The fourth generation fabia will receive a version with the letters RS exclusively in the sharp competition version of Rally2. For ordinary mortals, Skoda has no longer offered the Fabia RS that Friday. But there is a version of Monte Carlo, named after the famous rally, held annually in the southeast of France.
–
In conjunction with the 1.5-liter four-cylinder, which gives the Fabia quite a nice 150 horses, I wondered if this version could not at least partially represent the RS. So when the carmaker presented a couple of such pieces for testing on the occasion of the mentioned competition fabia RS Rally2, I got one for a short ride.
–
“But Monte Carlo is just gear,” I hear you object, and of course you’re right. In the same way, better seats can also be purchased in the Style version as part of the so-called Sports Package. But the Monte Carlo version has the few visual details that try to put it in the position of “baby hot hatche”.
–
Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI
Especially in the combination of red lacquer and black roof, it really suits her. Thanks a lot thanks to the red elements in the interior; on the dashboard and seats. They match the red exterior beautifully, but if you prefer white or gray, they will also fit quite nicely.
–
Nice engine, excellent seats
So finally I start the fifteen under the hood. Don’t expect any theater, it starts calmly, just like the engines of all other common Skoda cars. Compared to the one-liter three-cylinder, the course is smoother, the vibration is much less, and the sound is more pleasant, balanced, not so snarling.
–
The suspension, of course, has remained unchanged and works well on smooth and broken roads; it can occasionally deal a bit of a blow, but it filters out unevenness well and the wheels don’t bounce. If we perceive Monte Carlo as the top of the fabia’s offer, it is still a pity that there is no possibility of adjustable stiffness of the shock absorbers, at least for an additional fee, because the chassis is a bit soft when driving sharper.
–
The seats look great and hold the body nicely.
On the contrary, the seats are excellent. They keep the body in corners and make a brisk ride easier, because when overloaded on the side, you don’t have to think about what and where to catch to stay put. At the same time, however, they are not too deep, so they are not rampant.
–
The engine power is also pleasant, especially at medium speeds, and its zest for life. Don’t expect anything like the old Japanese atmospheric engines, it’s just that the relatively small fabia with this power unit looks a bit over-engineered – like it has a little more power than it should. But it’s not annoying and the chassis handles it quite well.
–
The red details, unique to the Monte Carlo version, look good with red paint, but would also fit white.
Fabia has historically had only one more powerful engine, the RS version in the second generation. Even then, it was associated exclusively with the dual-clutch transmission, but the one that is here is much more modern, better and more reliable.
–
I also like the speed with which the transmission reacts to the paddles under the steering wheel in sports mode. It can shift quite quickly, but at the same time smoothly. A bit of a disadvantage is perhaps a relatively big jump between the second and third quality – I would like a three shorter.
–
Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI
If I omit too light a steering, the element that doesn’t really fit fast – but which is also the easiest to change – are the tires. The Primacy 3 shoes have nothing like that in the job description, but replace them with more sporty shoes, and I believe that the slight vagueness in the reactions to the steering wheel just after I start folding the car into a corner will disappear.
–
Conclusion
As a result, this Fabia Monte Carlo is a nice car, if you want a little more than a quiet trip to work or shopping. Of course, it does not have the RS designation, but neither the Škoda nor the one who buys it has to be ashamed of it.
–
| Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI | |
| Motor: |
1498 ccm, in-line four-cylinder petrol engine, turbocharger |
| Max. power: |
110 kW (150 hp) at 5000-6000 rpm |
| Max. torque: |
250 Nm at 1500–3500 rpm |
| Transmission: |
seven-stage two-clutch |
| 0-100 km / h: |
8 s |
| Top speed: |
225 km / h |
| Average consumption according to WLTP: |
5.6-6.1L/100km |
| Standby / maximum weight: |
1220-1364/1670-1720 kg |
| Length × width × height: |
4108 × 1780 × 1459 mm |
| Basic / maximum trunk volume: |
380/1190 l |
| Driven axle: |
front |
| Basic price of the model: |
CZK 339,900 (Fabia 1.0 MPI 80 k 5M / T Ambition) |
| Basic version price: |
CZK 544,900 |
—
