Skoda FABIA SPORT
Skodas Fabia Sport May Not Be The Last Word In Hardcore Thrills But It Represents A Way To Have Fun Without Punitive Costs. Andy Enright Reports
Although vRS represents Skodas top line sporting range, theres now another level just below for those that want sporting appeal without putting up with the compromises. The
Skoda Fabia Sport could well be guilty of being a sheep in wolfs clothing, but if you dont put too much store in its dynamic credentials, its unlikely youll come away disappointed.
Many buyers will opt for a sports hatch because of the way it looks rather than the way it drives. Actually, in certain instances, the way top-end GTi hatches drive acts as a disincentive to those more attracted to the aesthetic qualities. The firm ride, the tiresome thirst, the droning noise and the big bills can be serious drawbacks, sending buyers towards more mundane models with long option lists. Skoda have realised this and although the Sport model is mechanically identical to humbler 1.
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4-litre Fabias, it looks a good deal sharper. For a start there are 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, front fog lights and a chrome exhaust. Indoors there are supportive sports seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a long list of standard equipment. Air conditioning is included, as is a cooled glove compartment, anti lock brakes, a six CD autochanger, twin airbags, power steering and immobiliser.
Four colour choices are offered for the bodywork Diamond Silver, Black Magic, Corrida Red and Dynamic Blue. The price being asked is a reasonable £9,750. Although 75bhp doesnt sound like a recipe for fun, the slick manual gearbox and tight body control of the Fabia Sport mean that it can entertain, although quite why
Skoda didnt see fit to plumb in the 100bhp version of this 1.4-litre engine is anyones guess.
Previously only available mated to an automatic gearbox, the Fabia Sports powerplant feels willing to rev although straightline performance may leave you a trifle embarrassed by the Sport badge on the back. Compensation comes in the way of an insurance rating of just 4E and a fuel consumption figure of 43.5mpg.
"The Fabia Sport isnt about to win any traffic light Grands Prix but it still has the capacity to entertain"
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. Other than that, its the familiar Fabia recipe. This is the longest car in its class and has the interior space efficiency to capitalise on those extra inches.
Nor is any future rival likely to surpass it in this respect, for anything larger would stray into Golf, Astra and Focus family hatchback territory. It is a pity however that Skoda have chosen not to offer an estate version of the Sport. Certainly buyers of such larger cars could consider this surprising little Skoda, for five can be seated in reasonable comfort. In fact, the rather Spartan feel is the only real criticism you could make of an interior that is otherwise a class above most other offerings in this sector.
Skoda aim to shift 800 Sport models in the forthcoming calendar year and they should have no problem. This is a very well screwed together car. Only that of
Fiat's Punto matches it for space - but that car isnt as well built as this one. Forget the plasticky feel of previous Skodas: the materials used are of the highest quality, plus there are lovely
Audi-esque touches like a beautifully damped drawer beneath the radio. 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 and 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 Fabias chunky styling means a boxy shape that offers good headroom, even for those in the rear. And that in turn contributes to a general feeling of spaciousness.
Under the skin, the Fabia uses the VW Groups latest small car platform which is ultra-safety conscious: suffice to say that if I had to be in an accident in a supermini, I'd want to be in a Fabia. As weve suggested, the 16v 1.4-litre engine offers a good all-round package, and is surprisingly high-tech. 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. Once upon a time people used to joke about fitting a rear spoiler to a Skoda to give people something convenient with which to push it. How times change. Second place in both the 2004 JD Power Survey and Top Gears Customer Satisfaction Survey show what Skoda owners think of their purchases.
The Fabia Sport is a car that will draw admiring glances, is well equipped, aggressively priced and makes a whole lot of sense. Just dont take the Sport part of it at all seriously.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Skoda Fabia Sport 1.4 16v
PRICES: £9,750 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 4E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 156 g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 104mph / 0-60mph 13.5s [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 43.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3960/1646/1451mm
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