Skoda Fabia v Hyundai i10
Discussion
Thought I’d post this here but could have been “Readers Cars” I suppose, may be of use to someone looking at these models.
We’ve been looking for a “Learner Car” for our 17 year old son, a C30 or Fiesta was actually top of the list with a budget of around £3- £4K but FiL has decided to stop driving and offered his 2021 Skoda. We said it was too new/valuable and it’s been swopped with the BiL who had a 2019 Hyundai. Still expensive but less so. Wish I’d been given a nearly new car at 17 but there you go. I’ve had the opportunity to drive each 260 miles on exactly the same roads, mostly country A roads and a few dual carriageways.
To the cars. Both white, both 3 cylinder, 1 litre turbos, 4 seats, the Skoda is around 260mm longer and a shade wider. This shows mainly in the boot area, not really noticeable elsewhere. The Hyundai is a couple of inches taller and this shows in the seating. The seats in the i10 are height adjustable too.
Styling, the Fabia is a little sleeker, less fussy, a little “Audi” in silhouette, as Skoda is part of the VAG family that’s understandable, the i10 a more modern but complicated look, especially the front. Inside the Fabia is again simpler, but with less options. It does have variable intermittent wipers which I haven’t found on the i10 yet. Both have DAB/Media etc, the Hyundai has a USB socket and 3.5mm jack socket, the Skoda a USB and SD card reader which seems odd. Too easy to lose an SD card. Cup holders in both, the i10 has a space in the door pocket that accepts a water bottle easily too. The seats are firm in both cars, the Skoda has more side support bolsters, the Hyundai more adjustment up down, back forth rake etc. the Skoda just back forth and rake. I started to get cramp after a couple of hours in the right leg in the i10, no discomfort in the Fabia. Both have adjustable steering wheel. One thing that annoys me with many cars is the miss alignment of wheel/seat/pedals. This isn’t the case with either car, the Skoda wheel is slightly right of straight line but hardly noticeable. Both have central locking with a blipper button on the key. The key goes into the ignition to the right of the steering on both. Rear windows are electric in the i10, “keep fit” in the Fabia. Externally, the petrol filler is on the left on the i10 opened with a lever beside the driver, the Fabia on the right side easily opened with a push open lid.
On the road, the Skoda is firm, you might say “sporty” but it tends to pitch, both side to side and fore and aft on pot holed country roads. The i10 at first seems too soft in comparison however you get used to it and after acclimatization it actually feels like a more composed set up, comfortable over longer distances. I was constantly trying to decide what the Skoda needed to improve it. Shocks ARBs etc. Steering is light enough in both cars but the Fabia has more feel, more info back from the front wheels, the i10 feels a little dead. The clutch is light in each car but again, the Skoda is easier to discern the biting point. Brakes are good on both, the Fabia has a little longer travel on the tested car, the i10 more positive, less “spongy”. Gearbox on both is 5 speed, reverse on the Hyundai to the driver and right (below 5th), on the Skoda it’s to the left and you push down against the spring first.
Both cars have the usual computer facilities, MPG, trip, fuel left etc, the Skoda is the easier to read, both need the manual to get the best out of them. The i10 manual is about 3 times the thickness! Over the 260 miles, the Skoda seemed to manage 70mpg, the Hyundai around 61mpg. Difficult to say how accurate these are, in addition the Skoda speedo reads about 2mph over throughout the range, the Hyundai about 3 to 4mph at 30mph and about 4 to 5mph at 60! (Checked against the road side “Your Speed Is” signs and Waze).
Which is best? The Hyundai has a longer warranty, 7 years. If you need the extra few inches of boot space, the Skoda is the car. For a learner, the Hyundai is a little higher seating position and more “funky” if that is still a term a 17 year old would appreciate. Both are really “City cars” and fit the bill admirably, not sure which has the more kudos. On a long journey, the i10 is less tiring as it sits better on the road but gave me leg ache! The Fabia could be more fun for someone who has passed their test.
We’ve been looking for a “Learner Car” for our 17 year old son, a C30 or Fiesta was actually top of the list with a budget of around £3- £4K but FiL has decided to stop driving and offered his 2021 Skoda. We said it was too new/valuable and it’s been swopped with the BiL who had a 2019 Hyundai. Still expensive but less so. Wish I’d been given a nearly new car at 17 but there you go. I’ve had the opportunity to drive each 260 miles on exactly the same roads, mostly country A roads and a few dual carriageways.
To the cars. Both white, both 3 cylinder, 1 litre turbos, 4 seats, the Skoda is around 260mm longer and a shade wider. This shows mainly in the boot area, not really noticeable elsewhere. The Hyundai is a couple of inches taller and this shows in the seating. The seats in the i10 are height adjustable too.
Styling, the Fabia is a little sleeker, less fussy, a little “Audi” in silhouette, as Skoda is part of the VAG family that’s understandable, the i10 a more modern but complicated look, especially the front. Inside the Fabia is again simpler, but with less options. It does have variable intermittent wipers which I haven’t found on the i10 yet. Both have DAB/Media etc, the Hyundai has a USB socket and 3.5mm jack socket, the Skoda a USB and SD card reader which seems odd. Too easy to lose an SD card. Cup holders in both, the i10 has a space in the door pocket that accepts a water bottle easily too. The seats are firm in both cars, the Skoda has more side support bolsters, the Hyundai more adjustment up down, back forth rake etc. the Skoda just back forth and rake. I started to get cramp after a couple of hours in the right leg in the i10, no discomfort in the Fabia. Both have adjustable steering wheel. One thing that annoys me with many cars is the miss alignment of wheel/seat/pedals. This isn’t the case with either car, the Skoda wheel is slightly right of straight line but hardly noticeable. Both have central locking with a blipper button on the key. The key goes into the ignition to the right of the steering on both. Rear windows are electric in the i10, “keep fit” in the Fabia. Externally, the petrol filler is on the left on the i10 opened with a lever beside the driver, the Fabia on the right side easily opened with a push open lid.
On the road, the Skoda is firm, you might say “sporty” but it tends to pitch, both side to side and fore and aft on pot holed country roads. The i10 at first seems too soft in comparison however you get used to it and after acclimatization it actually feels like a more composed set up, comfortable over longer distances. I was constantly trying to decide what the Skoda needed to improve it. Shocks ARBs etc. Steering is light enough in both cars but the Fabia has more feel, more info back from the front wheels, the i10 feels a little dead. The clutch is light in each car but again, the Skoda is easier to discern the biting point. Brakes are good on both, the Fabia has a little longer travel on the tested car, the i10 more positive, less “spongy”. Gearbox on both is 5 speed, reverse on the Hyundai to the driver and right (below 5th), on the Skoda it’s to the left and you push down against the spring first.
Both cars have the usual computer facilities, MPG, trip, fuel left etc, the Skoda is the easier to read, both need the manual to get the best out of them. The i10 manual is about 3 times the thickness! Over the 260 miles, the Skoda seemed to manage 70mpg, the Hyundai around 61mpg. Difficult to say how accurate these are, in addition the Skoda speedo reads about 2mph over throughout the range, the Hyundai about 3 to 4mph at 30mph and about 4 to 5mph at 60! (Checked against the road side “Your Speed Is” signs and Waze).
Which is best? The Hyundai has a longer warranty, 7 years. If you need the extra few inches of boot space, the Skoda is the car. For a learner, the Hyundai is a little higher seating position and more “funky” if that is still a term a 17 year old would appreciate. Both are really “City cars” and fit the bill admirably, not sure which has the more kudos. On a long journey, the i10 is less tiring as it sits better on the road but gave me leg ache! The Fabia could be more fun for someone who has passed their test.
Narcisus said:
We've had Skoda's since 2002 2 Fabia's 2 Octavia's and the current 280 Superb.
My Mrs bought an i10 new in 2010 and it has had absolutely nothing go wrong with it and still going strong !
The i10 comes from the BiL, they've had a few, he had this one, his wife another and two of the sons also had them. All being passed down the family line. We've interrupted that progression.My Mrs bought an i10 new in 2010 and it has had absolutely nothing go wrong with it and still going strong !
One thing I would add, don't contemplate overtaking anything. Following a trail of cars yesterday, dithering, speed up slow down, random braking etc, decided to pass on a straight stretch. Dropped a gear and pulled out. Raucous din from under the bonnet but not much forward movement. Got alongside the first car and had to drop back.
Edited by Skyedriver on Wednesday 5th July 07:03
Skyedriver said:
The i10 comes from the BiL, they've had a few, he had this one, his wife another and two of the sons also had them. All being passed down the family line. We've interrupted that progression.
One thing I would add, don't contemplate overtaking anything. Following a trail of cars yesterday, dithering, speed up slow down, random braking etc, decided to pass on a straight stretch. Dropped a gear and pulled out. Raucous din from under the bonnet but not much forward movement. Got alongside the first car and had to drop back.
One thing I would add, don't contemplate overtaking anything. Following a trail of cars yesterday, dithering, speed up slow down, random braking etc, decided to pass on a straight stretch. Dropped a gear and pulled out. Raucous din from under the bonnet but not much forward movement. Got alongside the first car and had to drop back.
Edited by Skyedriver on Wednesday 5th July 07:03
oh yeah the wife doesn’t do overtaking ! I amuse myself by turning the aircon on it’s like a separate braking system ! Still a great little car.I have had a Fabia mk2 for coming up 4 years and over 30k miles. It is the SE so one above base spec but with the 1.2 12v non-turbo 3cyl. With 69bhp I was expecting it to be pretty dire other than around town but in reality the engine is great. Torquey and revs freely and averages just under 50mpg.
It has a nice light gearchange and the steering is light and direct if a little lifeless. It is good fun to hustle along a B road. Grip is good even with 195 tyres and the ride on the tall suspension/tyres is surprisingly decent, if a little 'French' in the corners with the accompanying body roll! Brakes are strong with good feel.
Most surprising is its ability to do long motorway runs in pretty reasonable comfort. Noise levels are reasonably suppressed for the class and even with less than 70bhp it will happily sit at 70-75 all day with only the steepest of hills requiring a downchange from 5th.
It has been completely reliable and the car feels pretty well put together - solid but not luxury plastics. Basically it is a good, enjoyable little car, even if it does look like a box on wheels.
It has a nice light gearchange and the steering is light and direct if a little lifeless. It is good fun to hustle along a B road. Grip is good even with 195 tyres and the ride on the tall suspension/tyres is surprisingly decent, if a little 'French' in the corners with the accompanying body roll! Brakes are strong with good feel.
Most surprising is its ability to do long motorway runs in pretty reasonable comfort. Noise levels are reasonably suppressed for the class and even with less than 70bhp it will happily sit at 70-75 all day with only the steepest of hills requiring a downchange from 5th.
It has been completely reliable and the car feels pretty well put together - solid but not luxury plastics. Basically it is a good, enjoyable little car, even if it does look like a box on wheels.
My 17 year old lad has a MK3 Fabia (2017) - same 1.0 engine (also white..)
He learnt to drive and passed his test in it, preferring it to his instructors i10.
He’s travelled some distances in it (plays golf and likes to visit new places..) with no comfort issues so far.
My only issue with it is the poor headlights - upgrading the bulbs is nigh on impossible due to the way the headlights sit against the inner structure.
Overall a decent little car that I hope will serve him for several years to come.
He learnt to drive and passed his test in it, preferring it to his instructors i10.
He’s travelled some distances in it (plays golf and likes to visit new places..) with no comfort issues so far.
My only issue with it is the poor headlights - upgrading the bulbs is nigh on impossible due to the way the headlights sit against the inner structure.
Overall a decent little car that I hope will serve him for several years to come.
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