New Skoda Fabia Review | Monte Carlo Or ... SE Comfort?

[@gregrobinson1564]

Nice review, nice car. We had a 2011 Fabia, paid £7995 for it Brand New! Oh, how things have changed! The new one looks lightyears ahead of the one we had.

[@PlanetautoUK]

It’s remarkable what you could get for little money, a relatively short time ago, thank you Greg

[@oddities-whatnot]

I got a Suzuki Celerio for £5995 new many years ago when they first came out. Astonishing when you think the Kia Picanto is the cheapest new car in 2024 costing about £12000 ! What a ripoff.

[@alansimpson835]

This looks really smart. Love the styling, the colour and it looks amazing on those wheels. So good to see Skoda have stuck with a proper handbrake and there are some proper physical controls for stereo and heating. A chunky steering wheel is lovely too. Loved mk mk1 and mk2 Fabias. Thoroughly dependable and economical too. Changed days from selling a 1.2 Classic for £6995 brand new in 2006 though

[@PlanetautoUK]

Totally agree with you, Alan! Thing is, the prices that go up due to inflation never come down again (sigh) This Monte Carlo Fabia is lovely.

[@jamiep61]

Monte Carlo Is the Trim that I would choose

[@PlanetautoUK]

Yes, it’s our favourite 😻 Jamie

[@TheZippy1969]

There amazing cars Two Mk 4 MC in our family and I’ve just ordered another 👍🏻

[@PlanetautoUK]

They are, we’d likely have this over a Golf, thank you Zippy

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Had a look at the prices today. If you stick to the 1.0 engines, they tend to be quite reasonably priced in the context of 2023. I tried one of these with the smaller engine on the Alpine Circuit at Millbrook last year, and it fared surprisingly well. The Monte Carlo is definitely the sportiest looking one....

[@PlanetautoUK]

You are quite right. The Monte Carlo trim certainly fitted the bill for their 75th Anniversary of motor sport heritage, and it just keeps getting better. Thank you, Joseph.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@PlanetautoUK , I am glad to see that Skoda have continued with this specification through multiple generations of the Fabia.

[@PlanetautoUK]

We are too 😀

[@davidmarshall5596]

You looked like you was enjoying nippin' around them Silverdale roads in this baby ❤🤔🤔The Fabia has evolved so much over the years & in this guise it has become a great car 🚗 👍 that 7speed dsg with the 150bhp engine will be i imagine fantastic to drive 😊 nice colour combo too on this particular 1 ! Excellent review planet auto 🚘 👌

[@PlanetautoUK]

Thank you David, yes it’s come a fair way 😀 hope it’s not the last

[@davidmarshall5596]

@@PlanetautoUK the way cars are going the fiesta, focus etc they are a dying breed...very very sad 😥

[@PlanetautoUK]

It is 😢

[@oddities-whatnot]

I prefer the sound of the three cylinder, it has more character. Its not always about power.

[@PlanetautoUK]

@oddities-whatnot it is 😀 a 3 pot is nice but this engine, suspension etc makes it formidable on a B road

[@oddities-whatnot]

I think if anyone wants a Fabia, me included as a possible next car, I dont really think its worth paying for the higher trim levels although on the Skoda website today, seems they have dropped the 95bhp version. I may be wrong but there are a few nearly new low mileage models for sale. I dont need all the fancy toys and neither do most people really, they just convince themselves they do. Comfort, economy, nice to drive. I look out of the windows when im driving, I dont need big touch screens etc.

[@PlanetautoUK]

For us it’s the engine and the setup 😀

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@PlanetautoUK Ive had cars with sports suspension, Cooper S, Abarths, Audi TT etc and at 54 I think the comfort model with the smaller alloys would be a very comfortable relaxing drive. I was going to get another Abarth but this Skoda is very practical.

[@PlanetautoUK]

As have we 😀 plus the cars I’ve driven are quite frankly ridiculous - love it, however nothing beats climbing in our 230CE and exploring the country lanes, also we’ve a Mk2 Golf GTI with Koni etc 😻 Horses for courses

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@PlanetautoUK nice 👍

[@markmw123]

Great vid 👍 Ps your garage needs a makeover 😊

[@PlanetautoUK]

Thank you, our garage needs condemning, watch this space

[@Alex-ng6wx]

I want one!!!

[@PlanetautoUK]

I’m not surprised, I’d happily own one of these great fun with looks to match Alex.

[@georgewalker7061]

Rear discs an option on some. & remember if you use an Ice Scrapper take it into the car for when in winter you find that 4th generation and loads of facelifts since 1999 and the Filler Flap can still freeze closed. Thats what happens with Central Europe designed and manufactured cars. Never that 'Simply Clever' to drop faults from model to model. Lets see how long before owners complain of door seals clogging and not draining the door or leaks inside the car. Steaming up and freezing glass in winter.

[@PlanetautoUK]

Interesting, a lot of cars suffer from those things, our 3 everyday motors need massive TLC in Winter -

[@noonecaresm8641]

What a nice car

[@PlanetautoUK]

It really is, I’d likely choose this over a Golf

[@vhira]

I wish they could make a hot VRS version of this car… just like the Octavia.

[@PlanetautoUK]

We all miss vRS Fabia Vhira 🤖👾

[@vhira]

@@PlanetautoUK they could’ve made it close to a VRS version if they could’ve added launch control on this. I was also looking at a second hand version of the the current Fabia on the net and I can’t believe how cheap they are compared to the 2022 VW Polo. I think this car is worth it compared to the polo

[@PlanetautoUK]

@vhira if it’s a Polo, it’s got to be the GTI, otherwise we’d take this over a Golf ⛳️

[@buscseik]

Very interesting how Skoda slowly become the premium brand of VW group. Unfortunatelly, that is the reason why there won't be Fabia anymore. It does not fit in the premium brand image.

[@PlanetautoUK]

Of what we know it’s going to be replaced sadly, 2025 possibly - emissions primarily, and to make way for an electric replacement.

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@PlanetautoUK its all too soon. If I was a car maker I would wait until we develop a new power source that will make electric cars of today redundant.

[@PlanetautoUK]

@oddities-whatnot yes, but manufacturers presume they need to be doing something in the meanwhile hence ev being the weapon of choice

[@richardhowlett9424]

Surely it’ll mop up all the Fiesta buyers.

[@PlanetautoUK]

You are probably spot on with that, and the Fabia has more to it. Thank you, Richard.

[@cheungman83]

I’m having problem choosing this latest Fabia or the new vw polo as their both identical cars😩

[@PlanetautoUK]

Yes that’s a challenge, which models in each Cheung?

[@cheungman83]

@@PlanetautoUK I’m looking at either this Monte Carlo or Polo Life model 🤯 which is your pick and why? Many thanks 🙏

[@PlanetautoUK]

@cheungman83 likely Fabia, smart car ,fun and that bit different, also with a Polo it’d have to be a GTI.

[@cheungman83]

@@PlanetautoUK yes Fabia seems to be slightly more spacious & bigger boot than the polo, I also watch your GTI video but after more economical car and will be my wife first car. Thanks keep up the great work. 👍🏼

[@cheungman83]

@@PlanetautoUK oh one more thing, do the Fabia and the polo have the same infotainment system features or are they different?

[@richardhowlett9424]

Evening Ben

[@PlanetautoUK]

Good evening Richard… Petrol 😀

[@alacarte5073]

The new Scala might give it a hard time.

[@PlanetautoUK]

It’ll be interesting to see in person alacarte 😀

[@alacarte5073]

@@PlanetautoUK indeed it's the 2024 facelift I'm talking about. It's a stunning car.

[@PlanetautoUK]

@alacarte5073 yes - we’ve seen pics but that’s it, we may have to head to the UK launch and get a proper look, we reviewed the earlier one a fair few years ago now.

[@alacarte5073]

@@PlanetautoUK when is the uk launch? I know it's already here.

[@PlanetautoUK]

@alacarte5073 well a lot of dealerships get cars before launches, so…

[@grahamdrummond2412]

19k for 1litre sounds like a lot to me 😮

[@PlanetautoUK]

It’s the going rate for this size Graham

[@grahamdrummond2412]

@PlanetautoUK I know, it's just how it's changed unbelievably, in the comments someone talks about paying under 8k for new Fabia in 2011.

[@PlanetautoUK]

Yes, it’s strange times, the inflation on car pricing has been something else, this is why the new Chinese brands are offering SUVs 20 to 30k they’re challenging the status quo. Where as cars are that price with other manufacturers.

[@simonmellor4028]

Nice review, thank you. I’ve ordered a 1.5 Tsi Monte Carlo edition with 18’s. Should be here mid March. Looking forward to driving it.

[@PlanetautoUK]

Very nice, great cars which colour have you gone for Simon?

[@anthonymiles8377]

When you get excited by a headlamp adjustment you know it's a dull car....

[@PlanetautoUK]

Oh, how did you come to that conclusion, I’m excited about all aspects of the car, you should see me on power tailgates, and seats that don’t lock in place with the engine running. Dull this is not, I’d prefer this over a Golf.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Dull compared to a Ferrari ? Wow. Speechless.