I drove the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo – it is nice worth however ‘driver help’ tech treats you want an fool

IF I listened to the recommendation this Skoda gave me on Tuesday, I’d at the moment be collapsed with warmth exhaustion.

Whereas we had been all getting bombarded with steerage to hold a litre of water with us within the automotive, journey early, or take shelter in a church, this Skoda was telling me to maintain my home windows UP.

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To avoid wasting a little bit of gas.

I solely cracked them open to get some breeze on the most well liked day on file however this little Fabia was having none of it.

One other gem from the automotive’s onboard pc is, “Bear in mind your cell phone”, when exiting the automotive.

I’ll.

I’m not an fool.

Please cease telling me what to do.

And don’t get me began on the aggressive lane help which continually tugs on the steering wheel to maintain the automotive contained in the white traces.

I used to be giving a bike owner a large berth, truly. And now I’m about to hit them.

However aside from all of the pointless “driver-assistance” tech and nanny-style messages, I like this Fabia Monte Carlo.

Rather a lot.

It seems cool in crimson with black detailing. You possibly can have a 110hp 1-litre petrol or a speedy 150hp 1.5. Your age/insurance coverage invoice will determine that for you.

And it’s sensibly-priced from £21k.

Now let’s take a better take a look at the cabin. As I stated, tidy. Digital cockpit first seen within the Audi TT. Martini-inspired seat stripes. Carbon-effect trim. Sporty three-spoke steering wheel. Aluminium pedals. Handbook handbrake. Black headlining. Squishy armrests. Apple CarPlay. All issues that please.

Plus, being a Skoda, it’s tremendous sensible with the most important boot at school (380 litres).

However I do have one other grumble. Aircon. There are knobs to vary the temperature. Which we like. However you’ll be able to solely regulate fan velocity by way of the touchscreen. Which is silly.

At the least there’s a steering wheel button to modify off the dastardly lane help.

You simply must preserve doing it each time you restart the automotive.
As for engines, we tried the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol used broadly throughout the VW Group.

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It’s bulletproof. And intelligent. It shuts down two cylinders underneath gentle load to decrease emissions and enhance financial system.

We averaged 54mpg on a 110-mile motorway run. Proving as soon as once more that huge engines do work in small automobiles.

They’re much less pressured than a 1-litre three-pot and do respectable numbers.

I must also level out the 1.5 is just out there with a seven-speed DSG auto. No flappy paddles, which appears a bit odd, as they might have added to the notion of sportiness.

The 1-litre has the choice of guide or auto.

No complaints with the trip and dealing with. It’s mainly a Polo underneath the pores and skin. It may simply deal with extra oomph.

Let’s end by discussing the identify of this top-spec Fabia.

Monte Carlo, after the world-famous Rallye Monte Carlo, the place Skoda has loved many champagne moments through the years with its correctly superior Fabia WRC2 automotive.

The hills above Monte Carlo would have been the pure backdrop for this take a look at.

However I haven’t received a number of grand spare for gas.

And it’s too sizzling.

So the following smartest thing is the Monte Carlo of Derbyshire.

It was 7am. Huge bottle of water. Home windows down all the way in which.
Magic.

• Skoda will convey out a seven-seat Kodiaq-sized EV in 2024. We’ll see the idea subsequent month.