The sports-styled 2017 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo hatch and wagon have finally arrived in Australia, while the rest of the range sees the addition of new equipment options.
Starting at $23,490 plus on-road costs, the new Fabia Monte Carlo builds on the success of its predecessor, which accounted for 40 per cent of the previous-gen Fabia’s sales in Australia.
The Monte Carlo sports a black grille frame, side skirts, door mirrors, front spoiler, rear diffuser and 17-inch alloy wheels, along with a panoramic glass sunroof.
A “Monte Carlo” stamp on the B-pillar and front door sill plates complete the exterior upgrades.
Inside, the Fabia Monte Carlo features a flat-bottomed steering wheel with contrasting red stitching, sports pedals and sports seats.
As a purely style-and-handling affair, the Monte Carlo is powered by the same 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder from the 81TSI variant, producing - as its name suggests - 81kW of power and 175Nm of torque.
Shifting gears is a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission, with 0-100km/h taking 9.4 seconds.
Underneath the Fabia Monte Carlo gets sports suspension which Skoda claims improves handling and provides a “racier feel” on the road.
For an extra $1150 over the hatch ($24,640) the Fabia Monte Carlo can be had in the wagon body style for the first time, increasing luggage capacity to an impressive 505 litres with the rear seats up, expanding to a whopping 1370 with the seats folded down.
Aside from the new variant, the entire 2017 Fabia range benefits from the addition of a rear-view camera as standard, arriving as a welcome addition.
The Monte Carlo variant can also be had with optional Tech Pack, which adds new features like adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, rear parking sensors, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, DAB+ digital radio and fatigue monitor.
With these added safety features, the tiny Skoda becomes one of the few competitors in the light car segment to offer autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control.
Customers can add these features to the regular Fabia as part of the Premium Sports Pack.
The 2017 Skoda Fabia range is available to order now.