Fabia or Polo - which is better?
Discussion
Not sure what year car you’re looking at. I had a 2020 VW Polo hire car when it was newish and really liked it.
I had a Skoda Fabia Hire Car in 2012 and loathed the thing. It was too high creating unnecessary wind drag and was really slow on the motorway.
I prefer the looks of the Polo and personally certain brands like Skoda, Honda, Volvo and a few others just aren’t my thing.
I had a Skoda Fabia Hire Car in 2012 and loathed the thing. It was too high creating unnecessary wind drag and was really slow on the motorway.
I prefer the looks of the Polo and personally certain brands like Skoda, Honda, Volvo and a few others just aren’t my thing.
I've lost track a bit but they (VW Group) used to update these cars - Polo, Fabia and Ibiza - at different times so even same year examples could be quite different from each other.
I'm going back a bit but we looked at Polo when our daughter finished uni and, apart from being a bonkers price, it was on the old platform and still had things like a cassette player.
The ibiza was on the new platform and was a thoroughly more up to date car. And was 25% cheaper.
VW itself used to have a knack of making its cars feel a level above SEAT and Skoda, but I don't think the difference is obvious now.
I'm going back a bit but we looked at Polo when our daughter finished uni and, apart from being a bonkers price, it was on the old platform and still had things like a cassette player.
The ibiza was on the new platform and was a thoroughly more up to date car. And was 25% cheaper.
VW itself used to have a knack of making its cars feel a level above SEAT and Skoda, but I don't think the difference is obvious now.
Sheepshanks said:
I've lost track a bit but they (VW Group) used to update these cars - Polo, Fabia and Ibiza - at different times so even same year examples could be quite different from each other.
I'm going back a bit but we looked at Polo when our daughter finished uni and, apart from being a bonkers price, it was on the old platform and still had things like a cassette player.
The ibiza was on the new platform and was a thoroughly more up to date car. And was 25% cheaper.
VW itself used to have a knack of making its cars feel a level above SEAT and Skoda, but I don't think the difference is obvious now.
One of my sons has a 24 plate Ibiza (I think it’s the 110BHP with the six speed box) and it’s a reasonable drive. I'm going back a bit but we looked at Polo when our daughter finished uni and, apart from being a bonkers price, it was on the old platform and still had things like a cassette player.
The ibiza was on the new platform and was a thoroughly more up to date car. And was 25% cheaper.
VW itself used to have a knack of making its cars feel a level above SEAT and Skoda, but I don't think the difference is obvious now.
Might just come down to cost and value. In another post I think you mentioned up to 2 years old. Skoda seem to be offering good discounts on new at the moment.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025070140...
Depends what your budget is.
I always thought that VW was meant to be quality, Seat was sporty and Skoda was value. Not sure if there's still anything in that. Personally I'd go with an Ibiza as I think they look the best.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025070140...
Depends what your budget is.
I always thought that VW was meant to be quality, Seat was sporty and Skoda was value. Not sure if there's still anything in that. Personally I'd go with an Ibiza as I think they look the best.
2018 Fabia estate 1.0tsi (110bhp) manual here.
Great car - It. Just. Works. Small enough around town, nippy enough when needed, sips fuel, comfortable enough (even for a Southampton - Stirling journey) and big enough boot for most things. But, it is very 'white goods'. Downslides are an average stereo, woolly gear change, VW running costs for parts (tell me any manufacturer that is cheaper...) and very little else.
We drove a Polo and a Golf. There was so little in the feel and ambience of the car we did not want to pay the premium.
We had an 2012 Ibiza estate 1.4 before - and I would look at an Ibiza again for a bit more style. They have stopped making the estate in the latest model, and we wanted the estate....so the Fabia it was.
Great car - It. Just. Works. Small enough around town, nippy enough when needed, sips fuel, comfortable enough (even for a Southampton - Stirling journey) and big enough boot for most things. But, it is very 'white goods'. Downslides are an average stereo, woolly gear change, VW running costs for parts (tell me any manufacturer that is cheaper...) and very little else.
We drove a Polo and a Golf. There was so little in the feel and ambience of the car we did not want to pay the premium.
We had an 2012 Ibiza estate 1.4 before - and I would look at an Ibiza again for a bit more style. They have stopped making the estate in the latest model, and we wanted the estate....so the Fabia it was.
Edited by POIDH on Wednesday 27th August 17:22
POIDH said:
2018 Fabia estate 1.0tsi (110bhp) manual here.
Great car - It. Just. Works. Small enough around town, nippy enough when needed, sips fuel, comfortable enough (even for a Southampton - Stirling journey) and big enough boot for most things. But, it is very 'white goods'. Downslides are an average stereo, woolly gear change, VW running costs for parts (tell me any manufacturer that is cheaper...) and very little else.
We drove a Polo and a Golf. There was so little in the feel and ambience of the car we did not want to pay the premium.
We had an 2012 Ibiza estate 1.4 before - and I would look at an Ibiza again for a bit more style. They have stopped making the estate in the latest model, and we wanted the estate....so the Fabia it was.
I would have gone for the Škoda Scala in your case, for the extra length. Great car - It. Just. Works. Small enough around town, nippy enough when needed, sips fuel, comfortable enough (even for a Southampton - Stirling journey) and big enough boot for most things. But, it is very 'white goods'. Downslides are an average stereo, woolly gear change, VW running costs for parts (tell me any manufacturer that is cheaper...) and very little else.
We drove a Polo and a Golf. There was so little in the feel and ambience of the car we did not want to pay the premium.
We had an 2012 Ibiza estate 1.4 before - and I would look at an Ibiza again for a bit more style. They have stopped making the estate in the latest model, and we wanted the estate....so the Fabia it was.
Edited by POIDH on Wednesday 27th August 17:22
Pica-Pica said:
I would have gone for the Škoda Scala in your case, for the extra length.
I would too.But it's OH's car really so her call - and she's right that the narrower Fabia estate is easier to park but has a bigger boot, and roof rails for carting canoe or bikes (which we do regularly).
Polo & Fabia same chassis, engines, brake servo (both over-assisted - typical VAG).
Fabia is slightly softer but still pliant and better ride whereas Polo has slightly harder ride.
Steering feels over-assisted in both, more so in the Fabia.
Biggest difference is interior quality - the quality of the plastic trim, the steering wheel, seats - if it becomes a deal breaker. Cheaper plastics in the Fabia obviously but still uses the same touchscreen unit and the stereo sounds awesome despite a bit too much bass with 'flat' equaliser.
TLDR:
Skoda = VFM A-B VAG car
Polo = if interior quality is deal breaker
Fabia is slightly softer but still pliant and better ride whereas Polo has slightly harder ride.
Steering feels over-assisted in both, more so in the Fabia.
Biggest difference is interior quality - the quality of the plastic trim, the steering wheel, seats - if it becomes a deal breaker. Cheaper plastics in the Fabia obviously but still uses the same touchscreen unit and the stereo sounds awesome despite a bit too much bass with 'flat' equaliser.
TLDR:
Skoda = VFM A-B VAG car
Polo = if interior quality is deal breaker
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