Motoring
The Skoda Fabia has traditionally been the first in the wider VW family to get the new bits, but this time around it takes the back seat.
While Seat, Volkswagen and Audi all get the newest version of the baby car underpinnings for their Ibiza, Polo and A1 models respectively, the Fabia has to make do with a facelift of the old model for its 2019 incarnation. Pretty much – whereas the Polo, Seat Ibiza and forthcoming Audi A1 have all moved to the MQB platform, the Skoda remains on the older A06 platform.
But to be fair, the A06 was – and remains – a fine basis for a small car, and the Fabia always was – and, again, remains – a fine small car. It’s just one that is now a generation behind the rest of the family, sort of like the weird cousin than no-one wants to get stuck with at family reunions.
That doesn’t mean it feels in any way outdated, however, just that it feels . . . well, the same, really.
The Fabia has had a facelift on the outside that brings it into line with the newer members of the Skoda family and the inside has had a few tweaks, but it still largely feels a very familiar place to be.
This means a lot of hard plastics fitted nicely together, with a functional layout that lacks style, but has a certain appealingly ergonomically-sensible character. It does, however, get an updated infotainment system that now includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Fabia’s ride and handling haven’t changed and it is still impressively confident and assured for a small car, with little drama over imperfections and a friendly, eager approach to turning into corners. It is also