Some experts almost seriously argue that in the European car market, consumers' eyes run wild from the abundance of offers. In Russia, the demand for middle class cars has always been high. Skoda Fabia has established itself from the best side.
Auto for the people
In the history of the world automotive industry, attempts have been made several times to create a car for a wide range of workers. The Skoda auto concern has come close to this goal. Over the past period, the company has produced cars of two generations. The first generation Skoda Fabia has been assembled on the assembly line since 1999. The second generation cars hit the market in 2006. After a change in technical policy and the adoption of a new marketing concept, in 2014, the third generation Skoda Fabia model appeared.
In recent years, the criteria for evaluating vehicles have undergone significant changes. If in past periods a powerful engine was considered an absolute advantage of a car, today it is rather a disadvantage. For a city dweller, the following parameters are important:
· Safety;
· Comfortability;
· Profitability.
All automobile concerns are forced to reckon with the current trends and market demands. The future owner, when choosing a car, first of all evaluates the price-quality ratio.
Before the start of sales, the manufacturer presented the Skoda Fabia as a budget car. Cars with two body options appeared on sale almost simultaneously: a station wagon and a five-door hatchback. Sales statistics show that buyers prefer hatchbacks. The length of this model is 3992 mm, width 1732 mm, height 1467 mm. The ground clearance is 135 mm. With this size of clearance on country roads you will not go far. Owner reviews frankly testify to this.
The exterior of the third generation car has changed markedly, but its recognizability has remained. The curb weight of the Skoda Fabia in the basic configuration is 980 kg, which is forty kilograms less than that of the base model. As a result, the car's appearance has become more attractive. Thanks to the enlarged doorways, it has become more convenient to get in and out of the salon. Fabia now has another characteristic feature - a panoramic roof. Until now, there were no such elements in the Skoda model line.
Safety system
If we compare the hatchback with other cars that are positioned as city cars, then the Skoda Fabia will look preferable. The compact car allows you to confidently maneuver not only in heavy traffic, but also in a tight yard or side street. The system of automatic redistribution of power to the wheels, gives the vehicle stability on a slippery road. This is very important for operating a car on ice or rain.
The car has two front and rear view cameras. The signal from the front camera goes to the electronic heading stabilization system. When the car crosses a solid line on the road, the driver receives a signal. Information from the rear camera helps the driver when parking in tight spaces and at night. The cruise control system allows the driver to control the passage of the route on long journeys.
The Skoda Fabia salon is equipped with a set of airbags. Two front and two side airbags are installed in the front. Rear seat passengers are not provided with such protection. The driver's seat is equipped with a soft headrest. The seat belts are equipped with a pre-tensioning function. Together, the safety system helps prevent serious injury to the driver and passengers in a collision with an unexpected obstacle.
Interior comfort
Some experts are positioning the Skoda Fabia as a family car. The interior design of the third generation model was created taking into account the requirements of ergonomics. The location and design of the front seats has become more convenient. This gives the driver better visibility. The rear seat for passengers has articulated joints. When it becomes necessary to increase the volume of the trunk, they fold easily. Trunk volume in the standard position is 330 liters. With the sofa folded down - 1150 liters.
The dashboard has hardly changed. Feedback from drivers confirms that the devices are located in the visibility zone and allow you to simultaneously monitor the road and the speedometer readings. The center console has become more compact and roomy. It has a holder for fixing multimedia devices. The gear shift lever has moved closer to the driver. High quality artificial fabrics and polymer materials are used in the interior decoration.
Side doors have pockets for storing small items. When preparing for a long trip, you can place a liter water bottle in the glove box. The console also has two grooves for a beverage container. There are nets on the rear doors for collecting garbage or any other things that passengers may need. When children are present in the salon, clothes, diapers, toys and other necessary accessories are put in such places.
Engine and transmission
It should be noted that since 2017, the third generation Skoda Fabia has been produced in Russia. The assembly line operates at a site in the Kaluga region. According to experts, the build quality is high. If you evaluate the exterior of a Czech car and a Russian one from the photo, then you will not be able to find any differences. At the same time, it is well known that at the domestic plant, cars are equipped with two types of gasoline engines: three-cylinder, 60 hp. and a four-cylinder with 75 hp.
When using a turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is 4.5 liters. The four-cylinder consumes more per liter. Low fuel consumption is a positive feature for Russian drivers. This is of interest in an environment where gasoline prices are constantly rising. The negative point is that the average speed of the car is relatively low. Fans of fast driving will not like Skoda Fabia.
The Russian-assembled car is produced only with front-wheel drive. Skoda Fabia is equipped with a classic five-speed manual transmission. Years of experience have shown the high reliability of the unit. An automatic gearbox is used to expand the range. A seven-speed automatic transmission is used in conjunction with a more powerful engine.
Complete set and cost
The third generation of the Skoda Fabia model has a wide range of options. The potential owner is given the opportunity to choose and purchase a vehicle according to his needs and within the existing budget. The model in the basic configuration with a hatchback body and a manual transmission has a price of 400 thousand rubles. If the preference is given to an automatic transmission, then the cost increases by 20%.
An important advantage of the Skoda Fabia over other cars is the minimum operating costs. The main cost item is the payment for gasoline. The benefits are clear: minimum fuel consumption requires minimum costs. The cost of spare parts and consumables is commensurate with the cost of parts for other models. Due to its obvious advantages, skoda fabia is in stable demand in the domestic market.
