Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.0 TSI 95PS | Expert new car review at MotorBar

“Skoda’s Fabia supermini, reviewed
here in sporty Monte Carlo trim,
is a compact five-door hatchback
that’s totally fit for purpose...”

WHILE NOTABLE for its standout Corrida Red paintwork and contrasting gloss black detailing (bold front grille, door mirrors, full roof, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and trendy black badging), its inner space is where it trumps many of its rivals.

It's 'ace' is its taller than average roofline (not that it's obvious from outside; and it certainly doesn't harm the looks) which makes for a fist-plus of headroom. Legroom is also good and even six-footers will feel at ease both lengthways as well as width-wise with decent room around their shoulders in the well-padded and firmly-bolstered Sports front seats.

While the seats are undeniably plush the rest of the cabin architecture and fittings underscore the brand's ongoing push upmarket — thorough attention to detail and fit-and-finish boost the appeal of the uncluttered cabin aided by highlights such as the carbon-fibre effect trim and two-tone 'carbon' leather and fabric upholstery.

“The 999cc engine comes
in both manual and DSG
autobox specs.
Both set-ups deliver
decent economy with the
93bhp manual good for
an official 50.4mpg —
but you’re likely to do
better that that as
we proved during a week
darting along the back
roads and villages
around the Devil’s Dyke
where, despite a lot
of cog-swapping on the
challenging Z-bends
and plunging lanes,
we recorded a smile-
inducing 54.2mpg...”

In trademark Skoda style there are plenty of brand-identifying 'little touches' to add to the satisfaction of owning a Fabia: such as the compact umbrella stored ready under the passenger seat; on-screen parking ticket holder; deep glovebox that also swallows a bottle; and a practical repositionable rubbish bin in the passenger's door bin. The in-cabin storage is boosted by long, bottle-holding door pockets, a large cubby-hole with siamesed cupholders, and an overhead case for your shades.

Not only do the front seats look very Monte Carlo-ish but they keep you faithfully located on the twisty bits. Both front chairs also adjust for height and it's easy to set an ideal driving position that puts you perfectly in play with the leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed leather-wrapped, multifunction steering wheel that also keeps the manual box's five-speed stick nicely to hand.

That done you'll be presented with an excellent view forward that makes accurately placing the Fabia a breeze whether you're pressing on along country lanes or parking up at the superstore. And it's the same story when looking back over your shoulder — rearward vision is also first-rate thanks to the deep rear side and tail glazing.

The built-in central infotainment and navigation touchscreen measures a neat 6.5-inches — small but perfectly formed, it shows everything important as well as any nine- or ten-inch display. The six-incher responds to your finger promptly, is feature-rich with logical menus and the graphics are sharp. With some prestige brands charging extra for the essential Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it's great news they're standard-fit on the Monte Carlo.

Along with clear 3D mapping showing the posted speed limit, the driver's instrument panel sports a large digital roadspeed readout between a pair of smart trad-look dials. 'Hard' menu-jump buttons flank the screen and 'soft' menu button appear on-screen as your finger approaches. More good news: Skoda's Connect on-line services and a mobile hot-spot along with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, and SD card and USB slots, are all part of the Monte Carlo's comms suite.

The Fabia's five trim levels are topped off by the Monte Carlo and Colour Edition versions, both of which are well specced. In addition to items already mentioned such as the red-and-black sports seats and SatNav, the Monte Carlo also comes with keyless entry, climate control AirCon, good-to-grip flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, heated electric door mirrors, auto-dimming rearview mirror, four one-shot windows, ally pedals, rear parking sensors, privacy glass and a set of black 16-inch alloy wheels.

“Compact lightweight
hatchbacks such as the
Fabia are a good basic
recipe for some
entertainment.
Throw in supportive
seats, a good driving
position and faithful
steering and you can
indeed have some fun.
Body control is good
even through faster,
tighter corners and the
grip, helped by 215/45
Bridgestone rubber, is
equally reassuring —
easy-handling is indeed
the name of the Monte
Carlo’s game...”

Safety is well addressed with Front Assist city braking (autonomously performs an emergency stop if it senses that you're about to collide with the vehicle ahead), LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights, front fog lights, a full set of airbags, auto lights and wipes, automatic drive-away door locking, tyre pressure monitoring and front height-adjustable seatbelts.

For a small car the Fabia boasts a surprising amount of room in its rear cabin — with average-sized grown-ups occupying the front chairs, a brace of six-footers can travel in the back's smartly upholstered seats. There's also a full fist of headroom and decent space for knees and big feet; if those sitting in the rear are not too burly you could fit three in side-by-side. More likely it will be youngsters occupying the back cabin which is why Skoda has fitted Isofix child seat fixings on both outer seats.

Whatever the passenger mix, couples and small families will quickly confirm firsthand the Fabia's reputation for being one of the most practical superminis out there. Your dog (and no doubt some of your passengers) will love the fact that the rear window glasses drop down completely into the doors! Other 'likes' include the relaxing backrest angles and well padded seats plus roomy door bins, seatback pouches, usable outer armrests, and good views out through the long, deep side windows.

The ride is a smidgen on the firm side but aided by the figure-hugging, well-padded sports-style seats and a suspension that does a respectable job of soaking up broken blacktop, the ride is calm and settled. With the burbs dwindling in your rearview mirror and you speed rising, the ride becomes more fluent and as you finally escape to country roads the Monte Carlo feels confidently composed. Overall the handling-ride balance is tilted towards security rather than Nürburgring derring-do — but then that's exactly what will suit most Fabia owners.

The Fabia's 999cc engine can be had in both manual and automatic guises; those with a penchant for just pootling around will be well served by the seven-speed DSG auto. Either set-up delivers decent economy. In fact, the 93bhp (95PS) unit is good for an official 50.4mpg but you're likely to do better that that as we proved during a week darting along the back roads and small towns around the Devil's Dyke outside Brighton where, despite quite a bit of cog-swapping on the challenging Z-bends and plunging lanes, we recorded a very smile-inducing 54.2mpg.

“Buyers of compact
hatches like the Fabia
won’t be expecting to
transport white goods
(although the estate
version is impressively
accommodating).
Choose the hatchback
and you get 330 litres for
luggage with easy access
through a wide hatch
opening; if you need
to stow a fold-up buggy
or pushchair then getting
it aboard, helped by
a low boot lip, is a
doddle...”

In action the one-litre three-pot serves with distinction, proving to be feisty and keen to rev, its likeably thrummy-growly soundtrack coming to the fore when you work the 'box and keep it on-song — easy to do courtesy of the slick, light gearchange action. Keep accelerating to the top of fifth gear and your maximum speed will be 115mph so there's plenty in hand when cruising UK motorways at the legal limit.

Compact lightweight hatchbacks such as the Fabia are without doubt a good basic recipe for some entertainment. Throw in the supportive seats, good driving position, and faithful, light but crisp steering and you can indeed have some fun. Body control is good even through faster, tighter corners and the grip, helped by 215/45 16-inch Bridgestone rubber, is equally reassuring. Easy-handling is the name of the Monte Carlo's game and when it comes to parking shoehorning it into the trickiest, meanest, parking space is a breeze.

Buyers of compact hatches like the Fabia won't be expecting to transport white goods (although the estate version is impressively accommodating). Choose the hatchback and you get 330 litres for luggage with easy access through a wide hatch opening. If you need to stow a fold-up buggy or pushchair then getting it aboard, helped by a low and easy-to-load-over boot lip, is a doddle.

And when it's time for the weekly family shop you'll appreciate the shopping holder in the boot (designed to prevent items from dancing around) and the lightweight parcel shelf that can be positioned midway above the boot floor to create a substantial full-width mezzanine-style shelf while still leaving plenty of room beneath for more storage. When not in use it slots upright behind the rear backrests.

Fold the 60:40-split rear seatbacks and you'll open up a 1,150-litres loadbay that's unexpectedly well suited to a spot of load-lugging. There are also sturdy pop-out bag hooks, side bins and bottle-holding straps. And while at the Fabia's tail there's one more 'thoughtful' Skoda touch: an ice scraper that lives in the fuel filler flap. And finally… you can tow a braked 1,000kg.

Superminis outsell all other types of cars — if you're in the market to bag one of the thirty or so runners, a Fabia should be high on your shortlist. In eye-catching Monte Carlo trim it's not only practical and conveniently 'packaged' with an appealing and comfy cabin, but it also comes with a joyful measure of charisma. The icing on the cake is that it's as frugal as it is enjoyable to drive. ~ MotorBar

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