The Skoda Favorit was the predecessor of the Skoda 120 and Skoda 130 models. It was also one of the last Skoda models to be produced before the takeover by Volkswagen. But is the Skoda Favorit a good car?
The Skoda Favorit may be good to some people and bad to others. It is a great car for people looking for classic but fuel-efficient, reliable, and compact cars. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a high-performance, safe, faster, and advanced old hatchback, this car is not ideal for you.
History of Skoda Favorit
The Skoda Favorit is a compact hatchback made by Skoda Auto. This car has been in production from 1936 to 1941 and from 1987 to 1995. The original Skoda Favorit or first series was a sedan and it was made from 1936 to 1941. It was known as Type 904 and Type 923. On the contrary, its successor, or the second generation series was made from 1987 to 1995. It was also referred to as Type 781.
Unlike the first generation series, the second generation series followed the European trend of installing the engine at the front. It was also the first Skoda car to feature a front-wheel drive system. In 1995, the Skoda Favorit was succeeded by the Skoda Felicia, which came with more advanced features and better performance.
Features of Skoda Favorit
Appearance
The Skoda Favorit is a good-looking car by the standards of the cars built during its generation. It is also compact and with a small trunk space. This car has a wheelbase of 96.5 inches, a length of 150.2 inches, a width of 63.8 inches, and a height of 55-7-inches.
Performance
Performance-wise, the Skoda Favorit does not perform well or dismally. Besides, the performance will vary depending on the engine you select. The base engine, which is a 1.3-liter petrol engine produces up to 58 bhp and 69 lb-ft of torque.
The most powerful engine is a 1.3-liter diesel engine with a maximum of 67 bhp and 74 lb-ft of torque. The Skoda Favorit also has a top speed of 90 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 15.5 seconds. Note that this car is also fitted with a five-speed automatic transmission.
Comfort and cargo space
Skoda Favorit is a compact hatchback with a spacious cabin. Nonetheless, it is best suited for carrying up to four people. However, five people can still squeeze in the back but they won’t be very comfortable. Additionally, this car comes with a small trunk that cannot be used to carry lots of things.
The Skoda Favorit’s trunk space offers a total of 8.9 cubic feet of space, which is very small. Unlike the Skoda hatchback, the Skoda Estate and pickup truck offers more cargo area. So, if you’ve got more things to carry, you should consider getting the Estate or Pickup versions.
Fuel-efficiency
The Skoda Favorit may be an old car, but it is quite efficient. It comes with an excellent efficiency rating of 31 mpg combined in the USA and 37 mpg combined in the UK. This is an indication that you won’t be spending a lot of money on fuel. Additionally, it reduces the level of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.
Safety
When it comes to safety, the Skoda Favorit is durable but lacks most of the modern safety features. This is because it only comes with airbags, a reverse camera, and electronic stability control. Advanced safety features like traction control, lane keep assisting, and forward collision warning are unavailable.
Price
Even though used Skoda Favorit models are not many on the market, they are still sold at a very competitive price compared to their rivals. Most used Skoda Favorit models range between $10,000 and $17,000. Note that the prices vary according to the state of the car is in. Some may even sell for more than $17,000.
FAQ
Is it worth acquiring the Skoda Favorit?
If you’re a fan of old but reliable and stylish cars, you will love the Skoda Favorit. Additionally, the Skoda Favorit is a perfect car for a small family as it is compact. On the contrary, if you’re searching for a spacious, comfortable, advanced, and safe car, you should consider getting another car.
What are the common problems with the Skoda Favorit?
Skoda Favorit is an outstanding and reliable car even though it was produced many years ago. But like most cars, it has several problems that interested buyers should know about before investing their hard-earned money.
Some of the common problems with the Skoda Favorit are the gear lever rattling, starting problems, transmission issues, engine trouble, faulty door seals, wet carpets in front footwells, rust, and constant overheating.
Does Skoda Favorit hold its value?
Yes, the Skoda Favorit holds its value well. While the Skoda Favorit was discontinued in 1995, there are still several Skoda Favorit models on the market to date. Even though these cars are cheap, they have held their value well as they are not as cheap as most of their competitors.
Is the Skoda Favorit a good daily driver?
Yes, the Skoda Favorit is an exceptional daily driver, this is because it is affordable, cheap to own, and easy to drive. Furthermore, this car is fuel-efficient, meaning that users won’t have to spend a lot on fuel. However, if you usually carry people and luggage daily, this car won’t be great for daily driving.
Which cars are similar to the Skoda Favorit?
The Skoda Favorit is a wonderful and efficient car. It is also reliable and practical. However, it faces stiff competition from its rivals. The closest competitors to the Skoda Favorit are the Volkswagen Polo MK2, Volkswagen Polo MK3, Volkswagen Caddy, and Skoda Felicia. Some of these cars are faster, more comfortable, more powerful, and more advanced than the Skoda Favorit.
Final thoughts
Skoda Favorit may be an old Skoda model, but it is still a nice, reliable, and efficient hatchback. It is also simple to drive with excellent handling and performance. As expected, it also comes with several issues that interested buyers ought to know about.
Overall, the Skoda Favorit is one of the best old compact hatchbacks on the market. If properly maintained, this car can last for a very long while.