2022 Skoda Fabia officially uncovered in Europe in 2021 and launch expected in Australia in March 2022

The 2022 Skoda Fabia has been uncovered, in front of its Australian launch expected to happen late in the first quarter of 2022 (March 2022). The all-new fourth-generation Skoda Fabia has debuted internationally barely two decades after the first-gen Fabia (designed by Dirk van Braeckel) came out.

The fourth generation of Skoda’s popular Fabia city car sees the nameplate relocate to the Volkswagen Group’s most recent MQB-A0 platform, shared with the Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Kamiq, and Skoda Scala – acquiring a raft of modern connectivity and active safety features to go with it.

The new Fabia, at 4,108mm long, and 1,780mm wide is 111mm longer and 48mm wide than the past model, with a 94mm expansion in wheelbase putting it at 2,564mm between the axles. Its 0.28Cd betters the 0.32Cd of the outgoing car, and actively adjustable cooling shutters in the front bumper that nearby at high speeds to build its aerodynamic proficiency, likewise prompting marginal increases in fuel efficiency at steady highway speeds.

The architecture switch has brought about a significant growth spurt, with the new model estimating in at 1460mm tall, riding on a 2564mm wheelbase – 110mm longer in overall length, 48mm wider, 7mm lower, and 94mm longer in wheelbase than the third-generation Fabia.

The new Fabia likewise includes aero elements to diminish turbulence around the wheels and underbody, adequately smoothing out airflow over powertrain segments. Talking about, wheel choices range from 14-to 18-inches, including two more aero efficient designs.

Boot space increments to 380 liters with the rear seats in place – up 50 liters – expanding to 1190 liters with the second row folded. Kerb weight hasn’t expanded essentially over the outgoing car, at around 1100kg.

Purchasers enthusiastic about considerably more space will actually want to select a load-lugging wagon body style, which will return for another generation, and on Skoda Australia’s radar for a nearby presentation.

Skoda’s local arm desires to have the long-roof body style launch close by its hatch sibling next year, accepting production timing becomes alright, anyway abroad reports recommending the wagon could launch in Europe as far away as 2023.

Clothing the new platform is an evolutionary exterior, with sharper styling than the car it replaces, and design elements inspired by the Scala, Octavia, and other recent Skoda models.

In advance, thin bi-LED headlights flank a sculpted interpretation of Skoda’s corporate grille, with a wide air intake (with fog lights) sitting below.

A sharp side crease prompts the vehicle’s rear end, where slim C-shaped LED tail-lights and a sporty roof spoiler feature.

Wheels going from 14 to 18 inches in diameter filling the arches, while extended underbody paneling, aero-optimized wheel designs, active front grille slats (which alone save 0.2L/100km at 120km/h) and the previously mentioned spoiler help bring down the drag coefficient to 0.28Cd.

The transition to the new platform has helped increment interior space, which has been totally updated to take full advantage of it, including a slew of ‘Simple Clever’ touches like a folding front passenger seat, baggage hooks under the tailgate, and more.

Inside, the brand’s most recent technologies feature, with flagship models including a configurable 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster before the driver, and a 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen on the dashboard, running Skoda’s most recent software with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, gesture control, and satellite navigation.

That class-leading 380-liters of cargo capacity can be expanded to 1,190-liters. Besides the 9.2-inch infotainment screen running the most recent Skoda MIB3 generation UI and connected tech features, a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit fully-adjustable display is likewise accessible, for the first time. Likewise, up to nine airbags can be specced, besides adaptive cruise control up to 210kmph, blind-spot assists, and park assist.

Entry-level and mid-spec models ‘make do’ with either a 6.5-or 8.0-inch central screen, in addition to analog instruments isolated by a 3.5-inch digital display. Different features on offer incorporate wireless smartphone charging, surrounding LED lighting, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, a seven-speaker sound system, and five USB-C ports.

A choice of two-and three-spoke steering wheels is accessible, while a conventional gear selector sits between the front inhabitants on automatic models – instead of the shift-by-wire unit fitted to the new Octavia.

No under 43 of Skoda’s signature ‘Simply Clever’ practicality touches are on offer, including a USB-C port in the rear-view mirror for a dashcam, a swipe cardholder, a pocket joined the underside of the parcel shelf capable of supporting up to 3.5kg, a removable cupholder, and cell phone storage pockets in the front seatbacks.

European purchasers will have a choice of small-displacement three- and four-cylinder petrol engines, accessible with or without turbocharging. Diesel has been axed in Europe, while mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives aren’t accessible, in a bid to keep buy costs down. All models are front-wheel drive.

On target to come to Australia are the 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engines, accessible in 70kW/175Nm and 81kW/200Nm tunes, likely yet without the petrol particulate filters offered as standard in Europe.

The 70kW tune is accessible just with a five-speed manual, finishes the 0-100km/h run in a claimed 10.6 seconds, and claims to sip 5.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.

Then, the 81kW version offers the choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes, with the last mentioned (prone to be standard in Australia) rushing to 100km/h from a standstill in 9.5 seconds while consuming 5.5L/100km of fuel. The manual alternative is more efficient, at 5.0L/100km.

Optioning a 50-liter fuel tank expands the engines’ maximum driving range to over 900km.

A 110kW/250Nm 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder (paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto) sits on the overseas range – capable of a 7.9-second 0-100km/h dash – while European purchasers on a budget can pick from 48kW/95Nm or 59kW/95Nm versions of a 1.0-liter naturally-aspirated three-cylinder petrol engine.

While a performance-focused RS model will not be offered, Skoda will present a sport-themed Monte Carlo model later in 2021, with black styling elements, sports seats, and specific badging.

On the security front, a range of active driver assistance technologies are accessible – numerous new for the nameplate – incorporating autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian/cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, driver attention monitoring, long-range blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, and semi-autonomous parking.

Adaptive cruise control consolidates with lane-keep assist and lane-centring assist systems to enable the Volkswagen Group’s semi-autonomous Travel Assist system, permitting the Fabia to speed up, brake, and centre itself within its lane on freeways at up to 210km/h.

Nine airbags are accessible, including driver’s knee and rear-side ‘bags. There could be no centre airbag, notwithstanding, which could preclude the Fabia for a five-star ANCAP security rating, given its thin width implies travelers’ heads can easily collide in a side effect.

Not at all like the third-gen Fabia from 2014, the new Fabia depends on the VW Group’s modular MQB-A0 platform and is bigger thus with Skoda claiming a class-leading 380-liters of boot space. Going through the features, styling is in line with new Skodas, and it additionally boasts flexible cooling shutters in the front bumper, helping the new Fabia to a class-leading 0.28Cd aerodynamic proficiency.

All-new interiors see the expansion of a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit, and dual-zone climate control for the first time, while insightful Skoda touches like optimized storage and a folding front passenger seat proceed the ‘Simply Clever’ tradition. Five engine alternatives are accessible, from a 1.0 MPI to the 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI, with up to 150PS power which should make for quite lively performance.

Tragically, Skoda India has no prompt intends to bring the Fabia to India, yet we could see that change after the launch of the Kushaq SUV and the new Rapid sedan.

The 2022 Skoda Fabia hatch will go on sale in Europe later in 2021.

While start-of-production dates for the Australian market presently can’t seem to be affirmed, Skoda’s local arm anticipates that the first examples should show up after the expected time in the first quarter of 2022 (which spans January to March inclusive, recommending a March launch).