I was surprised by the seats up boot capacity quoted. 530l IIRC

Engine options a wee bit disappointing though and is there really enough difference between a Fabia and Rapid to warrant two models?

It's like asking, why VW produces the Polo and the Golf, or the Passat. Because the Golf should suit everybody. Otherwise Skoda made over 1 million Fabias already, and they want to sell over 1 million car each year. For that reason they need a wider range of models.

The Rapid was originally designed a "cheap" car for the eastern markets. The limo doesn't sell good in the western markets. And the Spaceback has limited boot. Also the car is limited too.  The idel hatch would be a 5 door short Octavia, but VW doesn't allow it for Skoda, they protect the Golf.

Edited 1 October, 201411 yr by Gianni Alesi

It's like asking, why VW produces the Polo and the Golf, or the Passat. Because the Golf should suit everybody. Otherwise Skoda made over 1 million Fabias already, and they want to sell over 1 million car each year. For that reason they need a wider range of models.

The Rapid was originally designed a "cheap" car for the eastern markets. The limo doesn't sell good in the western markets. And the Spaceback has limited boot. Also the car is limited too.  The idel hatch would be a 5 door short Octavia, but VW doesn't allows it for Skoda, they protect the Golf.

 

Sorry disagree with these views of the Spaceback. The boot is a decent size, similar to that of a Yeti (without spare), passenger space is also good and the car is nice to drive too.

 

In our case the Spaceback replaced an Octy III estate, as we found the Octy's drivers ergonomics very poor in comparison to the very comfy and well laid out Rapid.

 

 

TP

More pics, from auto.cz:

 

http://www.auto.cz/skoda-fabia-iii-combi-prvni-staticke-dojmy-a-video-ze-strahova-83335/foto?foto=7

Sorry disagree with these views of the Spaceback. The boot is a decent size, similar to that of a Yeti (without spare), passenger space is also good and the car is nice to drive too.

 

In our case the Spaceback replaced an Octy III estate, as we found the Octy's drivers ergonomics very poor in comparison to the very comfy and well laid out Rapid.

 

 

TP

Its good, that u are satisfied with the Spaceback, but 530 liters are bigger, then 415 liters, for sure. Also many prefer the Fabia over the Rapid. With more models Skoda can sell more cars, so easy it is.

 

(For me as a Roomster driver, even these modells are limited too. Because the Romy is so practical, it has the big legroom, and the big boot, with much better variability. Also with the strong (remapped) 1.9PD its very fast end economical also. I'm a little bit dissapointed, that the Spaceback didn't get the flexi rear seat system.)

Edited 1 October, 201411 yr by Gianni Alesi

I like that a lot very nice looking estate

It is a nice looking car but disagree that more models mean more sales it may just mean higher R&D and manufacturing costs but the same or similar number of cars sold but of a bigger range.

To have Rapid Spaceback, fabia estate, octavia estate and Superb estate there is some degree of overlap.

The engines in Rapid and what is mentioned as for new Fabia look disappointing too.

The engines in Rapid and what is mentioned as for new Fabia look disappointing too.

 

In what respect?

 

It would definitely be nice to have a more powerful option as well, but I think people are still falling into the trap of looking at engine size. The more powerful 1.2 Fabia is putting out as much power as a 1.6 or 1.8 NA engine would have not so long ago, and as much torque as an 'old' 2.0, in a car which is lighter than the old one.

Some real pics:

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motor-shows/88798/skoda-fabia-combi-estate-exclusive-pics-pictures#0

 

Think the ones I posted were "real" too - they came from the Press Office.

Nothing near 150 bhp is there?

I like the styling of the Spaceback but the boot is small compared to our Fabia estate, and has a hinged parcel shelf rather than the pull over cover. I would be for ever taking the cover off and leaving it at home.

I'm looking forward (as much as one should about a small family estate) to seeing the new Fabia. It certainly looks good in the pics.

I like that a lot!

Looks much better than the hatch IMO.

Although they claim the boot is larger, the pictures make it look smaller. I also wonder about those big boxy intrusions at the sides, will it be narrower than the mk2?

Edited 2 October, 201411 yr by xman

Think the ones I posted were "real" too - they came from the Press Office.

The first press images are (like the hatch) computer rendered images, not photos of an actual car. Just look at the lights and shadows. These are the real pics:

 

http://www.auto.cz/skoda-fabia-iii-combi-prvni-staticke-dojmy-a-video-ze-strahova-83335/foto?foto=10

Edited 2 October, 201411 yr by Gianni Alesi

Still like it.

 

I'm hoping they have worked on motorway refinement because that is one of the Mk2's weaknesses.

 

Lee

The size cannot be far off my 1999 Octavia estate.

The size cannot be far off my 1999 Octavia estate.

Funny you should say that co worker had one and he knows I have the octavia vrs and he said when he was buying it the sales man said the idea is to move everything up a class to the new rapid is now the octavia and the new octavia go's up to the superb Ect Ect

Wether he was just shhhpealing him so hydraulics I don't know but you can see the size increase

Yup Rapid is Mk2 Octavia sided.  Mk3 is almost Superb sized.  Next superb then will be massive

Some "real" photos of the estate here: http://www.autohit.cz/novinky/128337-zive-skoda-fabia-combi-pri-prvnich-zivych-jizdach

 

On the whole I find the Rapid Spaceback prettier, but I suppose some may prefer the extra boot space of the Fabia. It's nice from some angles though, especially the front where you can really see the extra width, and I really like the interior too.

 

 

 

 

 

You do really see the extra 90mm width (3 1/2") at the front wheel arches, because that is where it is by the new design,

but that is it really,other than the Tornado line & the car is not wider behind the wheel arches inside by more than a couple of mm is it?

 

They do look good in pictures and i am looking forward to seeing them in the flesh.

Some "real" photos of the estate here: http://www.autohit.cz/novinky/128337-zive-skoda-fabia-combi-pri-prvnich-zivych-jizdach

 

On the whole I find the Rapid Spaceback prettier, but I suppose some may prefer the extra boot space of the Fabia. It's nice from some angles though, especially the front where you can really see the extra width, and I really like the interior

Good pics of the Fabia estate but don't know how you can call the Rpaid Spaceback pretty

Saw my first 2 mk3's in a car park today. Looks very nice in the flesh.

Good pics of the Fabia estate but don't know how you can call the Rpaid Spaceback pretty

I thought that, to me the spaceback can look quite awkward but I think the rapid looks much better.

Autocar review of Estate 1.2 TSI 90 SEL

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/first-drives/2015-skoda-fabia-estate-12-tsi-90-se-l

Another good review about the New Fabia.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/skoda/fabia/estate/