2022 Škoda Fabia Monte Carlo

Rally-inspired trims for a mainstream, affordable hatchback that's more daily driver than Col de Turini-ready

In North America and other parts of the world, rallying evokes the names of manufacturers such as…well…we’ll spare Škoda the ignominy. For rally, why do you think Subaru and not Škoda? †

Today, the automaker showed its final version of the mainstream Fabia hatchback, the Fabia Monte Carlo: up to 148 horsepower and 225 km/h (139 mph) top speed. Or as little as 78 hp. This is, after all, a mainstream hatchback built atop the Volkswagen Group’s MQB-A0 platform. (Think Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo.)

More impressive to us is that three of the four available gasoline engines are officially rated to travel more than 900 km (560 miles) between fill-ups when fitted with an optional 50L (13.2 US gal.) fuel tank.