Skoda's small-car charge makes a stalled start

Skoda has begun its small-car charge four years after the Volkswagen-owned Czech brand was established in Australia – and it should deliver the company a much needed sales spurt.

The Fabia hatchback could double the brand’s sales. Previously Skoda cars only competed in 21 per cent of the new-car market, but the addition of a small car increases the brands coverage to 39 per cent of the market. To help cope with the growth, the number of dealers has grown from 21 to 33 in the past eight months in key metro and rural areas across Australia.

Given that small cars are so important, why has it taken so long for Skoda to launch Fabia here? The current generation car has been on sale for three years.

“We wanted to launch the brand in Australia with premium models to help people understand what Skoda was about,” said Skoda Australia spokesman Karl Gehling. “And we wanted to wait for the facelift that became available to us this year.”

Two models will head the Fabia hatchback range initially, starting from $18,990 plus on-road costs – but the line-up will grow next year with more engine options and the availability of automatic transmission. The Fabia wagon and sporty Fabia RS 132TSI are due mid 2012. For now, the two Fabia models will have identical engine and transmission combinations – a 1.2-litre turbo four-cylinder (77kW/175Nm) paired to a five-speed manual gearbox.

When asked why Skoda didn’t wait for the full range – given that it has already waited four years – Gehling said: “We wanted to let people know we are in the small-car market now.”

Standard equipment includes six airbags, stability control, remote entry, air-conditioning, wireless Bluetooth phone connectivity and steering wheel-mounted controls for the phone and audio systems.

The top-line Fabia model, for now, is the Monte Carlo edition, at $21,990 plus on-road costs. Launched to celebrate 100 years of the Monte Carlo Rally and the 110-year anniversary of Skoda’s involvement in motorsport, it is distinguished by liberal use of black paint on the roof, 16-inch alloy wheels, mirror covers, grille, and the trim which extends over the fenders and along the length of the car.

The headlights also get darker housings. Inside the Fabia Monte Carlo, is available with either all-black or red-and-black sports seats and comes with black roof lining, a leather steering wheel with red stitching and chrome kick plates on the door openings and alloy pedal covers.

Skoda has sold more than 1.5 million Fabias worldwide since the model was introduced under VW ownership in 1999.

Watch out for our launch review of the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo in coming days.

Pricing
Fabia 77TSI Hatchback: $18,990
Fabia Monte Carlo 77TSI: $21,990

Options
Metallic/Pearl paint $490
White roof (Fabia 77TSI only) $390
Silver roof (Fabia 77TSI only) $390
Rear parking sensors $390
Radio ‘Swing’ - 2 DIN with CD, MP3 $160
MDI - Mobile device interface (only with RAD - Swing radio) $190
Climate control air conditioning $390
Electric glass sunroof $990
Alarm system $590
Partial leather seats (Fabia 77TSI only) $1,190
15” alloy wheels ‘Antares’ (Fabia 77TSI only)  $990
Rear privacy glass (Fabia 77TSI only) $190

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