By John Howell / Friday, September 16, 2022 / Uploading comments
Before preventing reading, prevent. By that I mean, please continue reading. Yes, I know what thinking: “It’s a Skoda Fabia. Paa!”and “Not even a vRS. ” But hold your horses. It’s an unexpected little car and I have the proof: I was surprised. I didn’t expect much either, I admit, however, I used the Fabia Monte Carlo to head north last weekend in Nottingham, and three hundred miles later I’m a fan. It’s a crisp little car. That makes it attractive, and attractive cars are what PH is, so I’ll continue. I hope you do too.
I’m not going to take myself by car either. It’s not a gleaming hot hatch with the mold of a Fiesta ST. Of course not. But if you are looking for something a little less frantic, a day-to-day race with a little enthusiasm, is very relevant. For starters, 150 hp qualifies him for the role. There was a time when 150 hp in a car of this length would have left more jaw-dropping than an H-bomb, but on those days you want an extra 50 hp to sign up for the big guys’ club. To be in this class, however, 0-62 mph in 8. 0 seconds makes a Fiesta 1. 0 Ecoboost 125 ST-Line look like a G-Wiz, and the Monte’s 1. 5 TSI Evo EA211 engine is very maneuverable. 1,500 rpm appearance, oozes torque and starts abruptly.
Certainly, there are two spaces where it does not shine. First of all, it is not a stimulating engine. Most of the time it only makes noise. And because that noise is rarely very fruity or disgusting, it seems boring until you hit the last rushing bumps. This is when it becomes thick and rough. Not extraordinarily bad, but not as good as a full triple Ecoboost for cats. Secondly, there is the gearbox. It’s not a textbook, which means I’m about to lose another slice of the audience. Stop. Read on. A six-speed manual transmission is available, but only if you opt for the 1. 0 TSI. The larger engine is mated only to a seven-speed DSG, which is fine for shifting at cruising speeds, but shakes in stop-start traffic and doesn’t respond convincingly when overturned. In addition, there are no paddles on the guide wheel to manually replace gears. Even for a hot hatch, this turns out to be a big oversight for me. Stupid Skoda.
So far, we’ve got decent functionality and handling, but a tacky engine and gearbox note. If my calculations are correct, it’s zero-zero. But when you start exploring the chassis, victory is back. I figured it was going to be a lackluster set of understeer and poor frame control, max max probably akin to a nasty washboard ride. However, the fact is different. I’m told the suspension hasn’t changed from other Fabias, but the last Fabia I rode was comfortable and soft. Here the spring is taut but not too tight, so the Mount doesn’t roll too much and still breathes with the road. I mean, I’m not talking about the Huracan Performante’s damping levels, however, no matter what trials and tribulations it throws its way, the Monte’s suspension holds up admirably. This means that you can attack a direction with conviction, knowing that it will hold a line. It has good grip too, and when you get past the front tire clamp, it’s so well balanced that a little lift cuts the line perfectly. When you want the brakes, the pedal is also strong and measured.
Then leadership. Oddly enough, it has too much feel, which means a lot of engine whine going up the guide column. And because the resonance frequency is between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm, where the engine is at 70 mph, it prevails. In terms of smart vibes, there are some, but not enough to say it’s full of emotions. What you get is weighting and accuracy. There’s an instant connection as soon as you turn the guide wheel, and it’s not just useful when traveling on country lanes. It also makes life on the motorway more relaxing, because you can intuitively keep the car focused on one lane. There is also nothing frantic about his return. It’s not about being athletic just to be fast. it’s just I’m not amused, and this will surprise some, no doubt, but I prefer the way this car is heading towards a Fiesta ST. Damn blue, I know, however the ST is too reckless, and once it goes around a corner, it fights you, looking to get the guide back to center. This mountain is not like that. After turning precisely, the guide naturally supports the weight.
I’ll tell you something else that Monte Carlo does better than the ST or ST line, by the way: comfort. It manages to cope with almost any pothole: potholes, sunken manhole covers, steep asphalt and speed bumps – in one, or maybe a bounce and a half, at most. In fact, the only thing you turn out to struggle with is with a ridge that tests both ends of the front axle at once. At that point, you get a fake shot. The rest of the time is quiet; much quieter than the dynamic ST-Line configuration. So, in addition to its delicious dynamics on Highway B, it’s also great for sitting for about an hour on the highways. I also come with insulation in the cabin. There are tire noises and wind, of course, but for a small car with large wheels, not bad at all.
It’s more than “not bad” on the practical side as well. There’s plenty of space in the front seats and it’s also strangely comfortable in the rear. I have long legs, but I have legroom, even a relatively tall driver, as well as headroom and foot area under the front seats. It’s a big little car if you’re four years old. It even has a relatively giant, well-designed trunk, with a height-adjustable floor and, underneath, a spare wheel. You don’t see many these days. I don’t need to be too serious about it, but it also has decent-sized door compartments, rib and grass trays, and a spacious glove compartment. It’s very simple.
The cockpit is another strong point. The Monte comes with front gaming seats that are nicely reinforced, not only around your abdomen but also on your shoulders, so when you take another lap with the tires squeaking, you’re not inadvertently committing a sexual assault on your passenger. From changes in the steering column, the pedals are well positioned and the windshield pillars are relatively thin, allowing you to see where you are going. The Fabia even has yettons. You know, the only things the VW Group has banned on all of its other models. These allow you to make undeniable changes temporarily and safely, rather than walking away from the dashboard looking for touch features they don’t like to be. headdress. Even the assistance systems are intrusive and there is no denying that they turn off, they simply do not remain turned off when you deliver the contact.
And before anyone accuses me of running an ad, I’ll point out some other balance failures. Although I like AC buttons, Skoda had to let the guy who ruined the software for the ID. 3, four and five have a violin, because when you replace the temperature, the infotainment screen darkens to highlight this new environmental state. For what? This means that you can’t see the navigation map for a few seconds and the temperature is displayed on the air conditioning panel anyway. Then there’s the panel itself. It wobbles with slight pressure. In fact, there are some dubious ornaments handed out, in general, the atmosphere of the cabin is still quite pleasant.
The last thing I would like to mention is fuel economy. Needless to say, he was not driving Monte Carlo as if Miss Daisy was in the back. Still, the average savings after about three hundred miles was 48 mpg. Take Miss Daisy for a walk and I think more than 50 are possible, which is smart for the performances on offer, don’t you think?The only sticking point is the price. £23,735 doesn’t seem so reasonable (the 1. 0 TSI manual costs £21,000). driving the Monte calmly, faster and more effective, no longer the key flaw it once was.
Engine: 1,498 cm3, four-cylinder, turbocharged Transmission: 8-speed automatic, all four wheel 49. 7 (WLTP)CO2: 129 g/km (WLTP)Price: £23,735 (£27,810 depending on tests)