Hi as it says, I am looking at getting my wife a new Fabia 1.5 Monte Carlo Edition with a few extras (Adaptive Cruise, Winter pack, charging pack). I am keen to hear of any pros or cons to the car before I decide. I have had many Octavias and currently a Mk4 so i know about software issues with that!! 

I dont know anything about the 1.5 engine, I have always had VAG diesels so keen to know about issues/performance and reliability. 

I was looking at a Kamiq, but the Fabia seemed cheaper for a similar car, anyone with similar dilema?

 

Thanks. Steve.

This 2022 PISTONHEADS review should give you a reasonable flavour of a 2025 Flavia Monte Carlo model with the 1.5litre motor.

 

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/2022-skoda-fabia-monte-carlo--ph-review/46209

 

The Specification information at the end of the review contains inaccuracies (the transmission should read "7-speed automatic, front-wheel drive") and - for the latest 2025 model - there will be minor changes in the rest of the data. This link should provide more up-to-date fine detail.

 

https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/775d73bc-eb9d-4a50-911e-863d73b99333

 

The 1.5litre TSI ECO2 with ACT+ motor is referred to in this 2024 press release.

 

https://cdn.skoda-storyboard.com/2024/02/04_Press_Kit_Skoda_Scala_Skoda_Kamiq_Media_Launch_Powertrains_05cfd9f1.pdf

Don't rule out the 1.0 TSi 116bhp either. My partner has one with a manual gearbox and it's a lovely car to drive and is nippier than you would expect.

 

Really nice cars now though. I'm seriously impressed with the interior build quality having come straight from a MkIII.

If you wife is not intending to haul around loads of luggage, or regularly carry lots of passengers, or you live in very hilly area,  then I too wonder if the 1.5 is worth the extra over the 1.0 (116).

 

These tsi engines work brilliantly well with DSG gearboxes, but if you are used to a diesel, you will find they rev very freely, but don't have much torque at low revs, so manual gearbox can be hard work in traffic and city driving as under hard acceleration can be changing gear every few seconds.

 

If you are mulling both a Fabia and a Kamiq, then also worth checking out specs and offers on the Scala which is sort of between them.

Came across this on YouTube a 2025 Fabia update which looks fantastic,might want to hold off for this?

Thats just AI created bul****. 

Can’t find anything about a new update anywhere which is strange,still looks a fantastic car though.

That YouTube video is a USA production (and (as Mikek has said) has a footnote that it has been 'enhanced'.

 

There's another USA 2025 Fabia video here

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7mPiBh9OAM

 

Neither mean that there will be further changes (in the immediate future) to current 2025-specification Fabias now being marketed in Europe.

We (well my wife) test drove a 1.0 DSG as they didn't have a 1.5 in to try. I agree about the performance as even three up with the sales guy, the performance wasn't lacking.

 

But I'm old school and there will be four in the car on occasions so we stuck with the decision to go with the 1.5.

 

Ours is the SE L and we are very pleased with it. Didn't go for ACC as neither of us use CC but we did go for a high spec.

 

I don't drive it very often but when I do I really enjoy it. 

That's a good decision although I'd not recommend the Fabia.  The one litre three pot engine is generally great to drive but I'm concerned about the electronics and software.  My Fabia 1.0 mc is at the dealers after a breakdown where the dash warning lights flagged an epc issue. It's done 4000 miles and had its first service a few weeks ago.  It has 3 cylinders.

 

There was a 3 cylinder Vauxhall Corsa on a neighbours drive for a long time.  It was low mileage but wouldn't run following repeated issues with starting and running.  A garage and several mobile mechanics failed to fix it.  Three cylinders are less straightforward than four when it comes to engine management.  I wish we'd gone for the 1.5 Fabia mc instead but buying another make would have been preferable.

7 hours ago, bazz2004 said:

That's a good decision although I'd not recommend the Fabia.  The one litre three pot engine is generally great to drive but I'm concerned about the electronics and software.  My Fabia 1.0 mc is at the dealers after a breakdown where the dash warning lights flagged an epc issue. It's done 4000 miles and had its first service a few weeks ago.  It has 3 cylinders.

 

There was a 3 cylinder Vauxhall Corsa on a neighbours drive for a long time.  It was low mileage but wouldn't run following repeated issues with starting and running.  A garage and several mobile mechanics failed to fix it.  Three cylinders are less straightforward than four when it comes to engine management.  I wish we'd gone for the 1.5 Fabia mc instead but buying another make would have been preferable.

Have owned a few Corsa 1 litre three pot engines, one from new in 2012 until sold 2024. Never missed a beat and fuel consumption figures were exceptional. Pretty sure the reviews for that particular engine were very good. Also not heard any horror stories about the VW group three cylinder engines.

1.0 TSI 3 cylinders will very likely still be going along just fine longer than 1.5 TSI ACTs have started costing owners money at techs that can work on them.

On 14/01/2025 at 08:50, Mikek said:

Thats just AI created bul****. 

Yep, way too much going on in that front end.

Tintowellfan  "Also not heard any horror stories about the VW group three cylinder engines." Best not to go looking for any.  The truths out there but there's true truth, false truth and half-truth.  These days I often end up simply crossing my fingers. 

 

I'd have gone electric but that was not practical for many reasons.  We ended up with a 3 cylinder turbo top of the range Fabia.  Hope it works out with the 1.5 litre model, matrix2020.

An online search on car engines 3 cylinder vs 4 cylinder will retrieve plenty of discussion about this - but what will not be found is any credible evidence that a 3-cylinder motor will be inherently less reliable than a 4-cylinder. As there are several major mechanical components of a 4-cylinder motor not needed in a 3-cylinder, there is less to go wrong and, consequently, the former should theoretically be less reliable than the latter. And, where the latest VAG 1.5litre  motor (as fitted to current Fabias) is concerned, this power-plant is far more technically complex than the 1.0litre 3-cylinder.

 

Most (all?) manufacturers of small petrol-fuelled cars will have moved to small-capacity 3-cylinder turbocharged motors as the power source. There's nothing intrinsically 'wrong' with this and - if there are problems - it's normally the electronics that are the culprits, not the motor's number of cylinders.

The 1.5 TSI is not just a 4 cylinder petrol engine it is a TSI ACT.  Active Cylinder Technology.  Audi 1.5 TFSI COD / Cylinder on demand.   

OK as long as they are OK, and fine if those replacing the Cam Belt have all the gear and more than ideas.  Same as everything else really.

I will be posting about the breakdown due to an epc issue recently experienced in our 73 reg Fabia mc, but it'll be a new thread DerekU.  It was a worrying experience but gave clues as to why issues with VW group cars may not be fully reported making the stats unreliable. 

 

 

The car is amazing! It offers a lot of space and room for its size. The boot is probably the largest in its class. We got the Monte Carlo Plus 1.5 TSI and additionally ordered ACC, Active Line Assist, and the Winter Pack Premium. Our entertainment system is BOLERO without navigation, as we only use Waze or Sygic. My everyday car is the SUPERB III Estate / Sportline. My wife is the primary driver of the Fabia :-) but for me, the car is brilliant – dynamic, quiet, the seats are very comfortable, the headlights are excellent, and it’s truly a pleasure to drive. So far, I haven’t found any drawbacks... except that the glovebox no longer has cooling.