2023 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo new car review

The latest edition of a popular small hatchback has moved in a new direction from what previous buyers of the brand had come to expect.

Skoda’s fourth-generation Fabia hatch recently arrived in a single, pricey Monte Carlo Edition 150 grade. Here are five things you need to know.

Skoda’s little Fabia has gone upmarket.

Skoda’s forgotten its city cars should be cheap

Here’s the simplified Volkswagen Group hierarchy: Audi at the top, VW in the middle, and Skoda the fun budget brand at the bottom. But somebody forgot to tell Skoda Australia.

The Fabia is its tiniest offering, but is available only in a single, high-specification grade. And it’s (gulp) $38,990 drive-away. A related VW Polo is $9000 less, and prestige Audi A1 is in the traffic for the same money as the little Czech. Neither German matches the Skoda’s inclusions, but can we ignore badge cachet?

Adding to the confusion, Skoda’s larger Scala hatchback and Kamiq SUV cost less than the titchy Fabia.

Problem is, we associate the nameplate with cheap city runabouts. Eight years ago you could drive a Fabia away for $15,990.

But the Fabia’s grown up, sporty and full of goodies

It’s packed with standard equipment, though.

Skoda knows there’s tiny profits in cheapie city cars, so a sole expensive grade offers higher margins on inevitably fewer sales.

Key is offering value, so the Monte Carlo’s crammed with kit. Standouts are black 18-inch alloys, abundant LED lighting, nicely customisable digital driver display, 9.2-inch infotainment, sat nav, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, aluminium trim, adaptive cruise control, lengthy driver assist provisions and the toastiest seat heaters I’ve yet tested.

But should we expect more at this price? You miss out on leather, ventilated or power seats, a head-up display and electronic handbrake.

It’d be a hoot to drive around the real Monte Carlo

It’s fun to drive, too.

Supercars not Skodas are the Monaco norm, but driving a Fabia around the real Monte Carlo F1 track would be seriously fun.

Through the tunnel you’ll find the 110kW/250Nm four-cylinder turbo a responsive, spirited and refined unit, enthusiastically pulling along this 1265kg hatchback. It feels faster than its on-paper 0-100km/h of eight seconds.

Put the shoe in around Casino Square or one of Monte’s famed hairpins and tyre grip’s mega, steering has a lovely weight, and the chassis goes all playful.

It doesn’t feel like a truly involving hot hatch- stiffish ride and obvious tyre noise aside – and the DSG auto cries out for paddle shifters. It’s sharper in Sport mode, but the gearbox can be lazy to respond at low speeds.

Positively, the Fabia’s a comfortable and unruffled highway cruiser considering its size.

The price means the Fabia will be a niche vehicle.

Cheap parts haven’t been entirely banished

Ferrari red flashes abound through a solidly-built and well laid-out cabin. It’s surprisingly spacious up front, and seats successfully combine sporty and comfy.

The excellent duo of screens and thick, leather steering wheel feel prestige, while rubber and carpet in the centre console show smart attention to detail.

Fake carbon weave trim is forgivable, but not the abundance of hard plastics through the doors and dashboard. Not at this price.

Rear seats are a bit upright, the space is more akin to larger hatchbacks like a VW Golf or Toyota Corolla. The Fabia’s 380L boot, complete with clever netting, dividers and pouches, outsizes the aforementioned, and a Mazda 3’s too.

It lives up to its Simply Clever promises

Smartest trick is the Fabia’s packaging – Skoda makes use of space so well. Easter eggs include a driver’s door umbrella, a proper waste bin, four USB-C ports, rear air vents (uncommon in light cars) a double-sided boot mat (washable rubber or fabric), and enough cargo netting to make a trawlerman jealous.

A seven year warranty extends the smarts, as do prepaid service plans: $1800 for five years, $2500 for seven. The engine’s quite canny too, drinking 5.3L/100km of 95RON on average. Our test returned 5.7L/100km overall, but a cracking 4.3L on the highway.

But you know what would be really clever? A cheaper, lower spec version of this fun little car. While you’re at it, bring back the Tardis-like wagon version too, please.

Originally published as 2023 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo new car review