feeling you get from buying a cheap car that has an 'almost premium' feel. Not to mention the smiles you get when you realise the car is ridiculously economical to run! It's a brilliant vehicle for those looking for a quality small car but aren't plagued by the dreaded brand envy...
I did the rounds of reviews when choosing a newer car .And having seen enough too satisfy my curiosity, I settled on a 2020 Skoda Fabia . Main reasons were , it was reasonably priced , even for my ltd budget , second hand prices have crept up . The emissions charges are imminent in my area of London , and I wanted something more practical and fuel efficient than my 1990 Mx5. I loved my convertible , but times are changing ,& anyone on a ltd budget, has to be mindful of the small charges , which ramp up , and turn a few pounds of costs into hundreds . I’ve now done close to 4000 miles since purchase ,& it’s fine 😂. It’s not overly fast or stylish , it’s not lavishly equipped inside . But what it does well , is save me fuel costs , emission charges,& the rust repairs of my Mx5s sills . It’s boot Is big enough to take most shopping ,it’s relatively easy to park . So , as long as I get two to three years driving out of it , I’ll claw back a few grand in servicing and running costs . Which , with the current climate , is the best the average person can hope for . It’s fine by me .
Haha. It‘s funny that when most manufacturers don‘t make he best car everybody is quiet. But when Škoda doesn‘t make the best car everybody goes berserk. Don‘t get me wrong though, I love the Fabia. But my tip is to wait for the Scala than to buy one now.
I have a Fabia Combi (2016) I'm not really a car enthusiast, so it's perfect for my little family of two adults and a 5-year-old. Skoda makes great no-nonsense cars. Exciting? No. But they just do the job they are supposed to.
Had an option going with the fabia or the polo. We went for the polo but I can't really say that I don't regret it. The fabia had a better engine and honestly the build is very similar. A lot of people I know have skodas and honestly they seem pretty pleased, they have even upped their design and honestly seem to make pretty decent cars.
Can you please do a review on the new Skoda Superb . Theres barely any out there and love watching your videos. Just bought the brand new superb with all the addition features except sunroof. It lives up to its name Superb ☺
I've a July 2016 diesel Fabia 90bhp. 29000 miles on the clock and I'm getting 65 - 70mpg. I only have it since February. First diesel car I ever owned and I can't believe the fuel economy. For €10 at the pumps I get 110 miles. My last car a Mark 1 Fabia 1.4 petrol - I was getting 50 miles for €10 fuel. I love the Fabia.
I have a 2018 Fabia Monte Carlo in race blue metallic, I’m very pleased with it, it is a very competent small car, for a very reasonable price, not to mention the simply clever touches!!.
I had to turn the subtitles on because he was talking a different version of English than I do. At least Jeremy Clarkson is articulate, but he's a professional.
Yeah nobody cares, a how often do you fold the seats down? b it isn't hard to hold the seatbelt and fold the seat and on a cheap car who the hell cares.
It’s based on the VW Polo, and yet it’ll outlast the Polo in terms of reliability and has interior grab handles on the roof which the Polo does not (even thought it’s more expensive). You can tell which manufacturer prioritizes their customers over cost cutting.
@@pratik1568 they're on the same platform, but they're not the same cars. You see, Skoda actually cares about its customers amd doesn't remove standard features like grab handles or fog lights. Not to mention the umbrella and ice scraper which VW will never ever add to its cars. That's cost-cutting at its finest.
What I don't understand is that on the Carwow configurator there is no Ferrari although you have reviewed them. I want to see how much I can save to offset all the carbon fibre extras on my 488 Spyder! 🤣
I'm relieved to see the facelift isn't that much better than my own Fabia. I'll either wait for the Mark IV in two years or look at another brand altogether.
On my 4th Fabia. A bit surprised Matt's tone was rather dismissive they are fabulous cars for the money. Totally agree they jiggle a bit at speeds of up to 30 but are super comfortable after that. Very easy to drive, why would I want sporty? the lack of desire for sporty resulted in Skoda dropping the very sporty VRS from the range.
8:23 the problem you mentioned is because of 3 cylinder engine and not a suspension, i beleive you mentioned it yourself in seat ibiza 2018 review. when i drove the car i noticed the micro-vibrations in a specific engine rpm (don't remember the number) while i was cruising at interurban speeds.
I own a steel grey 2018 Fabia combi Monte Carlo, and I'm moooooore than sattisfied! Such a cool car for the money. Strange that this one doesn't have the panoramic roof, mine came with it by default. A sincerely advice is to take it for a spin if you are interested to buy it.. :)
I think it's unfortunate that Skoda went 2 steps backwards when it comes to rear passenger legroom with the newer fabias. My brother has a 2012 Fabia, we went looking for a new car for my dad and we were quite disappointed when we sat in the newer Fabia - there is NO LEGROOM AT ALL. Yes, we're a tall family (bro is 2.05m, dad is 2m) but they could still reasonably fit in the back of the old Fabia. In the new one ? Not a chance. And even getting in the front is a challenge compared to the old one (the seats don't shift back as far as they used to) So, what I would like to see, when a car manufacturer makes statements like "we improved the interior space", please compare it to the older models.
@@Astke Well, that was the good thing about the old Fabia: You didn't need to go up in class. You have almost as much space in it as in a 2017 Octavia. Or in a Seat ateca. The only "noteworthy" upgrade that comes to mind now would be the Skoda superb, but that's a whole other league. I guess Skoda realised that they shot themselves in the foot when making the old Fabia as spacious as the bigger models, sooo they just made it smaller.
@@Thelifreak95 Well i would buy Fabia if i drive alone or with someone. For family it is a small car. :) But it´s really nice looking specially in Monte carlo version.
I bought one, the "high spec" as I do not need a large car any longer, last one was an Octavia estate. It is ok, so far I am quite enjoying it but there are two things about it that annoy me, 1 is the centre arm rest, it makes operating the handbrake awkward and 2 the glasses holder is not so big or as softly padded as the octavia and my sunglasses make the opening a bit difficult to close. Apart from those its a good little car.
Avoid monte carlo, get the basic top trim. Compared the '16 model (in 2016) with citroen c3, peogeot, nissan etc. and Skoda drives the best, and the noise tone is nicest. For the money ofcourse.
This man was prepared for the coronavirus before it happened
Matt the prophet
No also unfunny
@@chezus7716 snowflake
Exactly , the first thing that i think when i saw hahahaha
The Jofra Archer in the automobile world
When I saw Matt with a mask I thought this review was shot now...
Skoda is one of the most underappreciated car brands in the world!!
Doesn't help that many Czechs shit on their cars too. It's kind of a local sport for some. 🤣
Had few skoda. Fabia is good cars
No
Never as bad as fiat!!!. I have skoda over fiat!!
You're wrong ! Not every Skoda is bad. Some like the Kodiaq and Octavia are good ones. You are saying them bad as they are overpriced. Right ?
I'm on my 4th Fabia. Suit me perfectly as an older driver. Reliable, roomy great practicality. Mines the 1.2 Turbo 109 bhp in SE vogue which performs really well around town and on the motorway. Love the auto brake assist , plain styling, superb infotainment and all round comfort. Although my present car is a manual I loved my previous DSG and may go the same way next time.
As I say, suits me perfectly and I love it.
I have a question if you don't mind:
Ever since I got my licence all I ever drove was manual, and I love matching and selecting gears
I have considered the possibility of an automatic, but I fear that might take the fun out of driving and it would cost a lot to fix if the gearbox ever fails
Did you find the DSG boring/bland at times or was it just as exciting?
Micro 13 its the same. When you drive allot of manuel it wil become Automatic over time.
Looks fairly desirable, must say... Don't look like a budget Polo or A1 that's for sure, especially the colour edition looks amazing.
It looks just as boxy as those two.... except with less hate... strange. I think the car is OK in general. But those seats look lovely.
@@Astke I'm really considering one as a first car
Looks way nicer than the new polo. Loved the last one, in its 2 doors gti/gte spec. Hate the new creases in the current one. Also it looks massive.
@@StephenButlerOne Interestingly we are the complete opposite. Except in more basic trim, I think the new Polo looks a lot nicer than this (LED with correct wheels). Especially on the inside. I don't like 3 door hatches, I love the new creases in this Fabia and I actually like that these small cars are becoming slightly bigger for a bit more comfort and practicality.
@@StephenButlerOne Erm.. I beg to differ, it looks good yes, but that's partly because this is the Monte Carlo version, and I wouldn't generally agree that this looks better than a polo although it isn't far behind at all
skoda and umbrella fetish getting out of hand.
@A real petrol-head well that's personal matter of choice but they would have put a bigger and better screen instead of some options hardly necessary.
@A real petrol-head oh damn, what a badass
Well I've used my umbrella a number of times and saved myself from getting a soaking. Fetish but handy?
@@Austin40424 you can fit any umberalla in your car anyway :) but i really like to hear your opinion again in 2 years on that small and laggy screen :)
@@millipekmez577 umbrella cost like 2 to 3 dollars to produce can u get a bigger screen with that amount ? its just a nice gift from skoda
Honestly I know seats and skodas are actually VW cars but their designs got better and I met a lot of people that said these are reliable ,I drove one when was I was training for my driving exam and the instructor told me all he did was change the clutch (for obvious reasons) and the consumables ,nothing else ,on a car that was tortured if I may add !
Skoda and Seat hasn't always been VW, Seat a really long time ago made rebadged Fiats for Spain and Skoda used to make cheap rear engined communist cars for Eastern Europe, imagine where these brands might have been today if VW never bought them
True
But in terms of reliability, since both brands were built on VW platform, it shouldn't be more reliable than their mother company
"However, the 1.2 HTP (High Torque Performance) engine was developed specifically for the Fabia and offers better performance and fuel economy, and was later used in Volkswagen's own Polo due to its high acclaim. It was also the highest displacement 3 cylinder petrol engine until 2014 and BMW's 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo engine."
To Mr Matt, seems like you've been spending wayyyyy too much time reviewing high end cars that you forget to treat the cars which people actually drive with some 'interest' . Are you forgetting the price point at which the car which you`re reviewing are sold? Too much emphasis on the quality of the interior , while at the back of your mind you`re prolly comparing the material used with an audi or merc. Please review the car with some 'interest' cause people might actually be looking to buy this car unlike the ridiculous range rovers and what not. Your body language just goes into 'this is crap' mode which reviewing a car like this one. i usually have never comment here , but with all due respect , please show some kind consideration or interest while doing the review. just flipping your hands carelessly all over the dash shows that you really are not interested in reviewing a car like this. 'just because its cheap doesnt mean its crappy'
Even cheap(er) cars have varying levels of quality interior fit and finish, and it's important to point them out.
His job isn’t to be kind. It’s to be honest and realistic. A cheap car is generally going to look and feel cheap and that’s just how it is.
I think it looks lovely and stylish
@@1spago I agree that it has a certain flair, but I find that the nice Skoda stuff doesn't really trickle down to the cheaper cars very much.
well, to realize your method of thinking is wrong you need to check out new kia ceed or wait for its video :) better quality for almost same price so it is possible to have cake and eat it too:) when you consider your comment with this new knowledge you will see that mat is not under the spell of audis or mercs and just saying it would've been better but skoda chose not to.:)
6:23 I understand that you just want to shit on this car in any way possible, but it's not a credit card holder. It's for parking cards.
truth
Ikr like how is that a flaw. Anyone intelligent enough wouldn't put their credit cards there. Apart from him maybe
You ultra sad Muppet. He finds five flaws with every car he reviews. The fact that the five things he mentions are small are a credit to the car and his enthusiasm for it. the fact that you can't cope with even these minor criticisms makes you look like a sad sack.
It's not exactly a good review if he doesn't even know what he is criticizing is it?
Rolls-Royce: look! This if you push this button on the door panel, there's an umbrella in case you need it
Me: * slides front passenger seat of a Skoda Fabia * you mean like this one? 😑
Me- your skin is waterproof.
skoda actually have it in doors as well
@@TheMasterMief think it's just the superb. Maybe the large SUV they now make also, but not 100% on that.
Superb has 2 umbrellas, one in each rear door.
@@StephenButlerOne The SUPERB, KODIAQ and the new SCALA have them in the doors. The others have them under the seats.
I own the 2016 model(pretty much exactly the same) and I absolutely love it. Pretty quick for a 1.2 tsi. Very good on feul, got to London from Swansea and didn’t even hit half a tank!
For 95% of people 95% of the time, the Fabia ticks the boxes. As with all cars, it is designed to a price. You can't compare with the new Polo as this is built on the MQB AO chassis; which Skoda will launch in 2020 with the new Fabia. It's a facelift and i don't think it pretends to be anything else!
are you sure they'll launch it in 2020? any leaks in the meantime? can't wait to see the new Fabia
The new platform unfotunately has les safe characteristics on the moose test than the old one. There is a relevant chanell in YT, the Spanish 77km. Worth watching.
@@nikosz66 wtf is the moose test
The current fabia is partially on the new platform and partially on the old
I've had a Škoda Fabia for one year and I love it. You get a lot of value for the money.
We test drove one of these the other day, although it was an early 2018 model. I was impressed with the engine, had plenty of low down pull, great for pottering about, and when you started the car, you had to check it was actually running it was that quiet. The car we test drove didn't have the sport suspension option, which I think the car in this review has, and the ride was lovely and soft. I was impressed with the car given the price and the discounts you can get through carwow.
love the face Mat make at 4:10 when explaining how the rear seats are. It's like going inside the fabia with two others made him reflect over every bad decision he has ever made.
4:56 That's for a fire extinguisher which is mandatory to have it in the some EU countries
I've had mine for a few months now and love it. On A roads/motorways I've got up to 67 mpg which is very good. That's with the 1.0 3 litre 95 ps engine. The normal suspension is fine around town, its the sports suspension that moves around at low speed. It is of course the same engine that's available across the VW range including Seat and Audi - so if you want a very refined engine that's powerful enough and has good mpg get the skoda unless you're a badge snob (for which you'll pay a lot more). Oh and I got almost 20% off with carwow - which makes the car great value as it included the first two year's service for £99 and roadside assistance for three years free.
It’s the fashion of plus-sizing the wheels, which doesn’t make any practical sense on typical real-world roads for most drivers.
What's the fascination with storage for 1 litre bottles and tea flasks? I'm yet to see anyone use the door pockets for that (unless travelling across the Simpson Desert).
Some of us do long drives and need more water
Hi Mat!
the card holder is specifically designed for parking-lot cards, it is actually quite handy :)
First Carwow review that I’ve ticked down, Matt looked disinterested and disgusted with the whole idea of reviewing a less glamorous car from the outset... obviously been reviewing the more high end cars for too long and this is a bit of crash back down to earth for him.
It’s a shame, as he’s definitely up there as being one of the best in his field.
It seems a bit expensive for what it is
For the price you could get a brand new polo for a much more luxury experience. Or even a Renault Megane 1.5ltr turbo
@@shelboyyy yes and the quality is better unlike this its all plastic people say vw and skoda are the same there not there is a quality difference
OH YES, THE ONE WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR 😍😍
Yah man shis biutifal
To be honest I’m surprised they didn’t drag race it against a Bugatti Chiron or something similar 😯
What U talkin' about Wootton?
I had the pleasure to drive a really basic one in my holidays and the car did a good job. The 1L engine had enough power for such a little car, I couldn't complain about the noise and parking in the city was easy (even without parking sensors) thanks to the size. You get a well made car for your money.
Skodas are the best in terms of value for money from the VAG group imo
The suspension was confortable ?
He does a good job reviewing the vehicle. He gives it compliments where it deserves and also explains where it falls down.
Hey Matt and the team,
I could make you a proper carwow stick of truth and send it to you guys if you want?
Complete with carwow colours and logo!
Let me know if you are interested :)
Mikey I hope they give you the chance!
@mipmipmipmipmip I'd like to think so!
Do it! 😁
Skoda in UK is quite expensive. Granted, they sell even the basic trim with stuff that is optional in other countries, but this car starts to lose appeal once it crosses the 13k mark. I bought mine in September, when they had no TSI engines available due to euro 6b expiration, I bought the sluggish 75ps MPI ..and it is ..just fine. The 0-100kmh in 15sec is bad on paper, but the fact is the 0-50kmh is very quick, which is all you need in a city, it can keep up with any other basic car, it gets worse with acceleration from 50 to 100, then again 100-120 is quite OK. If you are not driving on highway too much, the cheap MPI engine is fine, I average 5.4l/100km, but it is not that hard to drive for 4.6 if you just try a little. Bought mine for 9500 EUR with auto AC, cruise control, android auto/carplay. It is just a temporary car, but honestly, now that I drive it for couple of months (but drove only 5000km so far), I am not in a hurry to buy a bigger car. Maybe not even bigger, maybe I will take the Polo GTI, because car of this size really does wonders for me with frequent city street parking.
Is it confortable re suspension ? What tyre dimension does it have ?
I think it is important to clarify that the cramped rear legroom is only due to the bulky sport seats in the Monte Carlo models.
The normal FABIAs have got a decent amount of legroom that is quite impressive given it's ageing underpinnings.
Since incorrect information like this might put of potential buyers for this car, it is my humble request for you to double-check information that is relevant to only one trim level and not the whole model range.
But really, an excellent review as usual.
And on the moose test the old platform behaves much more safely than the new one !
I think this monte carlo edition just cheapens the look of the car a lot, this kind of black and red design in a budget car just makes it look cheaper for some reason like it's tacky.
right, darker shades of red may have been appropriate.
Its just to give it youth appeal, most of the super minis have this kind of trim available, Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Fiesta, most Citroen hatchbacks. Its just a trend.
I always remember the old Skoda jokes....!!! 🚗😂🤣
But not anymore....!!! 🤔
They are really great cars since the late 90s...!!! 😁🚘👌🔝
Skoda convertible
What's that a skip
There electric models are also great people movers
www.skoda.cz/en/products/tramcars/
Because people that buy fancy cars love to look down on others and make fun of them
It's sad, really
As a Fabia MY18 Combi/Estate/Wagon owner I feel that Matt is not seeing it for what it is. In Australia the spec level I bought is the top of the line (excluding Monte Carlo, but more on that in a minute) ‘Premium Sport’. I replaced a Saab 9-5 Aero Estate with Stage 3 BSR to buy my little Fabia and I am not disappointed. I drive to and from work in Sydney and do a bit of running around where I need a longish load hence the wagon. I have gone from 14L/100km to 7.3L/100km. It is not as luxurious as the Saab, but it is lighter and more nimble for city driving. The seats are firm and the sports suspension is jiggly over our crappy roads, but no more than my wife’s Mazda2. I bought an OBD2eleven and I have permanently turned off the start/stop. This was/is its only real frustration. The DSG is so poor off the mark that coupled with stop/start it was downright dangerous!. Matt, you keep quoting power outputs. Off the mark and around town usefulness is all about torque!!! This has 200Nm. When I bought it 16 months ago the Polo had 160Nm, Mazda2 140Nm, Mazda CX-3 192Nm and the Mazda3 200Nm. These were what I shopped it against as they are all the same length (except Mazda3). This and a brilliant 3 cylinder turbo makes traffic light GPs fun and cruising and overtaking on the highway between Sydney and Newcastle easy. I don’t mis the bulk and fuel consumption of the Saab (I still have a 9-3SS V6 Aero cabriolet for that) and it is a blast to drive zipping around the city. My 5 best features: keyless entry and ignition, space (530L in the boot which is bigger than most mid size SUVs), infotainment with Apple CarPlay, engine, fuel economy. 5 worst features: startstop, DSG gearbox, lack of good cup holders, armrest position to handbrake and price. Was $29,500 with options and premium sport, I paid $24,000 drive away. Sorry for the long post but I think the Fabia deserves it.
Haha. It‘s funny that when most manufacturers don‘t make he best car everybody is quiet.
But when Škoda doesn‘t make the best car everybody goes berserk. Škoda just gets so much love and support from basically everybody, except Elon Musk‘s group.
Don‘t get me wrong though, I love the Fabia. But my tip is to wait for the Scala than to buy one now.
Mazda 3 (2019) full review please Matt
It is not out yet
Mazda hasn't even put their car in to production yet lmao.
CX-5 please
Pretty sure they don't get along. Mazda won't send that one for review as well.
@@utubeleplague Yeah its bizarre. I've been wondering why Carwow has never had a Mazda review.
A pretty good starter car for someone who doesn't need the latest tech or crazy performance. Cheap and does what it needs to. The engines though. Have some experience with the 110 HP TSi (last gen Polo) and it is a really good engine. Quick, responsive and I kind of like the noise of it. So if you want a cheap car with a good engine, shortlist this one.
Only two complaints i'd have with this car, is that the technology inside the car feels a bit dated for a new car. Last gen Polo has the same infotainment for example. Which honestly, is still better than most infotainment systems in current-gen cars.
Does the mask really signyfy the front grill rather then exhaust pipe..? You know Volkswagen... 😂
that is a good one^^
I don’t understand what you’re trying to say
@@madern7 VW's emission scandal
@@CaptainBlitz FCA , Renault etc etc
@@madern7 about 1200 people will die prematurely in west Europe because of vw 20-40 above the limit emissions
news.mit.edu/2017/volkswagen-emissions-premature-deaths-europe-0303
not to mention monkey testing:
www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/30/vw-suspends-media-chief-monkey-exhaust-tests-diesel-emissions
'It's fine' I guess then😂 'Its a car, and it drives'😂
Great review of ‘normal’ cars as ever. I do think though they missed the trick with having back the old Fabia VrS diesel, which for me is the best Fabia there is
I have recently bought a late 2017 1.0 DSG. I traded in a 2018. Dacia sandero stepway. I was perfectly happy with. But due to knee problems I really needed an automatic. And Dacia don’t do one. This is the first car in a few years that I haven’t bought new. I’m very impressed with everything about the car. In my opinion the spec is very good. And I like all the little extra thought that has gone into things like the umbrella and ice scraper. Not important but just helpfull. I have to admit I’m a little scared of the gearbox going wrong but hopefully having full Skoda service history the car has been maintained properly
Looks really cool. 🔥
Btw half the cool features on the fabia are all just Škoda cool features 😂
I'm on my 4th Fabia, it's no Merc A class or BMW 1 but it IS the best value for money car out there. Just a shame Matt lets his personal preferences cloud his judgement. "Decent size boot"?? it's largest in class Matt and the "five most annoying things" ?? wow! clutching at straws there mate? No arm rest 'fake' exhaust styling, Carbon fibre effect seat panels etc!"
2 weeks ago I got a 2018. 1.0 combi edition model, 75hp petrol. Gotta say, I'm really happy for now. :)
i just got a 67 plate monte carlo with the 110HP turbo and i love it too
Good luck when you start overtaking someone when fully loaded lol. Wouldnt recommend it.
@@Shuffler131 oh well, I'm a slow driver anyways... so I'm happy anyways :D
@@Shuffler131 RPM matters dude.. if you rev it properly you can overtake anyone
@@tiger1995grvr oh really? Yes eventually you will overtake, but tell me the distance needed to do so. I had a car this weak and have to tell you, when i had to overtake there had to be absolutely no car in opposite lane almost a kilometer in front of me. Otherwise the car simply couldnt make enough speed and crash accident would happen.
FINNALY i was finding carwow reviews because i was planning to buy one in thanks for the review it is really helpful
I had the same feeling about the suspension... Vw put in the polo the perfect suspension set, Skoda seems a little bit soft and the seat is extremely firm
Best car of its category! Skodas are cool now!
They have always been cool, people just like to hate on the "best bang for your buck" option
I even seen a video of one using nitrous here on youtube
Compare vw polo and fabia
A great car, does exactly what it says on the tin, we love the 3 cylinder too
What Matt isn't giving you here, is conveying the feeling you get from buying a cheap car that has an 'almost premium' feel. Not to mention the smiles you get when you realise the car is ridiculously economical to run! It's a brilliant vehicle for those looking for a quality small car but aren't plagued by the dreaded brand envy...
This is absolutely amazing. How do you make everything about your videos so good. I'm trying to create this magic in nigeria
I did the rounds of reviews when choosing a newer car .And having seen enough too satisfy my curiosity, I settled on a 2020 Skoda Fabia .
Main reasons were , it was reasonably priced , even for my ltd budget , second hand prices have crept up .
The emissions charges are imminent in my area of London , and I wanted something more practical and fuel efficient than my 1990 Mx5.
I loved my convertible , but times are changing ,& anyone on a ltd budget, has to be mindful of the small charges , which ramp up , and turn a few pounds of costs into hundreds .
I’ve now done close to 4000 miles since purchase ,& it’s fine 😂.
It’s not overly fast or stylish , it’s not lavishly equipped inside .
But what it does well , is save me fuel costs , emission charges,& the rust repairs of my Mx5s sills .
It’s boot Is big enough to take most shopping ,it’s relatively easy to park .
So , as long as I get two to three years driving out of it , I’ll claw back a few grand in servicing and running costs .
Which , with the current climate , is the best the average person can hope for . It’s fine by me .
Haha. It‘s funny that when most manufacturers don‘t make he best car everybody is quiet.
But when Škoda doesn‘t make the best car everybody goes berserk.
Don‘t get me wrong though, I love the Fabia. But my tip is to wait for the Scala than to buy one now.
I have a Fabia Combi (2016) I'm not really a car enthusiast, so it's perfect for my little family of two adults and a 5-year-old.
Skoda makes great no-nonsense cars. Exciting? No. But they just do the job they are supposed to.
Had an option going with the fabia or the polo. We went for the polo but I can't really say that I don't regret it. The fabia had a better engine and honestly the build is very similar. A lot of people I know have skodas and honestly they seem pretty pleased, they have even upped their design and honestly seem to make pretty decent cars.
Lol crying at co stars facial expressions at fitting adults in the back... she says it all in one look 😂😂🤣🤣
Mat was truly ahead of the curve with the mask at the beginning.
Best car reviewer on TH-cam!!!
I love fabia. Its just compact practical and has everything you need in car. While keeping the design above decent. No bs and on point
Can you please do a review on the new Skoda Superb . Theres barely any out there and love watching your videos. Just bought the brand new superb with all the addition features except sunroof. It lives up to its name Superb ☺
The missus has a 2018 1.0 TSI 95 Fabia Estate, done 8000 miles and averaging 51.8mpg. Thats a mix of town and motorway.
I've a July 2016 diesel Fabia 90bhp. 29000 miles on the clock and I'm getting 65 - 70mpg. I only have it since February. First diesel car I ever owned and I can't believe the fuel economy. For €10 at the pumps I get 110 miles. My last car a Mark 1 Fabia 1.4 petrol - I was getting 50 miles for €10 fuel. I love the Fabia.
I'm in the US, and I watch these reviews just for the innuendos lol
Carwow changed your life mat
I have a 2018 Fabia Monte Carlo in race blue metallic, I’m very pleased with it, it is a very competent small car, for a very reasonable price, not to mention the simply clever touches!!.
usual great review - like this bloke
I had to turn the subtitles on because he was talking a different version of English than I do. At least Jeremy Clarkson is articulate, but he's a professional.
I have a Mk2 Fabia fresh 1.2HTP 3 cylindres it's more then good for everyday use i love it.
Great reviews like always
Your videos make my day brother..... You are hilariously 😂 fine.
Iv got a MK1 Skoda Fabia vRS and it's a good little car. The MK2 was abit lacking in the looks department but I quite like the look of this shape!
what do you expect for £15000 this was a crap review
The best car review (er)
Way too much childish overacting in this video e.g. the bit about the seatbelt getting caught. Matt is becoming a car snob.
definitely agree with the last sentence.
He was always a brat.
Yeah nobody cares, a how often do you fold the seats down? b it isn't hard to hold the seatbelt and fold the seat and on a cheap car who the hell cares.
get a life please
Watch something else then haha
i love a fabia, such a cute hatchback
And Peugeot 508 ? Never ?
Yeah hope he reviews that one soon.
It’s based on the VW Polo, and yet it’ll outlast the Polo in terms of reliability and has interior grab handles on the roof which the Polo does not (even thought it’s more expensive). You can tell which manufacturer prioritizes their customers over cost cutting.
U haven't driven a polo if u think so both these cars will last u long enough because they are the same
@@pratik1568 they're on the same platform, but they're not the same cars. You see, Skoda actually cares about its customers amd doesn't remove standard features like grab handles or fog lights. Not to mention the umbrella and ice scraper which VW will never ever add to its cars. That's cost-cutting at its finest.
They are basically the same cAr lol
Seats with carbon fiber effect. Lmao 🤣
Bring back the Vrs Skoda! Just chuck the 2l tsi 190 in this, job done.
Anytime I see Matt I'm happy
What I don't understand is that on the Carwow configurator there is no Ferrari although you have reviewed them. I want to see how much I can save to offset all the carbon fibre extras on my 488 Spyder! 🤣
I'm relieved to see the facelift isn't that much better than my own Fabia. I'll either wait for the Mark IV in two years or look at another brand altogether.
Great honest review as always. Can you review the Skoda Superb hatchback next. Thanks
On my 4th Fabia. A bit surprised Matt's tone was rather dismissive they are fabulous cars for the money. Totally agree they jiggle a bit at speeds of up to 30 but are super comfortable after that. Very easy to drive, why would I want sporty? the lack of desire for sporty resulted in Skoda dropping the very sporty VRS from the range.
Let's hope they've fixed the cooling & clutch pipe issues on the diesels, I have a 2015 1.4 diesel & it's been nothing but trouble since I bought it.
Beautiful little car! My view is very biased though, I own an Octavia VRS...
These are my favorite kind of videos even though I live in America.
trunk is wayyy useful than was in my Polo 9n1 2003 , same but more organized !
8:23 the problem you mentioned is because of 3 cylinder engine and not a suspension, i beleive you mentioned it yourself in seat ibiza 2018 review. when i drove the car i noticed the micro-vibrations in a specific engine rpm (don't remember the number) while i was cruising at interurban speeds.
I drive a very similar Fabia and your reaction to driving it had me giggling.
The best part of any review @4:10 😁😁👌
A time when mask on a normal day was still a weird thing. 😣
Hey i like wat u do, its jus perfect wat a car rnthusiast expects from a review
I own a steel grey 2018 Fabia combi Monte Carlo, and I'm moooooore than sattisfied!
Such a cool car for the money. Strange that this one doesn't have the panoramic roof, mine came with it by default. A sincerely advice is to take it for a spin if you are interested to buy it.. :)
I think it's unfortunate that Skoda went 2 steps backwards when it comes to rear passenger legroom with the newer fabias. My brother has a 2012 Fabia, we went looking for a new car for my dad and we were quite disappointed when we sat in the newer Fabia - there is NO LEGROOM AT ALL. Yes, we're a tall family (bro is 2.05m, dad is 2m) but they could still reasonably fit in the back of the old Fabia. In the new one ? Not a chance. And even getting in the front is a challenge compared to the old one (the seats don't shift back as far as they used to)
So, what I would like to see, when a car manufacturer makes statements like "we improved the interior space", please compare it to the older models.
Well, 2 meters is very tall. Might be better off to go 1 or 2 classes above. Maybe an Octavia is the best pick since it is not that expensive.
@@Astke Well, that was the good thing about the old Fabia: You didn't need to go up in class. You have almost as much space in it as in a 2017 Octavia. Or in a Seat ateca. The only "noteworthy" upgrade that comes to mind now would be the Skoda superb, but that's a whole other league. I guess Skoda realised that they shot themselves in the foot when making the old Fabia as spacious as the bigger models, sooo they just made it smaller.
@@Thelifreak95 Well i would buy Fabia if i drive alone or with someone. For family it is a small car. :) But it´s really nice looking specially in Monte carlo version.
You sure that fabia wasnt the wagon version
@@t-bone9239 1000% sure it's the normal version :D
Oh good it’s a manual and it has a real handbrake
I am starting to like this Skoda
I won't buy a car that doesn't have one.
I bought one, the "high spec" as I do not need a large car any longer, last one was an Octavia estate. It is ok, so far I am quite enjoying it but there are two things about it that annoy me, 1 is the centre arm rest, it makes operating the handbrake awkward and 2 the glasses holder is not so big or as softly padded as the octavia and my sunglasses make the opening a bit difficult to close. Apart from those its a good little car.
I have the 66 plate 1.2L Fabia Monte Carlo as my first car and I love it
SpeedStrengthJames how much was your insurance
I've just taken delivery of a new Fabia Monte Carlo DSG. I came from a ford focus 2016. I prefer the Fabia all day!
Another hatchback review! 👏
I like how Skodas look, but I live in the U.S. so I probably will never get to see one in person :(
Please do the new 3 series, vs facelifted C class and the new A4!!! Oh yeah, and the new A6 vs the updated E class and the 5 series!!!
These are all awesome comparisons people actually care about!!!
In which camera do you shot your main footage? The one in the intro were you talk about what’s new in this car and you also talk about the new grill
Didn't you already review this a few days ago? I remember it being blue and had like 4 rings on the front.....
Those leaves stuck on the lower fascia effectively kill the adaptive cruise control.
Avoid monte carlo, get the basic top trim.
Compared the '16 model (in 2016) with citroen c3, peogeot, nissan etc. and Skoda drives the best, and the noise tone is nicest.
For the money ofcourse.