Skoda Fabia vs Peugeot 208
Figures updated
The Skoda Fabia and Peugeot 208 are two of the UK's most popular superminis. We compare the Mk4 (2021–) Fabia and the Mk2 (2019–) 208 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 428,307 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Skoda Fabia for the bigger boot and the better MOT record, or the Peugeot 208 for the lower price and lower fuel costs.
- The Peugeot 208 is the cheapest to buy new: from £20,565, £505 less than the Skoda Fabia.
- The Skoda Fabia has the biggest boot: 380 litres, 28 more than the Peugeot 208.
- Euro NCAP safety: Skoda Fabia 5 stars (2021), Peugeot 208 4 stars (2019). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- The Skoda Fabia has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Peugeot 208 fails its MOT about 24% more often.
- The Peugeot 208 is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £52 a year less than the Skoda Fabia at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the body and structure on a Skoda Fabia: it fails on them 1.3 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the body and structure on a Peugeot 208: it fails on them 4.1 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Skoda FabiaMk4 (2021–), 5-door hatchback | Peugeot 208Mk2 (2019–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £21,070 to £30,010April 2026 price list | £20,565 to £29,815October 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 380 litres / 1,190 (best) | 352 litres / 1,163 |
| Length | 4,108mm | 4,055mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,780mm | 1,765mm |
| Height | 1,459mm | 1,430mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 80–177 PS (best) | 100–156 PS |
| 0–62mph | 7.4–15.7 sec (best) | 8.1–10.1 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol | Diesel, Electric, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 52.3–56.8 mpg | 4.3–73.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 112–122 g/km | 96–132 g/km |
| Electric range | – | 206–258 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,068 (54.8 mpg) | £1,016 (57.6 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £945 (71.6 mpg) |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,068 (petrol) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 97Below average (best) | 78Well below average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 29.6% | 29.4% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 13.6% (best) | 14.1% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 16.6% (best) | 20.3% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 27.8% (best) | 37.3% |
| Most common MOT fault | Pins and bushes (3.7% of tests) | Joints (4.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Body and structure (1.3×) | Body and structure (4.1×), Exhaust and emissions (3.1×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 225,572 | 202,735 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Supermini | Supermini |
| Owners' average miles a year | 6,900 | 7,000 |
| On sale | 2021 on | 2019 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Skoda Fabia or the Peugeot 208 more reliable?
The Skoda Fabia. Like for like on age and mileage, the Peugeot 208 fails its MOT about 24% more often (reliability scores 97 and 78, where 100 is average). 29.6% of Skoda Fabias and 29.4% of Peugeot 208s failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Skoda Fabia or the Peugeot 208?
The Skoda Fabia is 53mm longer (4,108mm against 4,055mm). The Skoda Fabia has the bigger boot: 380 litres against 352.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Skoda Fabia or the Peugeot 208?
The Peugeot 208: new prices start at £20,565, £505 less than the Skoda Fabia (from £21,070). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Skoda Fabia or the Peugeot 208?
Comparing petrol versions, the Peugeot 208 costs about £52 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,016 against £1,068), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Skoda Fabia or the Peugeot 208?
Euro NCAP gave the Skoda Fabia 5 stars (2021) and the Peugeot 208 4 stars (2019). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Skoda Fabia or the Peugeot 208?
Pick the Skoda Fabia for the bigger boot and the better MOT record, or the Peugeot 208 for the lower price and lower fuel costs. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.