Cheaper 2024 Skoda Fabia Select announced

The Skoda Fabia hatch range has been expanded to two grades with the reveal of a new entry-level Select variant, pricing for which has been announced at $31,990 drive-away ahead of its arrival in August.

Aimed squarely at other light cars priced in the $27,000-$29,000 (plus ORCs) price bracket – like high-end versions of the Mazda2 and upcoming new Suzuki Swift, the entry-level Toyota Yaris and the base Volkswagen Polo Life – the 2024 Skoda Fabia Select is priced $7000 downstream of the established Fabia Monte Carlo ($38,990 drive-away) and should see sales of Skoda’s smallest model double now that Fabia pricing is on par with that of its mainstream rivals.

Standard equipment highlights of the new variant include 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, keyless entry/start, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, sports steering wheel, an 8.25-inch infotainment system with smartphone mirroring, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

The Select is motivated by the Volkswagen Group’s widely-used 1.0-litre turbo-petrol triple (instead of the Monte Carlo’s 110kW/250Nm 1.5L engine), outputting 85kW/200Nm and driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

As per the pricier and more powerful Monte Carlo, boot space is rated at 380 litres and headline safety gear comprises front and rear autonomous emergency braking, lane assist, side assist, rear cross-traffic alert, cruise control and driver fatigue warning.

Described by Skoda executives as “a signpost for value and high specification”, the new Select trim will also be rolled out across the Scala, Kamiq and Karoq lines in the coming months, while the top-spec Fabia Monte Carlo will undergo some sort of spec revision to be announced at a later date.

How much does the 2024 Skoda Fabia cost?
Select – $31,990
Monte Carlo – $38,990
*Prices are drive-away