There’s not too much that’s remarkable in the mechanical department of the Fabia, but it’s entirely contemporary. What’s more unusual is clever packaging within a taller silhouette than the norm for an estate, producing generous passenger space and a big boot from a car that’s far from being the longest in this class.
Also unusual is the extensive array of three-cylinder engines, starting with a 59bhp 1.2 petrol and including two 1.4 diesels of 69bhp and 79bhp, all three units producing smooth and characterful power, if not in abundance.
There are also two conventional 1.4 and 1.6 four-cylinder petrol engines, but if it’s straight lugging energy that you need then the top-of-the-range 1.9-litre turbodiesel we test here is the best option.
It is one of the last new applications of Volkswagen’s pumpe düse range of diesel engines, which are being replaced by a new generation of common-rail motors elsewhere in the VW empire. Surprisingly, all these engines drive through a five-speed manual gearbox, with a four-speed auto optional on the 1.6 petrol.
This Fabia rides on the same platform as the last, hence an identical wheelbase but a slight gain in the front overhang for pedestrian protection reasons. It also features the same suspension layout as before, consisting of MacPherson struts up front and a twist beam axle at the rear – a simple solution but one that packages very well; it’s the main reason why the Fabia has so much usable boot space.
The steering system is electro-hydraulic rather than fully electric, the aim being to retain feel while saving fuel when the car is travelling in a straight line. ESP is standard on both the middle and highest trim levels; the Fabia scores four stars in the Euro NCAP passenger impact test.