Skoda Fabia Kombi
Chris Knapman is impressed with Skoda’s latest estate, which proves that small cars can be big on space
For the most part, Skoda’s “Simply Clever” upgrades are quite neat. An ice scraper clipped into the fuel filler cap, for example, or an umbrella hidden in the rear doors. In its noble quest to maximise convenience for its customers, the Czech car-maker also now offers its new Fabia estate with a rubbish bin that clips into the door pocket. This is not some swish Brabantia-esque brushed aluminium job, but a flimsy nappy sack dangling from a cheap plastic rim. Presumably the forthcoming eco-friendly Greenline version will add dividers to separate cardboard, plastics and compost, thus really giving owners something to talk about at dinner parties. Still, it is partly because of such details that Skoda predicts the new Fabia estate will be the bestselling model in its class. The other reason is that it exists in a class of just three. In an industry where no niche is unfilled nor cow uncashed, this suggests the appeal of a superminisized estate is limited. This is strange because it’s actually a brilliant idea, offering the bootspace you’d expect in an SUV in a car that is cheap to buy, has tiny running costs and is small enough to be easy to drive. Compared with the old Fabia estate, the new one has an extra 25 litres of luggage capacity, as well as a boot opening that is both lower and wider. Total capacity is 530 litres, which is 200 more than the Fabia hatchback or, put another way, the same as the vastly more enormous Vauxhall Insignia. And, what with it being Simply Clever, there’s all sorts of accessories to boost your boot’s potential, not all of which are rubbish. The compromise comes for those in the back seats, who will soon notice that the Fabia estate hasn’t grown in width compared with the hatchback. So while it’s fine for a supermini, it’s still not what you’d call spacious. In the front Skoda has make a good fist at copying a few of the bits that make a VW Golf such a grown-up car. OK, some of the plastics are still a bit scratchy, but on the whole this is a nice place to be. As for engines, the range starts with a 1.0-litre, three- cylinder petrol unit, but with no turbo to lend a hand, it struggled with two adults on board; with a full load I’m not sure it’d move at all. The turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine is infinitely better, with a broad spread of pulling power that makes for easy progress. The ride, handling and image are not in any way dynamic, but what did you expect? The result is that for all Skoda’s ambitions of this being a lifestyle statement for young families, mountain bikers and canoeists, the reality is that Fabia estate drivers will be slightly more advanced in years. As such, they will also know a thing or two about not having the wool pulled over their eyes, and might thus consider the premium of at least £1,000 that the Fabia estate carries over the hatchback a bit fleece-like. Because you’ve got to really want that extra space to pay £5 per additional litre of it. If that sounds lukewarm it’s not supposed to. This is a pleasant little car that will no doubt win some loyal, not to mention tidy, fans. Skoda Fabia Kombi 1.2 TSI Price from: £14,535 Power: 89bhp 0-62 mph: 11sec Average mpg: 60.1 Rating: