Car Reviews > Skoda > Fabia Monte Carlo > Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £15,120
Engine: 1.6- litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 104bhp/ 250Nm
0-62 mph: 9.3 seconds
Top Speed: 117 miles per hour Combined
Economy: 67.3 miles per gallon
Emissions: 109g per kilometre
Equipment: Air conditioning, roof and rear spoiler, rear diffuser, tinted glass, 17-inch alloys, sports suspension
On Sale: Now

A more economical alternative to the vRS has arrived in the form of the new Fabia Monte Carlo

A sporty Fabia is an attractive idea to many, yet the price tag of the 178bhp flagship vRS has proved a little off-putting to some. Fortunately, Skoda has now come up with an alternative in the form of the Monte Carlo. While the Monte Carlo has officially been released to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the iconic rally, as well as the 110th anniversary of Skoda’s own involvement in motor sports, the Monte Carlo is likely to be able to fill the gap in the market that exists between the vRS and the other vehicles in the range.

The styling of the car makes quite an aggressive first impression, with piano black trim that runs along the sills and around the wheel arches, while other additions include a black roof, smoked headlights, and gloss black door mirrors and radiator grille. The stylish look is completed by lightweight black 17-inch alloy wheels.

There are five shades of colour on offer, including Sprint Yellow, Corrida Red, and the more sombre Anthracite Grey. On the inside of the vehicle, driver and passengers alike are held firmly in place by the sports seats that come with additional bolstering, which can also be trimmed in a variety of different colours including either black or black and red. In addition, both the handbrake and the steering wheel are wrapped in stitched leather and the front flanks proudly boast a Monte Carlo badge.

Consumers also have a few choices when it comes to what engine they want in their new Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo. Options to choose include the turbocharged 68bhp 1.2-litre engine, which is capable of generating between 85bhp and 104bhp in power, and the 1.6 TDI diesel engine, which can be tuned to a bhp level of either 74 or 104. The latter model costs just over £15,000, which makes it £1575 pounds more than the SE model that it was based upon, but also £1110 pounds less than the 7-speed DSG equipped vRS flagship.

A diesel engine capable of just 104bhp seems like an ill fit for such an extravagantly styled vehicle, but in fact it actually suits it rather well, with an impressively refined 4-cylinder unit that has a very broad torque spread that positively encourages the driver to rev very close to that red line. The acceleration is also suitably forceful when it needs to be, and idling around town on very low revs easy thanks to all that torque. The 5-speed manual gearbox is also considerably snappier than the DSG gearbox that is found in the vRS.

The sporty feel is added to by the weightier steering, although that does have the rather unfortunate side effect of requiring a lot more effort to be made even when at low speeds. The suspension is also much firmer, though not to the detriment of the ride and it is able to cope well with bumps in the road while still keeping a tight hold on the body on corners.

With great economy, styling, handling, and acceleration, the Monte Carlo will make the Fabia appeal to a completely new audience.

by Autoweb