Skoda’s concerted fettling of the exterior has delivered some modest advantages on the inside, but this is unlikely to be the first thing you notice.
Instead, it’s the first-rate job that the firm has done on the fit, finish and all-round appearance of the dashboard. The new Fabia epitomises Skoda’s slow march upmarket.
Although it lacks the soft-touch plastics of a Volkswagen Polo, this is not merely a functional cabin (as its dutiful predecessor certainly was) but a ripened and fully realised cabin with an element of class about it.
So grown-up is it, in fact, that some buyers may query a lack of personality when compared with the design flair at work in something like a Mini. But that would be to quibble with Skoda’s pragmatic approach to interior design, and most Fabia owners probably won’t miss something as fickle as visual flair.
As for the standard equipment on the Fabia, choosing one trimmed in S specification comes with steel wheels, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, front electric windows, DAB radio, a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. Upgrade to the SE model and you will find 15in alloys, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, a 6.5in touchscreen infotainment system and six-speaker audio system.
