Skoda Fabia hatchback - MPG, running costs & CO2 (2015-2021)
Every Skoda Fabia model is cheap to run, but diesel engines have been discontinued
Like all small cars, no Skoda Fabia will cost you the earth to run. It doesn’t offer the unbelievable value for money it did before, but quality has improved and it’s more practical, too. Pre-paid servicing packages and solid residual values should help keep long-term costs down.
Skoda Fabia MPG, running costs & CO2
Every Fabia model is capable of around 50mpg or more, so we think the desirable 1.0-litre TSI engine with 94bhp is the sweet spot of the range, with ample performance and fuel economy of up to 53mpg - putting it slightly ahead of the equivalent Kia Rio which returns 48.7mpg.
While Skoda produced a hot hatch version of the previous Fabia, there’s no vRS version this time around and those wanting maximum power don’t have the 108bhp TSI petrol to turn to either, unless they’re prepared to buy used. That’s not a bad idea, as the excellent TSI engine offers an impressive blend of performance and economy in its most powerful guise: it officially manages up to 51.4mpg, yet gets from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds. If you’re looking at the 94bhp TSI, then official figures suggest 53mpg is achievable on the combined cycle, dropping to 49.6mpg with DSG gears.
CO2 emissions range from 121g/km for the 1.0 TSI manual to 129g/km for the DSG variant. The MPI sits between the two at 127g/km and every version of the Fabia will cost the standard rate of VED (road tax).
Insurance groups
The entry-level models have commendably low insurance groupings, while even the top of the range models don’t go higher than group 12. Any Fabia with the 59bhp engine sits in group 1 (the lowest possible group), so you can choose the well-equipped Colour Edition model and still enjoy cheap insurance. The turbocharged TSI models sit in group 9 for the 93bhp version while the discontinued 108bhp Fabia is in group 12. The front assist system, which is Skoda’s name for autonomous emergency braking, helps reduce the risk of low-speed crashes and is fitted as standard to the facelifted model.
Warranty
Like all Skoda models, the Fabia comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. That doesn’t match the five-year/unlimited-mileage policy of the Hyundai i20 and can’t come close to the seven-year guarantee offered with the Kia Rio. However, Skoda owners are a satisfied bunch, with the brand consistently doing well in our Driver Power customer satisfaction surveys. It's possible to extend the Fabia's warranty to four years/80,000 miles for under £200 or to five years/100,000 miles for just over £300.
Servicing
Fixed-price servicing plans are available from around £15 a month (over 18 months), or for a fixed price of under £300, covering the first two services.
Which Is Best?
Cheapest
- Name1.0 MPI 80 SE Edition 5dr
- Gearbox typeManual
- RRP£20,295
Most Economical
- Name1.0 TSI Design Edition 5dr
- Gearbox typeManual
- RRP£21,645
Fastest
- Name1.5 TSI 150 Design Edition 5dr DSG
- Gearbox typeSemi-auto
- RRP£24,860