Great value; sharp driving dynamics
Styling a bit boxy
For Germany’s Volkswagen Group its global model onslaught across various brands does create some crossovers – Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo in the European compact car segment for starters. But it’s not as straightforward as that – Skoda is a hugely successful brand in its own right and, with more than 1.5 million Czech-Republic built Fabia models already on the road, here is one of the hottest-selling European compacts.
Skoda Australia delayed introducing the Fabia name locally until the launch a few months back of the all-new model and it’s been worth the wait. No doubt about it, the Skoda Fabia is a value-packed, high-tech Euro compact hatch that deserves its own star-billing, apart from its German cousin.
Skoda Fabia Overview
Painted white, with its contrasting black roof and black alloy wheels, our Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo drew a crowd when we stopped in football-mad Melbourne. Sadly for passers-by from the ‘Black & White Army’ it was not someone from the Collingwood Football Club driving the car, it was your Car Showroom correspondent (Skoda in fact sponsors the Greater Western Sydney AFL team!).
Priced at $21,990 and loaded with sporty kit, the Monte Carlo is the range-topper of the Skoda Fabia lineup (until the potent RS version arrives in 2012) – named to highlight the model’s participation in the World Rally Championship. The entry-level Skoda Fabia is stickered at a very sharp $18,990.
The extra coin for the Monte Carlo model brings lots of extras like black 16-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, the hallmark Volkswagen leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, alloy pedals, piano black exterior trim highlights and the black roof. The smart on-road look of the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo makes its $21,990 tag look very tasty.
And of course Skoda is a Volkswagen brand so you’re buying into the quality and technical sophistication which are world’s best practice.
Skoda Fabia Engine
Power comes from Volkswagen’s superb turbocharged 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine (as available in ‘Comfortline’ spec Polos).
Maximum power is 77kW at 5000rpm and peak torque of 175Nm arrives between 1500 and 4100rpm. Skoda Fabia’s 1.4-litre outperforms Citroen’s 1.4-litre C3 (the French brand delivers a more powerful 1.6-litre engine but for that you’ll need to pony-up $23,490 for the C3 VTR+ model).
Drive is via a five-speed manual transmission and Skoda Fabia accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 10.1 seconds. Combined cycle fuel consumption is 5.5l/100kms and exhaust C02 emissions are rated at 128g/km.
Skoda Fabia The Interior
In Monte Carlo model guise as tested, the Skoda Fabia delivers the usual slick Volkswagen interior. Monte Carlo gains sports front seats with extra support (in black or black/red cloth) with height adjustment for the driver, the excellent Volkswagen perforated leather sports steering wheel (adjustable for height and reach), leather-trimmed gear-lever and hand-brake (with red stitching), alloy pedals and silver door kick plates…all this for $21,990 remember.
Instrumentation is the usual Volkswagen slick-yet-conservative arrangement including the gear change indicator light (which prompts you to drive in the most fuel-efficient way) and the multi-function trip computer with information like service intervals and fuel tank distance to empty (the latter should be standard in every car). On the audio front the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo runs an eight-speaker CD system with MP3 input and Bluetooth connectivity.
Rear seat accommodation is on par with others in the segment and the seat split-folds 60/40 for load-carrying versatility. Luggage capacity with the rear seat in place is 315-litres.
As you would expect, safety inclusions are top-shelf including six airbags and electronic stability control. A big plus in the compact hatchback segment is standard cruise control (the usual Volkswagen left-side stalk control).
Skoda Fabia Exterior & Styling
The latest Skoda Fabia is a much-improved look over its predecessor, with the distinctive Skoda grille and wraparound windscreen pointers to the slick styling job. Our Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo looked extra sharp in white with its piano black exterior highlights (including a black grille), contrasting black roof, ‘smoked’ headlights and black 16-inch alloy wheels.
At the front that ‘blacked-out’ Skoda grille with prominent vertical bars, the modern, large headlights, under-bumper fog-lights and black spoiler all add-up to a sporty look which again makes the $21K sticker look ‘value-plus’.
In profile, the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo highlights its sportiness with blacked-out A and B-pillars, while the rear view is simple with a black roof spoiler and under-bumper panel again bringing a sporty touch.
Skoda Fabia On The Road
Around town the Skoda Fabia impressed with its agility. The five-speed transmission was light and easy to use and the 10-metre turning circle plus unimpeded all-round visibility easily conquered our tight CBD car park.
Over our high-speed mountain roads loop in the wet, that slick-shifting five-speeder was again a handy ally, keeping the perky turbocharged 1.4-litre delivering its 77kW/175Nm on-demand. Turn-in and balance were just as you’d expect from this competent Volkswagen-sourced chassis (MacPherson strut front/multi-link rear) and the Skoda Fabio Monte Carlo impressed with a nimble feel even in the slimy going.
Of course ride was typically firm for a European car but not unpleasant and refinement levels were impressive even when we thumped into a couple of newly-formed pot holes near Olinda.
Overall, a thoroughly competent Euro-style performance.
Skoda Fabia Challenges
It’s hard to fault the engine, chassis, interior and value-for-money of the all-new Skoda Fabia and it’s always a risky business commenting on looks…but we wonder why the Volkswagen Group’s stylists didn’t incorporate a few of the Polo’s curves into the Skoda Fabia’s somewhat boxy exterior – just to soften/round things up a little.
Skoda Fabia Verdict
At Car Showroom we always take into account value-for-money when considering our verdict and while the Skoda Fabia is in a sub-segment of European compact cars, even against all-comers this slick Czech-Republic hatchback is a strong contender.
For sure the extras in the Monte Carlo model are worth the extra dollars – bringing handy extra kit, a sporty on-road dynamic and slick looks.
The Fabia is just one model in a lineup which is one of the fastest-growing brands in Europe for good reason – Skoda brings you a lot of car for your money.
Skoda Fabia The Competition
Skoda’s close relation the Volkswagen Polo is the stand-out European compact. However the GTI version which rivals the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is priced at $28,990 (five-door). Of course the Polo GTI enjoys more grunt (132kW/250Nm) and is more racy in its inclusions.
French brand Citroen offers the C3 from $19,990 but doesn’t include a sports variant to match the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo.
