Skoda Fabia estate or...?

Skoda Karoq?
If it’s got the varioflex seating they’re easy to remove and it gives loads of space.

Can recommend a Fabia Estate, my wife’s got one and it’s great. Big boot. Sensible fuel wise. Get one without lane assist.

Thanks. Karoq is out. We both have a hatred of  'big' SUV sized cars.

We have a Fabia hatch and we really like it. I find the gearbox a little boxy though. I spent quite a while looking at all the engine options and settled on the 1.2 TSI. The estate version sounds ideal for what you need.

We've had a couple of Fabias, and I'd certainly consider the estate. The 1.2 Tsi is a great little engine.

Depending in age of grandkids, a pushchair etc did fill the boot when checked, so main car is an Octavia estate.

Quite like their Scala as an in-between hatch option

Is the Fabia estate much bigger than a Jazz? You can get a reasonable amount in the Fabia but its not a big car, it's still Just a Fabia with a slightly longer boot.

We're 6 weeks into owning a Fabia SE-L estate with 110tsi

It's a fabby wee thing, with a really great size boot. It's almost the same size as original 3 series touring.... We've put 1500 miles on already, including 600 motorway miles this weekend... Yesterday's long journey saw 55mpg indicated, around town it's back to 46ish indicated.

It's got quite long gearing.

A note:110bhp gets a 6th gear and disc brakes on the rear, and significantly more torque. For me all this made it the pick of the bunch, it's odd how many testers don't comment this. Much better on motorway or loaded.

We lug bikes or 16' canoe, and a boot full of kit regularly. But then we also see one of us travelling for work, a need to park in tight city spaces, and young drivers be reasonable costs on insurance.

We also went SE-L as it comes with nicer stereo & speakers, better headlights and climate control.

Avoid lane departure option as it is shit, and the sports seats as they take up huge space. KESSSY is just odd - if I've got to get the key out to unlock, why do I not just put it in a slot to start? I keep stabbing the start button with the key...Tyres are expensive - I'm going down a wheel size over the summer for more comfort and mpg and cheaper tyres.

We had a Ibiza estate for the last decade, and back in the day a Seat Cordoba Vario (polo estate) and before that a Polo MK1 'breadvan'. We're fans of wee estates, and there's nothing other than older Ibiza or Clio estates left other than the Fabia.

Listen to Matt! I had a Fabia for a bit and waited for a 110 6 speed model. The 6th gear makes a big difference on a long journey.

Don't ignore the standard hatch with the seats down. I went to buy and estate and in the end bought a hatch. Took 2 of us on holiday to Scotland (from the midlands) with our dog and all the luggage + canoe on the roof (two dogs might be pushing it!)

Alternatives - not sure there are any. Maybe get a hatch from the next size up like Skoda Scala?

I got my current Fabia estate in 2017. Since then it has shrunk, dramatically of late, probably the most notable sign I have seen of bloat, it really looks like a small car now.

And it is plenty big enough.

Is the Fabia estate much bigger than a Jazz?

Jazz boot = 354L. Fabia boot = 530L

We have a Scala, which is basically a Fabia variant with a bigger boot, but not quite as big as the Fabia estate.

Goes off to Google second hand Fabia

I wasn't talking just about the boot, advertised volume doesn't tell the whole story. I think the Jazz can be far more practical in many respects with how the seats can fold etc. I'm not knocking the Fabia, I own one and really like it but it's not that big. The seating area is really quite compact and much smaller than a mid size car.

Fair point. We want an improvement on the storage capacity of the Jazz so how do I tell if that's what we would be getting with the Fabia?

MrSparkle

Fair point. We want an improvement on the storage capacity of the Jazz so how do I tell if that’s what we would be getting with the Fabia?

Go and look at one. Think about what you might need to fit in, and potentially take some stuff along to fling in the back.

What sort of thing will you be lugging around? How old are the grandkids? A buggy or travel cot quickly fills a boot, although perhaps not relevant if they're 15.
When I got my Leon estate, it was quite interesting seeing what the variation in boot size actually was between the cars I was looking at.
If you need a decent jump up from a Jazz, I suspect a Fabia estate might not be enough of a jump but it will really come down to personal preference.
Also, not sure if the Fabia estate has a load-lip or not. Might be a consideration with dogs. I have a feeling the Fabia & Ibiza have boot lips.
If you go up to something like an Octavia or Leon, they have flat load lips.
Also, depending on the age/size of your grandkids the rear legroom might be a bit compromised in the Fabia estate.

I would definitely go and look at a few cars to get an idea of what you might need.

Try it, when you can find an estate model to sit in.  you might be pleasantly surprised by the space.

Like others here, we have one as a second car and runabout; 1.2TSi again.  It's a great 'wee' thing.  The height from interior floor to ceiling liner in the whole back area, with seats folded, means that it easily swallows two bikes upright, just with front wheels off.  That's quite a lot of space.

Handling is better than you might imagine but then, it is a Skoda; they know how to make cars go around corners.  It's tough as old boots too.  We live down a very rough farm track and it's completely unfazed.  A little more ground clearance than many other cars makes it a good option when we get real snow too.  Good headlights for  a relatively budget car and historically, the 1.2 is robust.  We'd have another one without question.

Good point about the boot lid. One of the dogs is starting to struggle getting in the Jazz.

95% of the time it will be my wife doing short local runs then most weekends we'll be heading up to the Lakes (1 1/2 hrs on M6) but we are also going to France with the dogs and a weeks worth of luggage later in the year, as a one off.

It's funny, I wouldn't say it handles well at all but it's all subjective I guess. And my previous car was a civic type r so it's not a fair comparison.
In terms of seating space, there's quite a lot less room than a Mazda 3. Maybe not a perfect comparison but reinforces that it's based on a small. When I have a child seat in the back, you can't really fit two adults next to it whereas in the Mazda you can.

The performance is reasonable in the 110 but I did get mine remapped for a bit more go which is helpful when it's loaded up.

I’ve had a Jazz and a Fabia estate. The Jazz was a great little car, and very practical, however the Fabia is just that little bit bigger for larger items or dogs plus passengers.

Both good cars that I’d recommend.

I shouldn't tempt fate but I've had my Fabia just over four years and it's only needed two new tyres and an annual oil change. Tax is only £20 and even the tyres weren't too bad as they're not enormous alloys like most modern cars. It's been very cheap to run.

Kia Ceed Sportwagon?
Hyundai i30 Estate?

Had a 1.2 TSI since 2014 and it's been flawless. 2 kids and all associated stuff is handled easily. It's been round France, to Scotland and various other places for week long hols.. It's had x4 kayaks on the roof and all kit. It's a bit Tardis-like for me.  MPG, parts and cost of servicing makes me smile as it's so cheap (I've come from BMWs). It's just starting to have some niggles - like exhaust and fuel line rusting, but that's fair enough.

My only dislike is that it feels small and a bit rattly on the motorway (I have the 5-speed).

But would definitely get one again as the cost/practically equation is great.

I've got a Skoda Rapid Spaceback, I think the newer versions are now the Scala mentioned above, which might work for you depending on how much of what you need to take when. It's a decent sized family car, much nicer in the front than a Fabia - a bit more relaxed/laidback; I'm 6' 4" and fit well in it whereas a Fabia just doesn't have the same room - loads of room in the back seats (hence the name) but you do pay for it a bit with a slightly smaller boot. Again, the 110bhp-ish one gets 6 gears and "extended glass" - mainly a pano roof which makes it feel even more spacious, especially in the back, and a longer window on the tailgate.

Worth a look, imo 🙂

Not to be pedantic but the Polo 'breadvan' was the MK2. I had a Mk1

Don’t discount the SUV type. Go and look. The load spaces tend to be much more useable because extra height.

They are also easier to get in and out of

The latest generation Fabia is much more refined than the last

Lane assist unavoidable on all latest generation VAG even if it is hateful

https://www.ridc.org.uk/features-reviews/out-and-about/car-search

Handy site that gives lots of measurements eg length of boot to rear of front seats etc