autoevolution
 

2015 Skoda Fabia Is Better than the SEAT Ibiza: 5 Reasons

There's a lot of nonsense going on in the small class segment these days, with some manufacturers claiming their all-new platforms have helped them shed up to 100 kg (220 lbs). In fact, most brand new superminis are just as heavy as the ones from 5 years ago. One thing that has changed though is the level of build quality, which is a fantastic thing in our opinion.
2015 Skoda Fabia vs SEAT Ibiza 7 photos
Photo: original image by autoevolution
2015 Skoda Fabia Is Better than the SEAT Ibiza: 5 Reasons2015 Skoda Fabia Is Better than the SEAT Ibiza: 5 Reasons2015 Skoda Fabia Is Better than the SEAT Ibiza: 5 Reasons2015 Skoda Fabia Is Better than the SEAT Ibiza: 5 Reasons2015 Skoda Fabia Is Better than the SEAT Ibiza: 5 Reasons2015 Skoda Fabia Is Better than the SEAT Ibiza: 5 Reasons
If outright speed and a posh MINI badge are not important to you, we think you should definitely check out the all-new Skoda Fabia. It based on the older model's platform, but unlike the new Corsa, styling is completely different and the powertrains are much improved.

The best way to explain how good the new Fabia is would be to compare it to the SEAT Ibiza. This car received a facelift just over a year ago, so it's not old, but Skoda's model is better in almost every way.

1. Space

Skodas are perhaps best know for their huge cabins, which are usually the biggest in that class. The new Fabia is no exception. Compared to the old model, elbow room has grown by 9 centimeters or 3.5 inches. All but the tallest of drivers will be able to get comfortable because the steering and seat are fully adjustable.

The SEAT Ibiza is by no means small, but it's completely outclassed by the Fabia, especially in terms of outward visibility. Cargo capacity is another thing worth mentioning. The 5-door SEAT boasts 292 liters of trunk space, but the Czech model has 330 liters, which is 13% more.

2. Build Quality

Old Skodas felt like they were assembled from the cheapest materials possible, not so with the Fabia 3. There aren't any LED lights or other snazzy premium features, but the cabin actually feels better screwed together than the VW Polo in some areas. The plastics are hard, but there's a large metallic trim piece that goes across the dash and everything from the seats to the steering wheel shames SEAT's car.

3. Better turbo petrol engines

Not everybody likes 3-cylinder engines, us included, so we're not going to focus on those. The engine lineup for both these superminis is very similar. However, the Fabia takes advantage of the latest EA211 technology from Volkswagen and is thus more efficient. We won't bore you with the details, but you should know the 1.2 TSI mills drink about 0.4 l/100km less and emit 9 fewer grams of CO2.

4. More economical diesel

The tech difference becomes even more obvious when you look at the diesel mills. Skoda has replaced both the 1.2 and the 1.6 TDI with a new 1.4 unit that has only 3 cylinders. It's better thermally optimized and offers just as much power as its old equivalents.

We looked at 105 hp models of both cars with the same 5-speed manual gearbox. The difference is about 0.7 l/100km on average and a massive 19 grams of CO2. In addition, the SEAT doesn't comply with Euro 6 regulations yet.

5. Infotainment and tech features

Like we mentioned, the 2015 Skoda Fabia is not a MINI Cooper, but it does bring lots of nice toys from other VW models. For example, you can have a new touchscreen display that does the same tricks as the Golf 7. You can also order toys from the Polo facelift, like a reversing camera and cruise control. The best option of all is a gigantic panoramic roof, which you can check out in the comparison photo gallery below.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories