The Spanish team of km.77 has tested the latest Skoda Fabia for sudden obstacle evasion (the so-called moose test). The hatchback failed to pass it at the standard speed of 77 km/h (47.8 mph), but still came on top of the Octavia.
Being generally unaware of the behavior and handling of the car, the test driver originally tried to pass the test at 79 km/h (49 mph). However, the car started sliding strongly outwards after the first lane change, and he had to abort the maneuver.
After several more attempts, the driver felt he got used to the handling and was ready to try and pass the test at 75 km/h (46.6 mph). He made a near-perfect run at this acceleration, but subsequent attempts to go just a little bit faster caused the Fabia to kick out from its lane dangerously.
Despite this, the expert team pointed out that the car remained responsive and reacted to the controls predictably regardless of the speed.
An entry-level Fabia was used for the test, implying a 1.0-liter engine rated at 80 PS (79 hp / 59 kW), 15-inch wheels, and a set of tires with low rolling resistance.
Tested last spring, the Skoda Octavia managed its best run at 74 km/h (46 mph).