Similarities between Polo and Fabia

Daewood · 9th January 2010, 16:32

Note from Mod : Team-BHP's VW Polo Testdrive report has been uploaded at this linky. Please continue the discussion over on that thread.

This thread = closed.

Hi All,

Always thought whether Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia will have any similarities,
apart from the common engines, since both are from the same parent company and also from the same factory atleast in India.
After seeing the interior pics of the Indian Polo i found a few similarities in the dashboard.
Guys, please post all the other similarities which you noticed..or guessed

Hope the service of Volkswagen and spares price isnt similar to that of Skoda

frankmehta · 9th January 2010, 19:21

I think they are built on the same platform. Chassis is also similar!

theEnd · 9th January 2010, 23:29

I think the Fabia is built on the platform of the old Polo. The new Polo is built on an all new platform (shared with the Seat Ibiza... which is probably why a number of bhpians spotted a white Ibiza being tested in and around Pune).

Cant tell much from the pics.. Handbrake lever looks exactly the same. I'm a bit surprised that the quality of the Polo interiors is at par with, or even a notch below that of the Fabia.

blue_pulsar · 10th January 2010, 05:46

I always thought that the Fabia is based on the Golf. Isn't that the case?

aaggoswami · 10th January 2010, 10:30

First generation Polo was based on PQ24 also known as A04. This generation of VW Polo i.e. Mark V, is based on PQ25 also known as A05.

So first of all, both the cars cannot be called similar. But PQ25 is an evolution of PQ24.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue_pulsar

I always thought that the Fabia is based on the Golf. Isn't that the case?

Fabia is based on Polo. Till now, no Fabia takes Golf's platform. First generation is also based on PQ24 or A04. Second generation is also based on PQ24/A04.
Its the Octavia that is based on Golf.

shishir_bn · 10th January 2010, 10:56

from the exterior point of view if you suddenly look at swift and fabia you get confused(from a distance)

greatpower · 10th January 2010, 16:28

is this the camera angle or is it really that the right most AC vent is huge in Polo?

Caramelo · 10th January 2010, 16:32

you can't see the similarities outright! they are very clever to hide it! but they have used the same material of plastics and bits and pieces! so with 75% localization! they have tried to keep the prices down. i just hope that the quality remains the same

motor spirit · 10th January 2010, 20:30

speaking about the common engine between fabia & polo. Im sure VW has tweaked the 3 pot 1.2L engine of Fabia to fit in the polo . However can some one throw some light the performance of a 3 pot 1.2L fabia/polo engine

recshenoy · 11th January 2010, 10:43

OT:

do you guys think steering of Polo looks borning ( atleast in pic).

Practically, which steering is better, one in Polo or Fabia?

Daewood · 11th January 2010, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatpower

is this the camera angle or is it really that the right most AC vent is huge in Polo?

The Side AC vent in the Fabia is placed vertically wheras in the Polo it is placed horizontally. But size seems to be the same.
The centre AC vent looks similar. Even the Stereo and AC controls look similar, but in the Fabia AC controls are above the stereo and the opposite in Polo.

im attaching a brighter version of the same pic where you can see the AC controls

Overall the interior looks more rich in Fabia than Polo.
Is it because of the photographs?
Maybe those who saw the new POLO in flesh at the Auto Expo 10' can throw more light on this.

jigbarai · 11th January 2010, 11:13

This is like comparing Chetan Bhagat's Novel to 3 idiots and identifying the differences

IMO, the only difference between the two cars is the interior and exterior looks. (Bodyline, dash trim, seats and stuff). The heart and the matter is all the same.

If you were to take the picture of the 'engine bays' of the Fabia and the Polo, and put it side by side, you wont be able to tell the difference one bit.
All the stuff in there is an exact copy, including the layouts and even the color combinations.

VW, Skoda & Audi share most of the common parts in their variants.

In my opinion, the Polo looks awesome externally.
Interiors however are a let down as compared to the Fabia. The Fabia feels more classy / richer here.

Daewood · 11th January 2010, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by recshenoy

OT:

do you guys think steering of Polo looks borning ( atleast in pic).

Practically, which steering is better, one in Polo or Fabia?

Yes. Fabia steering has smooth curves and looks upmarket.
Polo steering looks a bit like a commercial vehicle steering.

Is that an indication that a lot of cost cutting has gone into the Indian POLO and it will be priced lesser than Fabia to take on the Swifts and Puntos?

shreyasma · 11th January 2010, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by theEnd

I think the Fabia is built on the platform of the old Polo. The new Polo is built on an all new platform (shared with the Seat Ibiza... which is probably why a number of bhpians spotted a white Ibiza being tested in and around Pune).

It was tested to see how one of the technologies thats used in Ibiza reacts on Indian conditions.

The same car also broke down when being tested and was kept idle for few weeks till the spares arrived. I had mentioned this in the other polo thread.

Pic:
Right: Polo that was being tested
Left: Seat Ibiza when it was kept idle

LastActionHero · 12th January 2010, 15:24

Saw the Polo at the expo. The interiors were definitely better than the Swift. The plastic quality was better and the fit and finish of the seats was also good.

I asked a VW rep there whether the engine was same as the one in Fabia. He denied it and said this engine is much more refined and quieter than the Fabia. Did not press him too much because of the crowd :(

Disclaimer: I have never been inside a Fabia nor driven one so I cannot compare between the two.

9th January 2010, 16:32	#1
Daewood BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 940 Thanked: 234 Times	Similarities between Polo and Fabia Note from Mod : Team-BHP's VW Polo Testdrive report has been uploaded at this linky. Please continue the discussion over on that thread. This thread = closed. Hi All, Always thought whether Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia will have any similarities, apart from the common engines, since both are from the same parent company and also from the same factory atleast in India. After seeing the interior pics of the Indian Polo i found a few similarities in the dashboard. Guys, please post all the other similarities which you noticed..or guessed Hope the service of Volkswagen and spares price isnt similar to that of Skoda Attached Thumbnails Last edited by GTO : 27th February 2010 at 00:59. Reason: Adding thread closure note
	() Thanks

9th January 2010, 19:21	#2
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	I think they are built on the same platform. Chassis is also similar!
	() Thanks

9th January 2010, 23:29	#3
theEnd BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 534 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	I think the Fabia is built on the platform of the old Polo. The new Polo is built on an all new platform (shared with the Seat Ibiza... which is probably why a number of bhpians spotted a white Ibiza being tested in and around Pune). Cant tell much from the pics.. Handbrake lever looks exactly the same. I'm a bit surprised that the quality of the Polo interiors is at par with, or even a notch below that of the Fabia.
	() Thanks

10th January 2010, 05:46	#4
blue_pulsar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 403 Times	I always thought that the Fabia is based on the Golf. Isn't that the case?
	() Thanks

10th January 2010, 10:56	#6
shishir_bn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,195 Thanked: 120 Times	from the exterior point of view if you suddenly look at swift and fabia you get confused(from a distance)
	() Thanks

10th January 2010, 16:28	#7
greatpower BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 118 Thanked: 4 Times	is this the camera angle or is it really that the right most AC vent is huge in Polo?
	() Thanks

10th January 2010, 16:32	#8
Caramelo BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ahmedabad Posts: 769 Thanked: 16 Times	you can't see the similarities outright! they are very clever to hide it! but they have used the same material of plastics and bits and pieces! so with 75% localization! they have tried to keep the prices down. i just hope that the quality remains the same
	() Thanks

10th January 2010, 20:30	#9
motor spirit BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: bangalore Posts: 236 Thanked: 112 Times	speaking about the common engine between fabia & polo. Im sure VW has tweaked the 3 pot 1.2L engine of Fabia to fit in the polo . However can some one throw some light the performance of a 3 pot 1.2L fabia/polo engine
	() Thanks

11th January 2010, 10:43	#10
recshenoy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mangalore / Bangalore Posts: 1,128 Thanked: 254 Times	OT: do you guys think steering of Polo looks borning ( atleast in pic). Practically, which steering is better, one in Polo or Fabia?
	() Thanks

11th January 2010, 11:13	#12
jigbarai BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 554 Thanked: 29 Times	This is like comparing Chetan Bhagat's Novel to 3 idiots and identifying the differences IMO, the only difference between the two cars is the interior and exterior looks. (Bodyline, dash trim, seats and stuff). The heart and the matter is all the same. If you were to take the picture of the 'engine bays' of the Fabia and the Polo, and put it side by side, you wont be able to tell the difference one bit. All the stuff in there is an exact copy, including the layouts and even the color combinations. VW, Skoda & Audi share most of the common parts in their variants. In my opinion, the Polo looks awesome externally. Interiors however are a let down as compared to the Fabia. The Fabia feels more classy / richer here.
	() Thanks

12th January 2010, 15:24	#15
LastActionHero BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 184 Thanked: 22 Times	Saw the Polo at the expo. The interiors were definitely better than the Swift. The plastic quality was better and the fit and finish of the seats was also good. I asked a VW rep there whether the engine was same as the one in Fabia. He denied it and said this engine is much more refined and quieter than the Fabia. Did not press him too much because of the crowd :( Disclaimer: I have never been inside a Fabia nor driven one so I cannot compare between the two.
	() Thanks