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What's the difference?
How much does size matter to you? Do you think price should be relative to the size of a vehicle? Or do you think it's more about quality, performance and features?
There are plenty of people that think price should equate to how much metal you get, and they will, quite rightly, be shocked by the price of the new-generation Skoda Fabia hatch.
But if you've previously considered an entry-level light or small car from a premium brand, but perhaps been underwhelmed by the standard equipment list, then the new Fabia could be the answer.
For its fourth-generation, the Fabia has matured considerably, growing in size and carrying a more adult, premium look.
For now, you can only get the Fabia in one flavour, but that will likely change. Because as it stands, the former Euro city runabout remains out of reach for many buyers looking for a fun and affordable light car.
Has Skoda made a mistake positioning the Fabia as a semi-premium offering, or is it just the latest signal of a shift upmarket for the formerly cheap and quirky Czech brand?
Andrew Chesterton road tests and reviews the updated Holden Spark LT with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.
The micro-car segment in Australia has driven off a cliff. We are shunning our smallest cars in a way we never have before, and nobody seems to be entirely sure why.
The strength of the second-hand market is one suspected culprit, while another is the tempting price point of vehicles that are one size bigger, with city-car shoppers able to upsize for relative peanuts.
Whatever the reason, the segment is stuck in neutral and halfway along Struggle Street. It needs a spark. And Holden's hoping theirs is just the ticket.
Now you might recognise it as a Barina, but Holden dropped that part of the moniker when this new model launched in March. It is now simply known as the Holden Spark, tested here in top-spec LT guise and wearing a sticker price of $18,990. It sits above only the entry-level, bargain-basement LS ($13,990 manual, $15,690 automatic) in the two-model Spark range.
Designed and built in Korea, the Spark seems to have little to do with our unique marketplace, but Holden promises us this new model couldn't be more dinky-di if it ran on vegemite. Australia had crucial input into its design in Korea, while Holden's Aussie engineers put the new model though its paces on the company's proving ground, tweaking the suspension and steering for Australia's road surfaces.
So the question now is, is the Spark bright enough to lure buyers back to the micro-car segment?
For a lot of people looking for a light hatchback, the Fabia Monte Carlo simply won't be an option, because of the pricing. Luckily there are a number of other high-quality, yet more affordable models to choose from. Remember, that entry-price will come down eventually when a lower grade Fabia arrives.
But if you look at the Fabia as a rival to something with a fancier badge - say the aforementioned Audi and Mini - then it starts to make more sense. Neither of those models come close to the standard gear of the Fabia, and the Skoda offers practical features that no other brand has. Add in the fact that it is a joy to drive and the Fabia rises above those premium contenders by some margin.
So, if you're after an affordable runabout, look elsewhere. But if you were considering a more high-end brand of hatchback, the Fabia Monte Carlo is likely more than a match.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The marvels of local engineering strike again: the Spark LT definitely feels a cut above some of its budget competition from behind the wheel. It is well-equipped, too, and packed with connectivity and technology features. In short, it could be just the spark Australia's city-car segment needs.
There was something a bit odd and left of centre about the previous Fabia's design. It was tall and not particularly sleek, but it was still super appealing.
For the new generation, the Fabia has matured into a modern, handsome, even sleek European hatchback.
Being a Monte Carlo it gets a sporty body kit with gloss black highlights on the grille, front and rear bumper, the mirror caps and on the two-tone roof.
The bi-LED headlights, sharp-looking LED tail-lights and 18-inch black metallic brushed alloy wheels elevate the Fabia in Monte Carlo guise to one of the sexiest models in the segment.
That sporty look continues inside with Monte Carlo flourishes throughout. It gets a three-spoke flat-bottom leather sports steering wheel, red inserts on everything from the dash, doors, centre console and even the seats as part of a five-stripe motif, and aluminium finish pedals and carbon-fibre look inserts.
That splash of red, as well as the Fabia's dash and interior layout work well, although it's not as clean a design as the Polo. But it's hard to fault.
There's only so much that can be done with a car in this bracket (there's hardly an abundance of surface metal to play with), but Holden's Korean design team have done an admirable job of inserting some excitement into what is traditionally a fairly bland category.
More youth appeal arrives courtesy of a huge array of personalisation options.
A powerful front end, with two fog lights sitting below the headlights, is dominated by a vaguely Kia-esque grille. And when viewed side on, the Spark looks to be sitting low, courtesy of standard 15-inch alloys that fill the wheel arches and tarmac-kissing side skirting that runs front to back. Two fairly heavy body creases also break up the metal monotony, running along the front and rear doors.
It's an energetic-looking package, and even more youth appeal arrives courtesy of a huge array of personalisation options, with Holden promising 33 different changes a buyer can make, including the wheel inserts, wing mirror caps and roof rails.
Inside, the focus is more on connectivity than luxury, so you can expect fake leather, hard plastics and fairly ordinary seat cushioning, but it's all nicely put together, and the basic feel is broken up by some well-placed style elements, like the coloured insert that runs the length of the dash.
The new-gen Fabia shares a vehicle platform with its Volkswagen Polo cousin and has grown in every dimension except height over the previous model.
Up front, you get a great driving position and feel lower to the ground, helping the connection with the road.
There's decent head and shoulder room in the front row, and those sports seats offer significant lateral support, almost hugging your torso. They are comfortable and the cloth trim gets a big tick from me.
The dash design and layout is bordering on busy but all controls are easy to identify. I will never understand why some carmakers insist on using a steering wheel stalk for the cruise control when it is much easier to operate from the steering wheel itself. Make it happen please, Skoda!
The sizeable 9.2-inch multimedia touchscreen uses capacitive touch and is relatively simple to navigate.
The Fabia has two USB-C ports up front and a 12-volt charge point in the central storage bin.
Speaking of, the central compartment is average in size but will fit a phone or two. For the moment, there is no removable front cupholder in the Fabia, but it is offered as an accessory. Skoda Australia said it was due to a mistake in ordering and that it will be fitted as standard in Fabias built from October onwards.
There's extra space next to the wireless charging pad for another device, the glove box is big, and there's ample room for big bottles in the door cavity. The Fabia comes with a number of Skoda touches - hello, umbrella in the door - including a tiny waste bin for the door storage, which I think is a simple but brilliant idea.
In the second row, you'll find lower air vents, a pair of USB-C ports, ISOFIX points on the outboard seats, three tether points and a small storage tray over the transmission tunnel. But you won't be able to fit larger bottles in the doors.
It is tight back there, too, especially behind my 183cm (six foot) driving position. The chunky sports seats seem to eat into rear seat legroom, so it will be interesting to see how much space there is in a lower grade model without those seats.
The Fabia's boot can swallow 380 litres with all seats in place, increasing to 1190L with rear seats lowered.
That is a bit more than the VW Polo (351L) but can't quite match its SUV stablemate, the Skoda Kamiq (400L).
Extra cargo features, standard on the Monte Carlo, include a luggage net system, extra hooks that can be attached to the rear ISOFIX hooks, and a multi-function storage hammock that can be used for delicate items or just extra security in the boot.
Nope. This is a pocket-sized car, namely because it has the same cargo capacity as your pocket.
Holden has stretched the space between the wheels to maximise passenger space, and as a result there's actually plenty of room in either row. But to add space somewhere, you need to take it from somewhere else, and that somewhere else is the boot, where you'll find a mere 185-litres of luggage space. The situation is improved by dropping the 60:40 split rear seats, but you'll be forever choosing between passengers and luggage.
Front seat passengers share a pair of cupholders, but rear seat passengers get none. They don't get room for bottles in their door pockets. Or door pockets at all, for that matter. The backseat does, however, get two ISOFIX attachment points, one in each window seat.
It's a good thing the new Fabia is packed with standard gear, because the price for the single-grade 110TSI Monte Carlo flagship is… $37,990 drive-away. That's a lot of dollars for a light hatchback.
Skoda Australia says that is approximately $8000 more expensive than the previous-generation Fabia Monte Carlo 70TSI. The company also says the new Fabia has more than $15,000 worth of additional equipment compared with its predecessor. And taking into account the price, that means there is $6700 worth of value gained.
Skoda is launching with the top-spec model because it believes it is more appealing to buyers and will get more attention than an entry-grade model. But, while Skoda Australia hasn't confirmed it yet, you can bet that there will be a more affordable model grade coming soon.
Unfortunately, there is no sign of the super practical wagon body style for this generation of Fabia.
Being a Monte Carlo, it comes with a sporty body kit and interior, and it gains a punchy 110kW turbocharged petrol engine. Any additional Fabia grades are likely to get the 1.0-litre 80TSI engine.
What else do you get for your $38k?
The Fabia Monte Carlo comes with heated front seats, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, power folding and heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone air conditioning, keyless entry and start, wireless device charging, a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster, a 9.2-inch multimedia screen with digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice control, and a six-speaker audio system.
And there's more standard safety gear, too - see the section below.
There's no question the Fabia is packed with standard gear. In fact, it's a challenge to find another light hatch as well equipped.
But that price is also a stretch when you consider some of its high quality rivals like the Mazda2 GT, from $26,490 before on-road costs, the flagship Toyota Yaris ZR Hybrid from $32,200 (which is jam-packed with safety gear), and even the mechanically related Volkswagen Polo Style from $31,250.
The Fabia price is only $1000 cheaper than the Volkswagen Polo GTI - but that's a dedicated hot hatch.
If you're badge focused, you can get into a premium light hatch for less money than the Fabia. For example, an Audi A1 (from $33,800 before on-road costs) or a Mini Cooper five-door Hatch (from $38,500), although they don't have the same level of standard gear as the Fabia.
While the cheap and cheerful entry-level Spark, the $13,990 LS, plays smack-bang in the middle of the micro-car segment, the top-spec LT has bigger, and considerably more expensive, shoes to fill. At $18,990, the LT sails perilously close to its bigger and equally well-equipped competition.
For that money, the Spark needs to arrive wanting for little, and in most respects it does exactly that. For a start, a CVT automatic is standard, and is joined by some stand-out features in this segment, like cruise control, keyless entry with proximity unlocking, push-button start and a fake leather trim that Holden calls Sportec.
While navigation isn't standard, the Spark LT's seven-inch touchscreen is both Android Auto and Apple Car Play equipped, so phone maps fill the blank with ease.
The Skoda is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, offering up a healthy 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
It is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that drives the front wheels only.
This engine is familiar from other Volkswagen Group models, including the VW T-Roc, and more.
Skoda has an advantage over its rivals with this powertrain. Not including the dedicated hot hatches in the light-car segment - VW Polo GTI, Ford Fiesta ST, Hyundai i20 N, Toyota GR Yaris - the Fabia Monte Carlo is the most powerful model in its class.
There's just the one engine available across the Spark range, and that's a 1.4-litre petrol unit that'll generate 73kW and 128Nm.
Skoda claims the new-gen Fabia will consume an average of 4.9 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle.
The Fabia requires RON 95 premium fuel and it has a 40-litre fuel tank.
In terms of emissions, the Euro 6 engine emits 113 grams per kilometre.
Given we got in and out of different examples of the Fabia at the media launch, we didn't do a fuel test.
Spring for the LT, and that's paired with a CVT automatic transmission, with Holden promising that combination will sip a claimed/combined 5.5L/100km (though we recorded a less impressive 8.0 litres on our test).
Whatever questions there are over value-for-money, the Fabia is a winner on the road.
The turbocharged engine is a real sweetie and is a terrific match for the Fabia's chassis. Acceleration from a standing start is brisk without blowing one's socks off. It's not a hot hatch, but honestly, it's not far off. Skoda says 0-100km/h is done and dusted in 8.0 seconds but it feels slightly quicker.
The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is well matched with the engine, but tends to hold gears on steep descents.
With a tare weight of 1265kg, the Fabia is light enough to be nimble on the tight and twisty Blue Mountains roads where the launch event was held. There's plenty of grip from the tyres and the Fabia hugs corners exceptionally well.
Strong brakes and excellent steering response help ensure the Fabia is a driver's car.
The ride is firm but far from jarring. Aside from a massive pothole that I didn't see until it was too late, the Fabia seemed to soak up the many bumps and corrugations of the uneven roads on the drive route better than the Karoq SUV we drove the day prior.
Holden's Aussie engineering team say they were able to get their hands all over the new Spark pre-launch, launching lap after lap of the company's proving ground as they tweaked the steering and suspension tune to better suit local conditions. And the results are very good.
The 1.4-litre engine doesn't generate a huge amount of power (though it is good for its class), but it's delivered in a way that makes the Spark feel like it's punching well above its weight, rarely feeling underpowered in everyday situations.
There is a certain skittishness to the way it drives at times.
The Aussie magic sprinkled over the suspension and steering transforms the way the Spark LT drives, both in the city and further afield. The ride nudges the firm side of the spectrum (but not enough to bother you over inner-city ruts and bumps) which translates to a low, flat feeling through corners.
All in all, the little Spark more than holds its own on more challenging roads. The steering, too, helps the Spark outshine the regular city commuters, with a naturally engaging set-up that always feels connected to the road below.
There is a certain skittishness to the way it drives at times, though, with the gearbox wanting to continue lurching forward for a split-second after you take your foot off the accelerator, which takes some getting used to.
Skoda is offering a healthy list of standard safety gear with the new Fabia.
As well as auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, it has multi-collision braking, driver fatigue detection, lane keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping aid, tyre pressure monitor, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and an emergency stop signal.
It has already received a five-star rating from crash safety watchdog, ANCAP, in 2021.
The Fabia is not offered with a front centre airbag that can lower the risk of injury between the front passengers in a side collision, but it scored top marks for side impact tests, regardless.
Standard safety fare comes courtesy of six airbags, along with hill-hold assist, ABS and ESC, but it does miss out on more advanced technologies like autonomous brakes.
Springing for the LT will add rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and cruise control as standard fare, though the lot can be added to the entry-level LS as part of Holden's Driver Assistance Pack.
The Spark range scored the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating when tested early this year.
Like other Skoda models, the Fabia is offered with a five year, unlimited kilometre warranty.
The servicing schedule is every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first.
Capped-price servicing packs for the Fabia Monte Carlo cost $1500 for five years or $2100 for seven years, both breaking down to a reasonably competitive $300 per service.
Skoda has also just launched service and maintenance subscription plans that allow owners to pay a monthly fee to cover servicing and some parts costs.
The Fabia is covered by an initial one year of free roadside assist, but if you continue servicing your Fabia with a Skoda dealer, it will be topped up by a year for a maximum of nine years.
The Spark range is covered by a three-year, 100,000km warranty and requires servicing every 15,000kms. The Spark range falls under Holden's lifetime capped price servicing scheme, with trips to the dealership capped at $1,145 total for the first five services.