When we think of Austrian automakers Skoda, our mind automatically jumps to the Superb, a kind of upper-middle-class vehicle. But, there is not much hype or fanfare behind its lower models like the Fabia. The topic of discussion here is the “Skoda Fabia vRS”, Skoda’s latest attempt to introduce a rally car on the roads.
Let’s start with the most important part of the vehicle, the engine. This particular engine has been used in everything from the Golf to the A6 and, to be fair, is far better than anything else I have produced in this class. The 1.9-liter, 4-cylinder, OHC turbocharged diesel engine may not be the fastest car, but it sure tries hard.
130 hp at 4000 rpm doesn’t sound like much, but if you keep the car between 1500 and 2700 rpm, you will feel the full effect of 310 nM of torque under the hood. It does 0-60 mph in about 9.6 seconds. It’s pretty normal for this class of vehicle, but the crucial acceleration from 50 to 75 mph can be achieved in around 10 seconds in fifth gear, which sounds very happy when you think about the class of vehicle. It hits a top speed of 127 mph, which isn’t very fast, but it’s good for its class. This car can easily top 40 mpg, but if you hit the highway, you’ll be hitting 60 miles per gallon. The steering wheel (a three-spoke sports steering wheel) offers excellent response and the car’s performance is far superior to any other in its class. The vRS rides on 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels through which the green brake calipers can be seen.
When it comes to looks, the Fabia has very little to offer, whether on the inside or outside. Skoda’s chief designer Thomas Ingenlath was in charge of designing the vRS and has done a decent job of raising the bar for its lower-market brethren. The front end has been equipped with a pleasant front bumper, which encloses the usual ventilation grille between two fog lights. At the rear, you’ll find a deeper bumper with a chrome tailpipe that’s slightly off-center, a boot spoiler, and some understated badges. This all sounds great, but it doesn’t even come close to the incredibly modern World Rally Car.
The interiors have the same feel as most of the Volkswagen group cars. The switch gear (made of aluminum) is well laid out and the dials are clear and easy to read. The seats (sport seats with gray RS monogram and black cloth) are really very comfortable and move in every possible way, which makes finding a comfortable position relatively easy. A couple of vRS logos on the dials complete the look.
Skoda has done its best when it comes to spotting the vRS. ABS, MSR, and ASR help with handling, while ESP can be added at an additional cost. On the comfort and safety front, air conditioning, power front windows, single-slot CD player, alarm, remote central locking, and driver and passenger airbags come standard.
Now that everything has been talked about, let’s go down to the price. At £ 12,000, it’s priced far better than any of its rivals and has good resale value too.
Overall, this car is good without being great. It is very reliable, also inexpensive, and can still turn heads. Actually. .
