Skoda FABIA ESTATE
Vanessa Hinkley Takes Skodas Fabia Estate On A Tour Of The Norfolk Broads
Its a measure of how far
Skoda has come in recent years that I could even consider using a Skoda and a small, affordable Skoda at that for this trip. I would not have wanted to cram two adults, two small children and a weekends worth of luggage in any of the Czech companys models previous to the Fabia on test here. Everyone goes on and on about how surprising current Skoda models are. Given that theyre merely rebadged VWs, I cant see anything particularly surprising about their current quality.
Still, its very impressive. The estate on test here is one of the companys more recent introductions and looks even smarter than the supermini hatchback on which its based. We decided to base ourselves in the country town of Holt. The towns splendid location renders it ideal for exploring the enchanting unspoiled coastline and scenic countryside for which North Norfolk is justly famed.
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This is a place you are assured of discovering something to please the senses, whether you favour pottering round the shops or exploring unspoilt beaches. We stayed at The Lawns Hotel (01263-713390) which offers all the amenities you should need for around £70 per room per night.
Stylish-looking estates usually arent very practical ones, their sloping rear tailgates compromising luggage space. In fact, despite its soft angles, the Fabia estate can still manage a load space of 426 litres with the rear seats in place, which, Im told, 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. This proved enough for bags, moses baskets and all the usual family paraphernalia that you tend to carry about on trips like these.
The estate load bay is packed with practical ideas like the low sill and numerous fixing eyelets, plus it's a useful shape, with little intrusion from suspension hardware. Front side airbags are optional (as is a front passenger airbag on base models) and parents like me get two Isofix mounting points in the rear for the latest child seats (which are useless if, like many, you still have the old fashioned type). At the front, every Fabia gets rake and reach adjustment for the airbag-equipped steering wheel and ours had driver's
seat height adjustment. The chunky styling means a clever shape that offers good headroom, even for those in the rear. And that in turn contributes to a general feeling of spaciousness. Electric front windows and air conditioning that usefully cools - or heats - the glovebox depending on your setting are standard from Comfort level upwards.
On the way out of Holt, my two year old niece helpfully chipped in with the crayon test: would the seats survive a thorough crayoning with the colours thoughtfully provided on the front of her Winnie The Pooh magazine. They did just though after wiping down with a wet cloth, you could still see the yellow marks. Certainly buyers of larger cars would do well to consider this surprising little
Skoda (that word again), for five can be seated in reasonable comfort, even if the rear centre occupant must make do with a lap belt rather than the three-point affair now offered by most rivals. This and the rather Spartan feel are the only real criticisms you could make of an interior that is otherwise a class above most other offerings Ive tried in this sector.
We tried the top 100bhp 1.9-litre TDI turbo diesel estate, offered in plush Elegance form for £12,600. This Fabia Estate is also available with the same engine in cheaper Ambiente guise for £11,830. Our car had the right engine for a journey like this, with sixty 11.
5s away and a theoretical maximum of 115mph. More important was its mid-range pulling power which saw off holiday dawdlers with contemptuous ease. We headed out of Holt north to Cromer, checking out various attractions as we went (for more info, check out www.northnorfolkattractions.
co.uk). Children would particularly like the Norfolk Shire Horse Centre in West Runton.
In Holt, we parked alongside a VW Golf Estate with the same engine. Ordered with an equivalent specification to our Fabia, it would cost nearly £3,000 more and offer little extra in terms of space. To my eyes at least, the Skoda also looks much better. In value terms, its hard to beat.
Certainly. A supermini isnt an encouraging basis for a family-sized estate but this one manages to pull it off. We enjoyed our trip to Norfolk and the car in equal measure.
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