The Fabia first appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 14, 1999. Since then, it's become a key player in Škoda's lineup and the European small car market.
The first Fabia came as a five-door hatchback measuring 3,960 mm long. An estate version followed less than a year later, with a saloon joining the range in 2001. Around twenty designers, led by Dirk van Braeckel, created the car's look. In March 2003, Škoda introduced the sporty RS variant. It packed a 1.9 TDI turbo diesel engine with 96 kW, offering both speed and fuel efficiency.
The second-generation Fabia debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007. This version grew slightly, measuring 22 mm longer and 47 mm taller than its predecessor. New variants included the Scout in 2009 and the Monte Carlo edition.
October 2014 saw the third-generation Fabia unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Built on the PQ26 platform, this version featured sharper lines and a lower, wider stance. It also introduced new safety tech like Front Assist and adaptive cruise control.
The most recent generation of the Škoda Fabia was introduced in the spring of 2021 as a five-door hatchback, built on the MQB A0 platform. Its design is the work of a team led by Head of Škoda Design, Oliver Stefani. The fourth generation exceeds 4.1 metres in length, and its boot space has increased to 380 litres, 50 litres more than the previous generation.
The Fabia's made its mark in motorsport too. It first raced as the Fabia WRC in 2003, with the Fabia RS Rally2 carrying on that legacy today.
"The Škoda Fabia has played an indispensable role in the history of the Škoda brand and the small car segment in Europe," company stated.
Source: Škoda