Skoda FABIA 1.4TDI PD RANGE
Skoda Play The Low Emission And Low Fuel Consumption Cards With The Latest Fabia 1.4-Litre Diesel. Andy Enright Reports
When it comes to sensible choices in the supermini sector, the Skoda Fabia has long ruled the roost. If you appreciate quality, value for money and low running costs, the Fabia package is a tough one to beat, especially if you plump for one with a diesel engine. The only fly in the ointment was that the 100bhp 1.9-litre TDi PD engine was beyond the budgets of some and the 64bhp 1.
9-litre SDi alternative wasnt overly attractive. Skoda subsequently rectified that problem by the addition of an appealing 75bhp 1.4-litre TDi PD diesel engine that slots between the two 1.9-litre units.
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Far from being some sort of gap-plugging makeweight, the 1.4TDi has instantly assumed the mantle of best value Fabia bar none. Prices start at just £9,700 for the 1.4TDi Classic hatch, with the estate version tacking another £700 onto that price.
Opt instead for the well equipped Ambiente version and you can expect to fork out from £10,360. Of course to some this will still seem an inordinate pile of money to spend on a compact
Skoda hatchback, but never mind the width, feel the quality. The engine is a good place to start. The
Volkswagen Group (of which Skoda is a subsidiary) have persevered with the high pressure Pump Duse technology instead of the industry standard common rail diesel engine design.
Although the PD engines arent quite as smooth as some of the best common rail units, theyre still acceptably refined and have a genuinely impressive mid range punch. Excellent fuel economy and low emissions are another benefit of the Pump Duse engines and the Fabia 1.4 turns in an average of 61.4mpg with just 124g/km of carbon dioxide emitted per kilometre.
Dont be lulled into thinking this is a slightly old-fashioned engine, Skoda claim the Pump Duse technology is in many respects superior to common rail. The engines use a pump-nozzle injection kit which means that theres no need for a separate pump or high-pressure rails as they are integral to the compact injection unit. The approach seems to work. With 195Nm of torque on tap (more than a
BMW 520i), the Fabia 1.
4TDi feels flexible and surprisingly muscular for such a small car and the car will accelerate from 60 to 100km/h in fourth gear in just 10.1 seconds. The Fabia estate is well worth a look, competing in a field where genuine rivals are few. Whilst its not the largest estate car around, it certainly offers significant extra utility over the standard Fabia hatchback.
The first thing that catches the eye is that rounded rump. Surely this has a catastrophic effect on load space when compared with the more perpendicular lines of something like a
Volvo? Actually, no. Despite its soft angles, the Fabia estate can still manage a load space of 426 litres with the rear seats in place, which is more than apparently larger cars like the Alfa 156 Sportwagon or the
Audi A4 Estate. Admittedly, this isnt saying much, as neither of these estates would claim to be the last word in tea-chest transportation, but with the rear seats folded an impressive 1,225 litres of room is freed up.
"Far from being some sort of gap plugging makeweight, the 1.4TDi has instantly assumed the mantle of best value Fabia bar none"
The Fabia has recently received its most far-reaching set of revisions since it was launched, the visual changes centring on a revised front grille, spoiler and fog lamps, as well as restyled rear light clusters that echo the "C" shape of the latest Octavias rear lights. The interior look is modernised with fresher interior upholstery. Up front, only the cabin of the
Fiat Punto matches it for space - but that car doesn't feel as well screwed together as this one. Forget the plasticky feel of old Skodas: the materials used are of a higher quality than most rivals, even on the entry-level Classic model. The design of the dashboard has that typical Volkswagen Group minimalism but it feels absolutely indestructible. Pricier Ambiente variants have lovely Audi-esque touches like impeccably finished venetian-blind style air vents and a beautifully damped drawer beneath the radio. At this level, you also get lots of extra storage bins - something it would have been nice to see across the range.
But this is a minor point. The boot's a useful shape (offering 1,016 litres with the seats down), with 60/40 access through the split-folding rear bench and sturdy luggage hooks for securing awkward loads. Front side airbags are optional but ABS and twin front airbags are now standard, plus parents get two Isofix mounting points in the rear for the latest child seats. At the front, every Fabia gets rake and reach adjustment for the airbag-equipped steering wheel and the two plusher variants have driver's
seat height adjustment. Which means that just about everyone should be able to get comfortable. The Fabia should also stay where you park it, too, having been judged top of a car magazines table of most secure superminis. As with all current VW Group products, the body's fully galvanised with 10 years anti-corrosion cover and, as with all Skodas, there's a comprehensive three year unlimited mileage warranty. On the road, the handling is tuned to please the family driver rather than the enthusiast - which is understandable given Skoda's likely clientele. Expect it to ride and respond with all the quality of a VW Golf and you won't be disappointed. The TDi unit feels strong and willing, and is probably the best engine option in the entire Fabia line up. There are no throttle cables: your right foot impulses are communicated via a 'drive-by-wire' throttle. Five years ago, you found this technology on F1 cars: now you find it on Skodas. Although it may not be the most exciting car on the market, when you get out the calculator and take everything into account, this Skoda Fabia 1.4TDi PD may just be the most sensible. Its very well built, covered by an impressive warranty, will cost little to run and will still yield an impressive resale value when the time comes to sell on.
We motorists get punished financially every time we turn a wheel. Heres a rather enjoyable way to sugar the pill.
FACTS AT GLANCE
CAR: Skoda Fabia 1.4TDi diesel range
PRICES: £9,700-£11,060 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4
CO2 EMISSIONS: 124g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 105mph / 0-60mph 14.5s [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 61.4 mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3960/1646/1451mm WHO TO SEE: February 8th 2005
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