Excellent car for enthusiasts

Exterior

Cars looks are always subjective. This is SKODA and their cars always have a sober look. It looks European in every way. The car has decent looks but could do well with some improvements at the rear.

(I have listed the mods which I have done at the end of the review)

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Interior quality is class leading. It is on par with most of the C segment cars. Plastic quality is top notch and if maintained well will look new for years to come.  Although it is a 3 cylinder diesel engine SKODA has done enough damping to ensure engine noise is cut down inside the cabin during movement. Comfort levels are very high and I dare say it is the best in the segment. You can ride the for hours together without feeling tired.

However, 3 full sized adults at the rear may not feel comfortable during long drives.

315 litres of boot space is the best in the segment.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

3 cylinder; 75 bhp ; 1.2 litre. Considering the robust chassis and build quality this car definitely needed some more power with additional displacement. However, this engine also does a good job in city. Only gripe is in the pickup as one feels a little turbolag till 2k rpm. Post that its just excellent to ride. One can reach a top speed of 155-160 on the highways.

Fuel economy is very good; City 15-18 kpml. Although I have been to couple of long drives have not tested highway mileage.

Gearbox is just amazing. That's why SKODA / VW is a class apart from other hatch manufacturers. Gear shifts are slick and there is absolutely no clutter from 1st to 5th. It just gets more smoother post first service (all SKODA / VW cars are filled with fully synthetic engine oils - Shell / Castrol; this also aids to the smoothness and long drain intervals). The unique shift for reverse gear is also very assuring.

 

Ride Quality & Handling

The shortcomings in engine are put to rest in the ride / handling department. Both Fabia and Polo share similar driving characteristics, courtesy almost similar chassis. But I somehow felt Fabia to be better after driving Polo. This car is very very good in handling and ride quality. The steering response is best among the hatchbacks. One feels very safe and assured even when the car is doing > 100 kmph. 

My car is without ABS; even then the brakes are very assuring in both city and highways.

Final Words

To sum up this car is purely a drivers' car. It is meant for enthusiasts. The car is BUILD TO LAST.

Areas of improvement  

Hyundai, Maruti and Honda are 1000 miles ahead of SKODA as far as service is concerned. They definitely need to increase their service centers and also enhance the overall customer satisfaction. 

Last but not the least - Mods done on my car till date: 😎

1. 3M sunfilm
2. JVC AV60BT Head Unit
3. JBL GTO component rear speakers
4. Infinity Kappa component front speakers
5. Infinity Kappa 6*9 rear parcel tray speaker
6. Acustika underseat sub-woofer
7. AMERICAN damping on all doors
8. Monte Carlo OEM fog lights
9. Skoda OEM sunglasses box
10. vRS badge
11. Octavia horn
12. 3M nomadic floor mats including boot
13. Rear bumper DTM spoiler
14. Exhaust pipe end piece
15. Front bumper spoiler - Monte Carlo
16. Leather cover for handbrake - OEM Skoda
17. Leather 3 spoke steering wheel - OEM Skoda
18. Skoda OEM 15"Line alloys
19. 3M car wraps front and rear bumpers
20. Netting system - vertical boot
21. Cerwin Vega - amplifier for audio system
22. Skoda OEM mudflaps

 

Robust build quality, upmarket interiors, good fuel economy, fantastic ride quality.Features - Steering mounted controls, Automatic AC, Rear wiper, Auto ORVM, Outdated audio system