New Skoda Fabia Displayed at the Paris Motor Show in Hatchback Guise

Don't be fooled by the "new" and "third-gen" because the Fabia 3 is underpinned by a reworked version of the same platform utilized by the outgoing model. It's a shame the MQB modular platform wasn't adopted, but still, the Fabia 3 is a newer proposition than the recently facelifted Volkswagen Polo, which we test-driven in 1.2 TSI Fresh guise back in July.

The new Fabia comes right after the Czech carmaker updated its compact and mid-size vehicle range, with a broad range of new or revised powerplants. Petrol-fed mills include a three-cylinder 1-liter MPI and a turbo'd 1.2-liter TSI four-pot boasting with direct injection, with the output spectrum ranging from 60 horsepower for the 1-liter to 110 horsepower for the 1.2 TSI engine. What about the diesel range?

All engines meet the Euro 6 emissions standard

Europeans are mad about the frugality of oil burners, so the diesel lineup is very important to the Fabia 3. That's why Skoda will offer three variants of an all-new 1.4-liter TDI three-cylinder, which is boasting with an aluminum block and Common Rail Direct Injection. This mill replaces the old 1.2 TDI and four-pot 1.6 of yesteryear and comes in outputs ranging from 75 hp and 210 Nm to 105 horsepower and 250 Nm.

Late 2015 will see the addition of a Fabia Greeline model that promises to drink just 3.1 liters of diesel every 100 kilometers and produce 82 grams of CO2 per kilometer driven thanks to kit such as a kinetic energy recuperation system, low rolling resistance tires, a stop/start system and better aerodynamics. Transmissions offered number the standard manual and a smooth-shifting dual-clutch DSG automatic.

Why does is look like a mash-up of the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo?

Many voices raised that question, but even though it's hard to find a proper answer to it, the Skoda VisionC-inspired aesthetics hike the visual appeal of the new Fabia by a huge margin. This car no longer looks like the humdrum, poor man's Polo thanks to the sharp lines and balanced proportions. You could even go as far as saying it packs a little bit of emotion. Nevertheless, it's a considerable improvement.

In five-door hatchback guise, the 2015 Skoda Fabia is able to swallow 330 liters of luggage, but that figure is trumped by the Combi's 530 liters capacity with the rear seats in place. Folding them into the floor, the cavernous boot now displaces a whopping 1,395 liters, but curiously enough, that's 90 liters less than the second-generation model's max boot capacity. Additionally, the Fabia Combi is 10 mm longer, 90 mm wider and 33 mm lower than the outgoing model.

Both the hatchback and estate versions of the all-new Skoda Fabia are lighter by a small margin compared to their forerunners, but let's be frank here: the inside will be the place owners will spend the most time in. Even though it's the same old black & gray plastic combo as before, the cabin design of the new Fabia is more enticing and minimalistic. While the versatile multimedia system is virtually the same as the unit fitted to the Polo, the engine starter button on the steering column is a horrific sight.

Anything else worth mentioning about this city dweller?

Well, yes! A first for the Fabia is the introduction of what Skoda baptized MirrorLink, a handy smartphone connectivity feature that'll wow tech-savvy drivers with its ability to mirror certified phone apps on the infotainment system's touchscreen display. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but don't expect any significant differences. The added visual spice, added interior space and frugal powertrain options are certain to make the new Skoda Fabia an interesting proposition for the supermini customer.

Furthermore, the featherweight 980-kilogram base model might be interesting to drive as well, that is only if the PQ26 platform derived from the A0 will prove to be better set up compared to the rather unappealing driving dynamics of the current model. Last but not least, poor demand for the Fabia vRS hot hatch made Skoda phase out the variant for the third-generation of the quirky Czech nameplate.