Selwyn Times: February 01, 2023

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Wednesday February 1 2023 Selwyn Times 35
Touch of French Riviera in Skoda Fabia
MONTE CARLO is one of the
most fascinating places I’ve had the
good fortune to visit.
In terms of major motorsport
events, it is also home to the iconic
formula one grand prix and has
long been host to a round of the
World Rally Championship.
Skoda has had regular
contenders with the latter. It
entered the competition in 1999
and has had a lot of success in both
it and WRC-2, mostly with its
Fabia.
Capitalising on that success, the
company has launched a couple
of Monte Carlo models – Kamiq
and five-door Fabia hatchback.
The Monte Carlo is the only Fabia
variant available now and it has had
a major lifecycle change, arriving
here at tempting price of $39,990,
and squeezes into the low emission
zone rewarding a buyer with a
$2181 NZ Government Clean Car
Programme rebate. Bear in mind,
though, if you want the bright red
paintwork, as in the evaluation car’s
case, it will set you back an extra
$1000.
In true sports hatch fashion, the
stroppy Fabia has a tight feel on
the road, and while the spring and
damper rates are on the firm side,
there is compliance and onboard
comfort isn’t jeopardised.
Amidst the few specification
options are 18in wheels, the
evaluation car wasn’t fitted with
them, but such is its feel and
presence on the road with the
standard 17in (215/45) Michelin
tyres the Fabia affords an involving
feel and strong connection with the
road.
Given the suggestion there are
motorsport links to the Fabia
Monte Carlo, I eked out some
tight and twisty high country
roads. It has definite composure
and accuracy into a turn, steerage
is sharp and body balance is well
controlled.
Under the bonnet is an
interesting four-cylinder engine
of 1.5-litre. It’s a strong engine
thanks to some fairly healthy
outputs – 110kW and 250Nm,
both generated by turbocharged
forced induction. What makes this
engine so special is the area where
the power is developed. Skoda
claim maximum torque is available
all of the way from 1500rpm to
3500rpm, almost meeting the point
of peak power which comes in at
5000rpm.
The result is a smooth, progressive
flow of energy, and that is the
essence of the modern engine;
power arrives smoothly and is
linear. Drive is sent to the front
wheels through a seven-speed direct
shift (dual clutch) gearbox. It is the
Volkswagen group’s preferred design
for automatic transmission and it
works effectively with quick, clean
shifts and ratios that complement
the power outputs. There are also
four drive modes that can be
implemented, depending on the
type of journey ahead.
The entire driveline is strong,
willing and silent. If you are a
SPORTY APPEARANCE: Red and black paint colours will
add $1000 to the cost.
SKODA FABIA MONTE CARLO: Just one variant for New Zealand.
small hatchback buyer and want
to reap the reward of minimal fuel
use then this is the car for you. A
work colleague has just purchased
a Fabia Monte Carlo and he says
he gets a 6.3-litre per 100km fuel
usage average – even during a
consistent inner-city commute.
That relates well to Skoda’s
5.3l/100km claim and the 7l/100km
figure that was showing on the
readouts when I returned it to
the dealership. For the record, a
4.5l/100km figure registers at a
steady 100km/h, the engine loping
over gently at just 1800rpm.
On the subject of figures, the
Fabia in this form is also quite
sprightly, it will launch to 100km/h
in 8sec and will complete a
highway overtake (80-120km/h) in
5.3sec.
The turbo boost is quite strong
and, as such, there is a certain
urgency if you give the accelerator
pedal a bit of a nudge, it isn’t vividly
fast but it has punch nonetheless.
Elsewhere the Fabia carries all of
the virtues that make Skoda such an
interesting manufacturer in terms
of functionality, right from the
clever door-located umbrella holder
to the rubbish bin-type container
inside the driver’s door pocket.
There’s also a parking ticket holder
• Price – Skoda Fabia Monte
Carlo, $39,990
• Dimensions – Length,
4125mm; width, 1954mm;
height, 1461mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheeldrive,
1498cc, 110kW,
250Nm, seven-speed
direct shift automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 8sec
• Fuel usage – 5.3l/100km
on the windscreen, pen holder in
the centre console and cellphone
holders on the back of the front
seats. Add in wireless cellphone
charging it all adds up to a userfriendly
manufacturing philosophy.
It also gets a bit of sporty treatment,
seat stripes, carbon-coloured trim
details, red accent flashes and
aluminium pedals. I particularly
liked the red door grab handle, it
is easy to spot and very practical,
which means if you are in and out
of the car often closing the door is
significantly easier.
Along with that, the Fabia is
extremely comfortable. At just 4.1m
it isn’t a big car, but it does have
interior space that will easily cater
for the small family. At 380-litres
(extending to 1190-litres) there is
also generous load space, it easily
catered for a supermarket load of
groceries after the Kiddie-weekly
Pak’nSave shop. What’s more, if you
lift up the spare wheel cover in the
boot you’ll find a full-size spare.
That’s something I particularly
relate to.
The Fabia in this form is a very
interesting car; sure, it misses out
on a few items that I thought would
be mandatory, it doesn’t get heated
seats, but in an unusual move it
gets a heated steering wheel. There’s
also manual handbrake lever,
however, I particularly relate to
that as I like things simple and I
like the idea of additional control
everywhere I can find it.
There’s no doubt Skoda is
going places in New Zealand, the
company has had some massive
corporate orders – police and
Corporate Cabs – and that success
has raised the profile of the brand
markedly. What’s more, the quality
of product is high grade and
interesting.
Clever features are part of the
company’s ideology; I can’t see the
Fabia Monte Carlo being anything
other than a resounding success.
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