Skoda introduces driveaway pricing for Fabia, Rapid

SKODA Australia has introduced driveaway pricing and revised option packages in minor model-year updates for its slow-selling Fabia light car and Rapid small hatch.

 

Revealed in February, the facelifted Fabia range starts from $16,990 driveaway for the 70TSI hatch, while its wagon sibling commands a $2500 premium.

 

Both 70TSI variants are motivated by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 70kW of power and 160Nm of torque. These outputs are sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

 

Further upstream, the 81TSI comes in $19,990 hatch and $21,490 wagon forms. It runs a more powerful, 81kW/200Nm tune of the same unit and gains a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.

 

The Monte Carlo 81TSI assumes flagship responsibilities, costing $25,490 in hatch guise and $26,990 in wagon form. It features the same mechanicals as the 81TSI.

 

Standard equipment in the 70TSI and 80TSI includes low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), multi-collision braking, a reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring and LED daytime running lights (DRLs). Wagon variants also pick up silver roof rails.

 

Inside, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, auxiliary and SD-card inputs, as well as a six-speaker sound system, a sports steering wheel, carpet floor mats and six airbags feature.

 

The optional Sports Pack costs $1800 and adds either 17-inch Savio alloy wheels or black 16-inch Vigo rims with a black roof, side mirror covers and A-pillars, as well as sports suspension, privacy glass, rear parking sensors, a flat-bottom steering wheel, a front centre armrest, cruise control and a manual speed limiter.

 

Alternatively, the $3600 Premium Sports Pack includes the same additions plus adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue detection, digital radio, two rear USB ports, climate control, keyless entry and start, and an alarm system.

 

The $1800 Vision Pack features adaptive LED headlights, LED tail-lights, front foglights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

 

According to Skoda Australia, the Monte Carlo 81TSI variants are expected to account for a third of Fabia sales, thanks to their style-focused inclusions.

 

These extend to black treatments to the 17-inch Torino alloy wheels, side skirts and mirror covers, front grille, front and rear spoilers, and rear diffuser, while Monte Carlo logos adorn the B-pillars and scuff plates.

 

Sports suspension, seats and pedals, as well as privacy glass, a flat-bottom steering wheel with red stitching, a Monte Carlo instrument cluster, a front centre armrest, cruise control and a manual speed limiter are also included. The wagon variant picks up black roof rails.

 

The Vision Pack is also available on the Monte Carlo 81TSI but costs $400 less, at $1400, as the flagship grade already features LED tail-lights and front foglights.

 

However, the Monte Carlo 81TSI’s $1800 Tech Pack is unique, adding rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue detection, digital radio, two rear USB ports, climate control, keyless entry and start, and an alarm system.

 

Individual options for all Fabia variants extend to a panoramic sunroof ($1000), satellite navigation ($950) and metallic or pearl-effect paintwork ($500). Cruise control and a manual speed limiter can be added to the 70TSI and 81TSI for $390.

 

Meanwhile, the Rapid continues to be offered with a single variant, the 92TSI, which is now priced from $24,990. It employs a 92kW/200Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and a seven-speed DSG.

 

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing bi-Xenon headlights, LED DRLs, rain-sensing windshield wipers, privacy glass, low-speed AEB, driver fatigue detection, tyre pressure monitoring, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and cruise control.

 

Inside, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, auxiliary and SD-card inputs, as well as digital radio, a six-speaker sound system, a leather-trimmed sports steering wheel, sports seats and pedals, ambient lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, carpet floor mats and six airbags are found.

 

As with all Skoda Australia models, the Fabia and Rapid come with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty alongside the recently-revised option of a three-year ($760) or five-year ($1600) capped-price servicing package.

 

Excluding the Karoq small SUV that has been impacted by supply issues since its June launch, the Fabia and Rapid are the slowest-selling models in Skoda Australia’s model line-up.

 

Sales of the Fabia have taken a significant hit this year, with 590 examples sold to the end of August – a 27.5 per cent decrease over the 590 deliveries made during the same period in 2017.

 

The Fabia is currently 12th in the sub-$25,000 light-car segment, trailing the Hyundai Accent (10,842 units), Mazda2 (7748), Toyota Yaris (6473), Suzuki Swift (5495) and Kia Rio (4675), among others.

 

Conversely, the Rapid has lifted its year-to-date sales, albeit from a low base, with the 292 vehicles finding homes in 2018 representing a 3.2 per cent increase over the 283 registrations made in the first eight months of last year.

 

The Rapid sits in 14th position in the sub-$40,000 small-car segment, finding itself behind the Toyota Corolla (24,770 units), Mazda3 (22,502), Hyundai i30 (19,481), Volkswagen Golf (13,660) and Kia Cerato (13,151), among others.

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