The facelifted version of Skoda’s small car, the 2019 Skoda Fabia, has been unveiled ahead of its international debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March 2018. A significant mid life update instead of an all new generation, the 2019 Fabia incorporates Skoda’s newer design theme to remain fresh in showrooms.
Elsewhere in the 2019 Skoda Fabia, a refreshed interior, colour palette and available technology also feature, whilst the car has been confirmed for a third quarter 2018 Australian release. Whilst the engine range remains unchanged for Australia, it was recently updated with turbocharged three-cylinder units from the new Volkswagen Polo.
The most obvious change to the 2019 Skoda Fabia is the car’s exterior, particularly the headlights. Now optionally available with LED lighting, the headlights themselves are more angular and aggressive than before. A new design of grille has also been included into the update, which joins the front together better than before.
The design changes at the rear are more minimal, with redesigned bumpers and tailight graphics the main changes. A new range of wheel designs are available, and for the first time, alloy wheels up to 18-inches in size will be available (though, Australian specifications are yet to be announced).
Whilst Skoda hasn’t yet released any pictures of the updated Fabia’s interior, new infotainment units up to 6.5-inches in size will be available, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring tech included. The optional inbuilt satellite navigation will now include live traffic integration, a feature we hope will make it to Australia. Skoda have also expanded their suite of ‘simply clever’ feature availability, including the ice scraper integrated into the fuel filler cap, an LED torch in the boot from larger Skoda models, a tyre tread measuring tool and even rear USB ports – something only the Kia Rio offers in the small car class.
More important upgrades exist in the 2019 Skoda Fabia’s active safety suite, where the standard autonomous emergency braking has been met by blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert with reverse AEB, LED headlights and even automatic high beam.
Engine choices remain largely unchanged, with units available with as little as 44kW available in Europe – Australian choices will remain a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder unit with 70kW in the entry 70TSI, and 85kW in the upper-spec 85TSI. Transmission choices are likely to include a five-speed manual in the 70TSI, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic in the 85TSI – though Skoda Australia, we’d like to see the six-speed manual 85TSI offered as well, as in the new Volkswagen Polo.
In Europe, the Fabia is a popular car – it has sold over four million units since its conception in 1999. The current model has sold over 500,000 units alone, and it is also Skoda’s third best selling model, behind the Octavia and Rapid. In Australia, Fabia sales numbers are lower, where a lack of strong supply limits its sales prospects – however, the model’s 983 sales in 2017 were a 14.7 percent increase on 2016.
The 2019 Skoda Fabia will be launched into Skoda dealerships in the third quarter of 2018. Stay tuned to Chasing Cars for news regarding the Skoda range.
