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The Skoda Fabia isn’t fully what it was, for good and unhealthy causes.
As soon as an inexpensive and cheerful entry European gentle automotive, it’s now a extra premium proposition. That is amplified by the truth that Skoda Australia is barely bringing the flagship Monte Carlo Version 150 variant right here for now.
However on the similar time, it brings a ton of added options, and appears and looks like a way more substantive automobile – with out shedding the garish, sporty design touches that set this range-topper aside. Skoda’s tackle an Audi A1 possibly?
Like different Skodas, this extra mature Fabia squeezes a whole lot of area right into a small package deal, which means its competitor set is broad. The corporate itself payments all the things from the Toyota Yaris, Mini Cooper Hatch Classic, and Hyundai i30 N Line as rivals.
“We now have launched the brand new technology Fabia in its high line configuration as a result of that is what our prospects inform us they need from a Skoda,” claims model director Michael Irmer, including the typical transaction worth on a Skoda in Australia has climbed to $52,000.
Certainly (not often for a Skoda) it’s largely bereft of choices. Let’s look slightly deeper.
Table of Contents
How a lot does the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 value?
The Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 prices $37,990 drive-away, which is a little bit of a hike on the $29,490 drive-away worth of the previous (much less highly effective and well-equipped) mannequin on the finish of its life.
For $37,990 on the highway you will get an even bigger Mazda 3 G25 Evolve SP hatchback or i30 Hatch N Line. However, the Fabia flagship additionally sits about line ball with a Yaris ZR Hybrid, and is barely $3500 greater than an computerized Suzuki Swift Sport which looks like a less expensive automobile.
So it’s all about the way you have a look at it.
What’s the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 like on the within?
It’s fairly brash, as was the earlier Monte Carlo.
There’s fire-truck crimson everywhere in the sprint, transmission tunnel, seats, and doorways, contrasted with loads of dust- and scratch-prone piano black trims, and silver metallic and pretend carbon-fibre ones too. Plus very un-Skoda-like spherical air vents.
Detracting from the premium price ticket are the rock arduous plastics on the sprint and fewer seen elements of the inside, however it’s arduous to fault the precise construct high quality.
The ‘Monte Carlo’ labelled steering wheel is trimmed in beautiful perforated leather-based and affords loads of changes, in addition to curler dials and buttons moderately than right this moment’s in-vogue haptic touchpads. Sensible transfer, that…
The cruise management stalk is handily mounted beneath and behind the left spoke, and the starter button the proper.
The striped seats supply wonderful thigh bolstering, and the single-piece seat-back seems to be the half. They’re wonderful, and to not point out heated.
Behind the wheel its a reasonably acquainted VW Group digital instrument cluster with quite a few changeable menus and wonderful readability, which is certainly a lower above the category commonplace. You may also run full-size maps.
The centre touchscreen runs VW Group software program however has its personal Skoda design/pores and skin, with vibrant and enjoyable graphics and lifeless easy menus which you entry through dwelling display tiles. There are useful touch-sensitive shortcut sections bracketing the display.
Having a wi-fi charger in addition to wi-fi telephone mirroring is a boon for anybody who loathes cables, and there’s additionally correct sat-nav that sends directions to the devices.
Beneath the display sit the centre vents and bodily buttons and rotary dials for the local weather management, and beneath this sits a storage space with the Qi wi-fi charging pad and USB-C factors.
Skoda being Skoda, there are additionally beneficiant door bins and a storage cubby alongside the centre tunnel – albeit one with a detachable cupholder attachment that comes as an adjunct at launch – it’ll be standardised from October manufacturing. Discuss to your supplier a couple of free one.
At simply 4108mm lengthy, the Fabia isn’t actually designed to haul 5 folks, however the second row is definitely fairly spacious – I’m 194cm and will bear it, which means your children and even average-sized mates shall be tremendous.
There are additionally vents, USB-C factors, and storage cubbies again there.
The boot is huge for the phase as effectively, about matching the VW Golf and Hyundai i30 with 380L of storage, rising to 1190L with the 60:40 again seats folded. Mentioned boot has hooks, nets, and small storage sections, making it correctly useable.
I discussed the Mazda 3 earlier: effectively the Fabia’s inside is extra sensible within the again seats and boot. It additionally feels no less than as spacious as a Corolla, if no more so. Basic Skoda.
What’s below the bonnet?
The Monte Carlo isn’t a full-on sizzling hatch like a Volkswagen Polo GTI, however extra an look package deal with brisk moderately than heart-pounding efficiency.
Its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol produces its 110kW at 6000rpm and a fairly meaty 250Nm of torque between 1500 and 3500rpm – effectively up on the previous Fabia Monte Carlo’s 81kW and 200Nm three-cylinder.
This drives the entrance wheels by means of a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch computerized transmission. The zero to 100km/h time is a brisk 8.0 seconds, a byproduct of the comparatively lithe 1265kg tare mass.
The engine meets Euro 6 rules, has cease/begin, and makes use of a claimed 4.9 litres per 100km on the mixed cycle – albeit utilizing minimal 95 RON gasoline. Impressively, my combined loop (about 75 per cent freeway and 25 per cent inner-Sydney) yielded a hybrid-like 4.5L/100km.
How does the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 drive?
This isn’t a full-on sizzling hatch with a difficult diff, adaptive dampers and issues of that ilk, so let’s simply get that out of the way in which. However the Monte Carlo by no means has been.
Regardless it’s a pleasant little factor to drive, providing good physique management by means of corners – with the trade-off being a barely agency trip which transmits growth joints and corrugations into the cabin.
It rides on good high quality Continental tyres which provide loads of grip, however there’s some noticeable highway roar over coarse chip bitumen such as you discover in regional Australia.
The electromechanical energy steering has quite a few resistance/weight settings dialled into the drive modes and is properly responsive, however not the ultimate phrase in engagement. The turning circle is 10.7m.
These driving modes change the steering weight, throttle calibration and the adaptive cruise management’s responsiveness – numbing issues again in Eco and sharpening them in Sport.
There may be MacPherson strut entrance suspension and a easy torsion beam on the rear, however the physique is stiffer than earlier than due to extra in depth use of high-tensile metal.
This Fabia iteration rides on the ever-present VW MQB structure for the primary time.
The engine affords ample punch and loads of muscularity low down, and is extra refined and fewer laggy in tandem with the DSG than the VW Group’s three-cylinder models. Tremendous frugal too, as flagged above.
Whereas the DSG is able to speedy gear adjustments and, in Sport mode, aggressive downshifts, you’ll be able to shift it manually throughout the ECU’s parameters through the gear stick: although you push it ahead to upshift moderately than the opposite means round.
There’s additionally no scarcity of driver help tech: the Fabia can match the pace of the automotive forward, preserve you inside marked highway strains, and alert to you blind spots and parallel-approaching autos from behind.
What do you get?
Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 highlights:
- 18-inch black alloy wheels
- House saver spare wheel
- Stiffened sports activities suspension
- Drive mode choice modes
- Bi-LED headlights with cornering operate
- LED daytime operating lights
- Entrance snd rear fog lights
- LED tail lights
- LED aspect repeaters in aspect mirrors
- Parking sensors entrance and rear
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Gloss black:
- Grille
- Spoiler
- Mirrors
- Rear diffuser
- Badging
- Aspect mirrors:
- Electrically adjustable
- Heated
- Energy-folding
- Aluminium door sill trims
- Rear privateness glass
- Proximity key entry
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Aluminium end pedals
- Black headlining and pillar trim
- Auto dimming rear-view mirror
- Charcoal cloth sports activities seats with strips
- Heated entrance seats
- Pink inside trim highlights
- Flat-bottom steering wheel
- Twin-zone air-con with humidity sensor
- LED ambient inside lighting
- Umbrella within the driver’s door
- 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 6-speaker audio
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth telephone and audio
- Digital radio
- Voice management
- 10.25 inch ‘Digital Cockpit’ instrument cluster
- Wi-fi charging pad
- 4 USB-C retailers
Choices
Skoda loves an choice, however not right here.
Simply Park Help for $1000 and the alternatives of Phoenix Orange or Velvet Pink metallic paint for $500.
Is the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 secure?
The Fabia has a 2021-stamped five-star ANCAP safety rating with scores of 85 per cent for grownup safety, 81 per cent for youngster safety, 70 per cent for susceptible road-user safety, and 71 per cent for security help.
Commonplace security options embody:
- 6 airbags
- AEB with Pedestrian and Bike owner detection
- Adaptive Cruise Management
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- ISOFIX x 2, high tethers x 3
- Lane Help
- Manoeuvre Braking Help
- Multi-Collision Brake
- Rain Brake Help
- Driver Fatigue Detection
- Emergency cease sign
- Parking sensors entrance and rear
- Reversing digicam
- Seat belt reminder
- Pace limiter
- Tyre stress monitoring
How a lot does the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 value to run?
Skoda offers a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee.
Servicing intervals are both 12 months or 15,000km, and you may pay for 5 or seven visits both upfront or simply earlier than the primary service is due. These service packs are priced at $1500 for 5 years or 75,000km, and $2100 for seven years or 105,000km.
There are additionally varied tiers of month-to-month servicing plans that package deal in all the things from primary servicing by means of to tyres, brakes and different consumables.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150
The Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Version 150 has develop into fairly the little high-tech, well-specified metropolis automotive, with extra inside area than chances are you’ll guess.
It continues to occupy an area out there simply beneath a raft of correct sizzling hatches, however does so with way more panache than any of its predecessors did.
It’s not precisely a cut price in contrast to a couple bigger and extra highly effective choices on the market, however no less than it comes totally loaded.
Click on the pictures for the complete gallery
MORE: Everything Skoda Fabia
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