Hello folks, new member

I have just put a deposit down on a Fabia Colour 2023 1tr Automatic

I was dead excited and love this little car during the test drive then I found this forum and all the troubles and woes this car seems to bring.

Have I done the right thing in buying this car or shall I cancel asap 🤔

Many one with long term reviews can say this car has been awesome ?

Thanks

Pics below of my new to me car

This earlier forum discussion may be of interest

I could happily lose many of my 2024 Fabia's electronic 'selling points' (and I'd prefer the simplified air-con system that I think your 2023 Colour model may have). However, those are personal preferences and other owners may think the opposite. Otherwise, I'm happy with my car and prefer it to the 2021 Hyundai i20 it replaced. It drives and corners well, stops well, is comfortable, well made, is economical fuel-wise and its automatic transmission generally operates seamlessly.

Forum criticisms need to be treated with care - if a car's owner has had problems that have not been addressed to their satisfaction, they will complain loudly on-line, but few owners will bother to proactively post on a forum that they are pleased with their vehicle.

You've test driven the car, liked it and (presumably) the price is OK. If you can cancel the deal and get your deposit back, that's an option, but, if you do, what would you get instead?

I got the '23 SE Comfort DSG model from new and love it apart from one thing.

If you search my profile you should see some reviews I made when new, at 6 months and at 1 year, I think.

Anyway, in a snapshot ....

I find it to be an impressive car.

Size and comfort suit me really well.

The drive is wonderful with plenty of speed and power when you need it.

The DSG auto box is an absolute dream.

Fuel economy, for a small engine automatic, is impressive (I go by the in car computer reading) and regularly gives in the 40's around town but comes into its own on a long journey. Last month I had a 3 day trip around some Scottish castles in the Aberdeen area covering 600 miles which returned an impressive reading of 58 MPG.

The only thing I truly hate about this car is the infotainment set-up. This is my own personal opinion and, I know, is different to most.

I'm an old-timer who loves having CD's to play and would trade most other things about this system to have a CD player installed. I don't stream music from a phone so put a lot of my CD collection on memory sticks to plug in but it always messes them up. Won't play anything without putting it in alphabetical order.

Anyway. That is my only issue.

Enjoy your car and let us know how you get on with it.

Thanks for replying, im not bothered about streaming music or Cds quite happy with the Radio so that won't be an issue, I think the air con is accessed through the touch screen ( haven't picked the car up yet ) but I've never used Ac in 40 years of driving so as long as I know how to knock it off and the stop start

We are underwhelmed with our 23 reg Fabia 4 mc.

The problem is knowing whether there is better out there if you have to get a petrol engined car. Expert reviews were so positive and I did plenty of research. As someone who has bought few cars I expected amazing progress after a 2002 Peugeot 307 diesel bought new. The Fabia looks great has plenty of interior space and is far better geared compared to the Peugeot when it comes to crawling around at 30mph and less in heavy traffic.

The mph is great on a long journey but we are getting about 37mph for our predominantly urban driving albeit with far fewer gear changes than we expected.

We couldn't care less about in car entertainment and use a Garmin sat nav. I was miffed that we couldn't get built in sat nav as an option but having been reading posts on the forum for some time I reckon that turned out to be a plus.

It's the electronic aids and software that are our biggest complaint. The start-stop feature may be useful as an indicator of battery level. It doesn't work when the battery level is low. The reversing camera and sensors are great but stuff like lane assist is infuriating.

So far it has been an absolute pain when starting off in cold damp conditions not because of starting issues but because of the windscreen misting up. It's by far the worst car we've had in that respect.

What would have been a better choice than the Fabia 4 I don't know but I'd suggest looking closely at a Ford. The Fabia is a lovely drive in ideal conditions though and I was able to spec a spare wheel. I think anyone who believes the Skoda hype about "simply clever" features is in for a reality check.

3 minutes ago, bazz2004 said:

We are underwhelmed with our 23 reg Fabia 4 mc.

The problem is knowing whether there is better out there if you have to get a petrol engined car. Expert reviews were so positive and I did plenty of research. As someone who has bought few cars I expected amazing progress after a 2002 Peugeot 307 diesel bought new. The Fabia looks great has plenty of interior space and is far better geared compared to the Peugeot when it comes to crawling around at 30mph and less in heavy traffic.

The mph is great on a long journey but we are getting about 37mph for our predominantly urban driving albeit with far fewer gear changes than we expected.

We couldn't care less about in car entertainment and use a Garmin sat nav. I was miffed that we couldn't get built in sat nav as an option but having been reading posts on the forum for some time I reckon that turned out to be a plus.

It's the electronic aids and software that are our biggest complaint. The start-stop feature may be useful as an indicator of battery level. It doesn't work when the battery level is low. The reversing camera and sensors are great but stuff like lane assist is infuriating.

So far it has been an absolute pain when starting off in cold damp conditions not because of starting issues but because of the windscreen misting up. It's by far the worst car we've had in that respect.

What would have been a better choice than the Fabia 4 I don't know but I'd suggest looking closely at a Ford. The Fabia is a lovely drive in ideal conditions though and I was able to spec a spare wheel. I think anyone who believes the Skoda hype about "simply clever" features is in for a reality check.

Thanks for the input, so what exactly is the issue with misting up ? Is this as you are driving? Can you not just sit for a couple of mins to clear it ?

Am I correct in thinking I can just turn of stop start and lane assist before setting off each trip?

I mainly went for the Skoda coz I knew they used to be bullet proof if looked after

Ive actually had a Ford Fiesta for the last 8 years the dreaded ecoboom engine as well but never had a day's problem with it lol

I've not had an issue with misting but I drive with AC on all the time, summer or winter.

Stop/start I hate but it is a habit now to simply press the button, on starting the car, to deactivate it.

Lane assist does not bother me that much and, sometimes feel, it has made me a bit better driver as the way to control it is make certain that you indicate before changing lanes. Not a bad thing, in that. In two years I haven't had any instances of it pulling me off course as some drivers have reported.

As for satnav, I use google maps through Android Auto on my phone and have no issues. Always up to date without any subscriptions.

Don't like not having a spare wheel so got one of those as soon as I got the car for peace of mind.

I sometimes think the comfortable ride is down to my model having the 15" wheels.

Anyway ... all just my opinion.

Yeah thanks for your input its appreciated, mad there's a world wide forum and im talking to someone just a couple of miles away small world Offthewall 🤣

Edited 27 July, 202527 Jul by Davytee68
Added text

2 hours ago, Davytee68 said:

Thanks for replying, im not bothered about streaming music or Cds quite happy with the Radio so that won't be an issue, I think the air con is accessed through the touch screen ( haven't picked the car up yet ) but I've never used Ac in 40 years of driving so as long as I know how to knock it off and the stop start

I believe you'll find that a 2023 Fabia Mk4 Colour Edition has (as standard) a (fairly user-friendly) infotainment touchscreen+2-knobs display-unit WITHOUT built-in sat-nav, a configurable "Virtual Cockpit" digital instrument cluster and a straightforward air-con system controlled via three well-positioned rotary knobs. (There are several current online adverts for 2023 Colour Edition models and their photos all show the above configuration.)

Sitting for a couple of minutes while the car demists didn't work for us. My winter work around is wearing a flat cap with the front window down. The windows shoot up and down so fast they are hard to control. I also have a pair of wrap around sunglasses (low tint) which keep the sun out of my eyes. We'd start off on some days in freezing conditions then have the sun in our eyes when leaving the estate. Before this strategy I'd typically think all was well and drive away only to find that I was driving blind and have to pull in for more demisting. Pretty risky. It was sometimes 12 minutes before I was under way safely but I have reduced that considerably.

The roads round us are so bad that lane control could send you straight into potholes but now I just curse a bit when the wheel tugs in my hands. Turning stuff off every time you start off is too much of a pain and we try to go accommodate the Fabias eccentricities. Our digital dash display which has loads of options also changes itself from time to time which really annoys the wife. She can't change it back. A Fabia without a configurable digital display or one that can be relied on to stick to what has been saved would be much better.

I'm pretty critical of the car but the competition may be no better.

Turning off Lane Assist using the steering-wheel controls is described here

As the Owner's Manual advises "The system is designed primarily for driving on the motorway", but its interference is infuriating on twisty rural roads.

Even if a Fabia Mk4 does not have the Virtual Cockpit (VC) instrument cluster, the central display of the analogue cluster can change spontaneously. I drive with the car's speed shown digitally (as shown on the video) and, if I select navigation, the speed readout changes to show 'pictorial' navigation instructions instead and I need to take action to get the central speed readout back. If your car's VC is changing itself, there's probably a logical reason for this, not just the system being bloody-minded, but that won't help your wife.

Like offthewall I use air-con a lot - otherwise the car's windscreen will rapidly mist up. And I have no difficulty controlling the windows.

Coming up to owning my 2023 Fabia SE COMFORT DSG for two years.

Love the motor, as stated the DSG is a dream to drive along with the adequate 110 engine, often get 56 mpg on a long run.

Never had a problem with misting up as use the air con summer & winter.

Having previously owned Octavia’s found the Fabia a perfect size for the two of us now the kids have flown.

Get into car, switch off stop start, lane control (don’t like either)

takes seconds.

Only gripe rattle from the passenger A pillar, others have mentioned in other reviews, can be sorted with a little imagination.

1 hour ago, Bob217 said:

Coming up to owning my 2023 Fabia SE COMFORT DSG for two years.

Love the motor, as stated the DSG is a dream to drive along with the adequate 110 engine, often get 56 mpg on a long run.

Never had a problem with misting up as use the air con summer & winter.

Having previously owned Octavia’s found the Fabia a perfect size for the two of us now the kids have flown.

Get into car, switch off stop start, lane control (don’t like either)

takes seconds.

Only gripe rattle from the passenger A pillar, others have mentioned in other reviews, can be sorted with a little imagination.

Thanks, what have you found to sort the rattle?

I pick the car up tomorrow so hope I've made the right choice 🫣

Edited 30 July, 202530 Jul by Davytee68

Only happens mainly during winter months when colder temps prevail, sun on dash expands trim which in turn stops rattle.

Cooler months small rubber wedge between A frame and dash

stops the issue.

Hopefully you’ll be rattle free, enjoy

Thanks for all replies folks

I pick the car up in a couple of hours so its too late now

I shall update how im finding the Fabia

👍🏻

You immediately had problems with the rear doors not opening and then found that you needed to explore menus to make an adjstment. Spend time working through the menus because you will need to visit them regularly.

The picture you posted of the model you bought shows it to have aero covers on the wheels which have induced near fits from some of the Fabia enthusiasts. Have a think about those and in particular work out how to remove them while the weather remains fine.

Do post back on how you get on with the vehicle. In retrospect I might have looked at a second hand VW golf with minimal drive assist aids rather than a new Fabia 4. There are currently Skoda ads on TV for new electric models so the hopes of a better Fabia 5 are unlikely to be fulfilled.

2 minutes ago, bazz2004 said:

You immediately had problems with the rear doors not opening and then found that you needed to explore menus to make an adjstment. Spend time working through the menus because you will need to visit them regularly.

The picture you posted of the model you bought shows it to have aero covers on the wheels which have induced near fits from some of the Fabia enthusiasts. Have a think about those and in particular work out how to remove them while the weather remains fine.

Do post back on how you get on with the vehicle. In retrospect I might have looked at a second hand VW golf with minimal drive assist aids rather than a new Fabia 4. There are currently Skoda ads on TV for new electric models so the hopes of a better Fabia 5 are unlikely to be fulfilled.

Still having issues with the boot it wont unlock unless I turn the ignition on ive checked everything in the system and just cant figure it out

Yeah im gonna remove the aero foils of the wheels

22 hours ago, Davytee68 said:

Still having issues with the boot it wont unlock unless I turn the ignition on ive checked everything in the system and just cant figure it out

This 2024 forum thread discussed unlocking a Fabia Mk4's tailgate using the car's central-locking key-fob's middle button.

I did wonder whether, when a Fabia Mk4 has 'full' KESSY (Keyless Entry, Start and exit System), there might be some special action needed to open the tailgate with the car's ignition off.

However, 'full' KESSY would not have been standard on a 2023 Colour Edition model, there's nothing in the Owner's Manuals to suggest special action might be necessary and, in any case, I can't see why - if all the car's doors are unlocked and openable when the ignition is off - the tailgate should remain locked and cannot be opened until the ignition is turned on. If all my Fabia's doors have been unlocked (and the car's ignition is off) the tailgate is also unlocked and can be opened immediately in the usual way

My 2024 Fabia has door- and window-related settings in its infotainment display-unit menus, but there are no settings specifically for the car's tailgate. If you cannot pin down the cause of this strange behaviour, as your car should still be under a warranty, I suggest you ask a Skoda dealership to investigate.

1 minute ago, DerekU said:

This 2024 forum thread discussed unlocking a Fabia Mk4's tailgate using the car's central-locking key-fob's middle button.

I did wonder whether, when a Fabia Mk4 has 'full' KESSY (Keyless Entry, Start and exit System), there might be some special action needed to open the tailgate with the car's ignition off.

However, 'full' KESSY would not have been standard on a 2023 Colour Edition model, there's nothing in the Owner's Manuals to suggest special action might be necessary and, in any case, I can't see why - if all the car's doors are unlocked and openable when the ignition is off - the tailgate should remain locked and cannot be opened until the ignition is turned on. If all my Fabia's doors have been unlocked (and the car's ignition is off) the tailgate is also unlocked and can be opened immediately in the usual way

My 2024 Fabia has door- and window-related settings in its infotainment display-unit menus, but there are no settings specifically for the car's tailgate. If you cannot pin down the cause of this strange behaviour, as your car should still be under a warranty, I suggest you ask a Skoda dealership to investigate.

Went to the dealer yesterday and they messed about with the settings and all good now thanks

We get that from time to time. The wife goes off to do a supermarket shop. When she gets back home I go out to open the boot to bring in the shopping bags but it won't open. Maybe this is "simply clever" and secures the shopping while the supermarket trolley is wheeled back to retrieve the £1 coin.

If Davytee68 knows what the dealership did to address the boot unlocking issue, it would be worth having that information.

LOCKING of the boot lid can be delayed

To do this would require Skoda dealership action (or use of a diagnostic tool like OBDeleven as shown here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_dAkgxvl9M

so it MIGHT be possible similarly to vice-versa and delay boot-lid opening (though the justification for having that option is less obvious).

However, if faiiure-to-open only happens now and again, the lock itself is more likely to be the culprit.

Edited 4 August, 20254 Aug by DerekU

18 minutes ago, DerekU said:

If Davytee68 knows what the dealership did to address the boot unlocking issue, it would be worth having that information.

LOCKING of the boot lid can be delayed

To do this would require Skoda dealership action (or use of a diagnostic tool like OBDeleven as shown here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_dAkgxvl9M

so it MIGHT be possible similarly to vice-versa and delay boot-lid opening (though the justification for having that option is less obvious).

However, if faiiure-to-open only happens now and again, the lock itself is more likely to be the culprit.

All sorted now though the infotainment system 👍🏻

Where in the infotainment system, please?

1 hour ago, DerekU said:

Where in the infotainment system, please?

Not sure as dealer did it for me he went into settings and then locks but not sure what he did sorry

I think my Fabia's Amundsen infotainment unit differs from your car's, but I'm guessing the menus will be similar.

This image shows the my unit's "Openings and closing settings"

and the three "Door unlocking" choices are

All doors

Single door

Vehicle side

"Single door" - only the driver's door is unlocked.

"Vehicle side" - the driver's door and the passenger door on the driver's side are unlocked.

"All doors" - all four of the car's doors AND THE BOOT LID are unlocked.

Regarding Window operation (Convenience opening), in an earlier forum thread I said:

A comment on the simultaneously opening or closing of all the car's windows feature (called "convenience" window operation by Skoda).

 

This is set via the infotainment system menu as described on the link below (the video relates to a Skoda Superb, but the procedure is similar for a Fabia)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwL9bo4HkA8

 

There have been reports that the windows can open spontaneously, either resulting from an electrical glitch or from the key-fob button being accidentally pressed. So, if you have no particular use for the feature, it might be wise to turn it off.

 

The video also shows the Central locking/Door unlocking setting on the display. I THINK the factory setting on a brand-new Fabia is likely to be Driver's door only, which can be disconcerting when you unlock the car and the passengers find they can't get in!