One car model is still very popular with a manual transmission

69% of Škoda Fabia buyers prefer mechanics to automatic cars. Source: Škoda

The world is rapidly moving towards automatic transmissions, and buyers of new Škoda models are no exception. Most models are sold predominantly with "automatics". But one of them still holds on to the "mechanics" and that model is the Fabia.

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Škoda revealed that in 2018, only 13% of Fabia buyers opted for an "automatic" and in 2024, their share rose to 31%. However, the Fabia remains the only model of the Czech brand where the manual gearbox still leads - 69% of buyers choose it.

Škoda Fabia. Photo: Škoda

With Octavia, the situation is exactly the opposite: in 2018, 72% of cars were sold with a "manual", and already in 2024 - 80% of buyers took the version with automatic DSG. The new Superb and Kodiaq have lost clutch pedal versions altogether - they are now only available with an automatic transmission.

Distribution of transmissions in Škoda models with internal combustion engines (2024)

Automatic transmissions simplify driving, reduce driver error and improve comfort. This explains their growing popularity.

But it's not just about convenience. Modern automatic transmissions feature new technologies that improve efficiency, shift accuracy and even fuel economy. For example, in the new Superb and Kodiaq, the transmission selector has been moved from the centre console to the steering column thanks to the shift-by-wire design principle, which allows the transmission to be operated without a mechanical link to the lever.

Škoda Superb transmission selector. Illustration: Škoda

Škoda interior designer Dimitrios Darkoudis explained that moving the gear selector from the centre console allows the space between the seats to be used for storage compartments and other functions. It also makes the car's interior more symmetrical, as the centre section is no longer exclusively for the driver, but serves the entire 'crew'.

Source: Škoda