Fabia Greenline Diesel - Any Good?

[cng]

Hi, I hav enoticed that Skoda like other VW group manufactures has brought out an economy 1.4 TDi Fabia.

I was wondering if any one has bought one/ test drove one ? If so first impressions would be gratefully received especially if any real life mpg figures are available.

I know it has longer gearing in the higher gears and narrower tyres, and no spare tyre amongst other changes to the standard 1.4 TDi. I does cost a few hundred pounds or so more than the Fabia 2 1.4 tdi and is in the same road tax band. So the question is really is it worth it over the std car ? ( may be answered if fuel prices go up much more ! )

[Latino]

I test drove the estate version of the Fabia Green Line three weeks ago now. Then I tested the 1.9TDI last weekend.

I found the 1.4 a lot noisier than the 1.9. It didn't feel at all underpowered, but the turbo kicking in was a lot more noticeable on the 1.4 than the 1.9.

I would say you ought to go out and test drive one. We didn't like the 1.4 based on noise, and that once we have a Fabia Estate fully loaded, possibly even with a roof box, the little 1.4 80hp engine may well suffer a lot on long motorway journeys. The 1.9 felt like it was not making much of an effort at all, and although still noisy by modern diesel engine standards, it sounded much more refined than the 1.4.

Also, when comparing the 1.4 and the 1.4 Greenline, I felt I was being ripped off. You pay more for less car!! although the greenline does have a DPF...

[Babs]

I've had an (albeit, old model) 1.4 TDI Estate with 4 people and a boot full of shopping and theatrical lighting equipment and it was perfectly acceptable at motorway speeds, and overtaking.

I'd say it was better than the 1.2 12v on the motorway even compared with just me in the car!

[cng]

quote=Latino "I test drove the estate version of the Fabia Green Line three weeks ago now. Then I tested the 1.9TDI last weekend.

I found the 1.4 a lot noisier than the 1.9. It didn't feel at all underpowered, but the turbo kicking in was a lot more noticeable on the 1.4 than the 1.9."


Thanks for the reply. I am just thinking about getting a more economical second car ( I have an octavia 2.0 Tdi already ) , the noise element may put me off, although the higher top gear may help. Did you have the greenline at higher speeds? If so did it pull ok in top gear and was it noisy at all speeds ?

[The PM]

Thats my only gripe with the Mk1 Fabia 1.4TDi 80 - the lower gearing than the 1.9 - if they've upped the gearing in 5th it will be fine at motorway speeds - I only wish it had been an option on the old one!

[Reece_1]

Auto Express did a test recently for so called eco cars, for the Skoda Greenline, claimed economy was 68.9 mpg, test mpg was 49.5 while CO2 emissions was 153g/Km (Claimed CO2 109 g/Km)

[Nortones2]

But the car had done less than 1000m, and was compared with a Polo with 7700. Polo did 54.6 mpg. Naturally, Auto Express blamed the higher consumption on the enormous 36kg extra weight, and its "bulk" whatever that means, but forgetting the Polo tested was sans air-con

[JSJ]

Originally Posted by Reece_1

Auto Express did a test recently for so called eco cars, for the Skoda Greenline, claimed economy was 68.9 mpg, test mpg was 49.5 while CO2 emissions was 153g/Km (Claimed CO2 109 g/Km)

Is it online? I have some reservations about their conclusions, especially as a standard 1.4tdi will demonstrably achieve better than that. But I'd like to read it first.

[anonymouse]

Skoda Fabia Greenline | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express


part of
The Clean Machines? | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express

[Black]

Having had a 1.4 TDI for 12,000 miles I have to agree with the conclusion that it is not as green as the claims.
My mpg is firmly stuck in the low 50s which is very disappointing as I had a 2.4 Volvo Diesel before with 105 bhp more and it was achieving mid 40s.

My driving is a mix of fast A roads and Motorways. I am making a real effort with the Fabia to try and be economical but it just isn't happening.

Unless the Greenline gearing makes a real difference I would stay well clear. Don't get me wrong I think my Fabia is great but I suspect if you really want to be Green go for the 1.9 TDI.

[JSJ]

Originally Posted by anonymouse

Skoda Fabia Greenline | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express


part of
The Clean Machines? | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express

Thanks

The table is interesting in that all the cars have their average performnace figures pretty much decimated. Hard driving or real world?

With just over 1000 miles on the clock our total average is 52.5. With our best trip average of 63.

[Chris GB]

Interesting thread this. I am looking at replacing my vRS in the near future and because I cover 45,000 - ish miles a year and fuel is getting silly expensive, I need a car that will be good on fuel.

Much of what you find will depend on the sort of driving you do. If you are doing lots of high speed motorway and open road work, the smaller engines may not be as good as the bigger ones. Why? Simply because the smaller engines are working at their best efficiency at lower speeds and accelerations than the bigger version. As an example, the Greenline may be reasonably good on fuel in the urban and medium speed commute kind of drive, but given a long motorway journey and fast rural roads where more power is needed, the old vRS will possibly be better. The new 1.9tdi would almost definitely be better.

The auto express results are pretty interesting. What they show is that the Mini Cooper D comes out well, but you would need to cover a hell of a lot of miles before you would recover it's extra purchase price over the Greenline. Mind you, come trade in, the Mini residuals are higher. Complicated stuff.

Ultimately, it would seem that "green" cars are not all that good from a running cost point of view until you are covering big miles. It is often cheaper to get what you want, even petrol if it drives well, as the eco diesel alternatives all cost a lot for what you get.

I have not driven a Greenline, but have sampled the 1.4tdi unit in another Fabia and I really liked its characterful engine note and mid range shove.

Chris

[Mr Grumpy]

Originally Posted by JSJ

Thanks

The table is interesting in that all the cars have their average performnace figures pretty much decimated. Hard driving or real world?

With just over 1000 miles on the clock our total average is 52.5. With our best trip average of 63.

Interesting you should put that..
My Fabia vRS regularly does over 60 mpg on my daily commute, and its trip average is at 55 mpg, and it doesn't get nannied by any means.
What price economy eh?

[Captain Sisko]

That is a very good point.
I thought the Bluemotion with AC puts it into the £35 road tax band?
I found my sisters Micra 1.016v wasn't really bettering the Felicia for mpg by a big margin on the motorways (both at 65mph).

Originally Posted by Chris GB

Interesting thread this. I am looking at replacing my vRS in the near future and because I cover 45,000 - ish miles a year and fuel is getting silly expensive, I need a car that will be good on fuel.

Much of what you find will depend on the sort of driving you do. If you are doing lots of high speed motorway and open road work, the smaller engines may not be as good as the bigger ones. Why? Simply because the smaller engines are working at their best efficiency at lower speeds and accelerations than the bigger version. As an example, the Greenline may be reasonably good on fuel in the urban and medium speed commute kind of drive, but given a long motorway journey and fast rural roads where more power is needed, the old vRS will possibly be better. The new 1.9tdi would almost definitely be better.

The auto express results are pretty interesting. What they show is that the Mini Cooper D comes out well, but you would need to cover a hell of a lot of miles before you would recover it's extra purchase price over the Greenline. Mind you, come trade in, the Mini residuals are higher. Complicated stuff.

Ultimately, it would seem that "green" cars are not all that good from a running cost point of view until you are covering big miles. It is often cheaper to get what you want, even petrol if it drives well, as the eco diesel alternatives all cost a lot for what you get.

I have not driven a Greenline, but have sampled the 1.4tdi unit in another Fabia and I really liked its characterful engine note and mid range shove.

Chris

[JSJ]

Originally Posted by Mr Grumpy

Interesting you should put that..
My Fabia vRS regularly does over 60 mpg on my daily commute, and its trip average is at 55 mpg, and it doesn't get nannied by any means.
What price economy eh?

Well 'trip' economy is slowly improving, when it's got a few more thosand on the clock I'll be making a firmer judgement.

[Tom_vRS]

I've seen atleast 4 eco-credential car review over the past week or so in the mags and Sunday papers, and all of them say the Greenline is a gimmick, but the Ecomotion and Bluemotion are not

Mini D does seem impressive though!

[JSJ]

Personally I couldn't justify buying the greenline over the 'standard' 1.4tdi.

[Latino]

Originally Posted by Babs

I've had an (albeit, old model) 1.4 TDI Estate with 4 people and a boot full of shopping and theatrical lighting equipment and it was perfectly acceptable at motorway speeds, and overtaking.

I'd say it was better than the 1.2 12v on the motorway even compared with just me in the car!

I agree with you that the 1.4 diesel is likely much better on the motorway than the 1.2 petrol. And you may be right thinking that we would probably be fine with the 1.4 on a fully loaded Fabia Estate.

However, based on prior experience with an estate car and an 80bhp engine (my father used to have an Astra estate with such engine), long motorway journeys were usually painful. Any small hills and the car suffered (I often switched the aircon off to get a little extra power), and often came down to 60/55mph and would refuse to go up to 70mph until we were on flat terrain again.

As we plan on doing long journeys in the car, the 1.9 seems the better choice.

If we were planning on lots of city driving, I would be very tempted by the 1.4TDI. At lower speeds, I'm sure the fuel economy would be much better.

Neither I nor the other half cared much for the rumble coming out of the bonnet. The 1.9TDI has a much nicer sound.

One thing going for the Greenline is that, apparently, there may be some new legislation that would make it exempt from Congestion Charge in London. Of course, only relevant if you are based in London.

[Captain Sisko]

I had an Astra hatch 1.4 and that used to go quite nicely.
But choosing an "eco" model over a normal one?
I dont live in London or go to london that often so I wouldn't pay that premium.
so if i was doing the review I'd say they are all gimmicky and that relaxed driving and good maintenance on a normal car should coax the best economy.

[Chris GB]

Looking at the specs printed in the brochure, it looks like the Greenline engine has a much lower torque output than the normal 1.4tdi. Combined with tall gearing, this will possibly make it lame on the motorway, so unless you are doing big mileages, the normal 1.4tdi looks the better bet. It still squeezes into the £35 road tax band and will be CG exempt come October.

Possibly buy it in sport trim, the seats in the sport are very good indeed.

Chris