“I don’t want more choice. I just want nicer things!” Eddy from Ab Fab said it, and Skoda listened.

Perhaps this was part of the rationale for the Czech auto builder to deliver the fourth generation Skoda Fabia small hatchback in its Monte Carlo specification level and Monte Carlo spec only.

Fabia sports one engine in the form of the 1.5-litre TSI (turbocharged) petrol with start/stop mated to the single choice of a seven-speed DSG transmission.

This combination allows for a 5.4 litres per 100km WLTP-3 fuel consumption figure and a 125gm/km WLTP-3 figure.

Of possibly greater relevance is the $2181 rebate resulting from those figures. Speaking of figures, it’s worth noting the Fabia for 2022 is a five-star EuroNCAP rated vehicle.

So, Skoda has reduced the choices for the Fabia range which first broke cover in 1999 and for 2022, the single model Fabia takes its place alongside Skoda’s larger vehicles, the Kamiq, Scala and Octavia.   

Now what about the nicer things?

Inside, the Fabia is a new adventure in design, taking styling cues from the larger model Skodas and bringing the Fabia properly into the Skoda family, letting the little guy take its place alongside the success stories of the Octavia and Superb models.

And the inside is a demonstration of this intent. The instrument cluster has gained a mature ‘grown up’ car appearance in either analogue dials on a 3.5” TFT black and white or optional virtual cockpit with five display modes on a 10.25” TFT colour display.

Similarly, there are two choices for the upgraded infotainment suite; the Bolero system with its 8-inch colour touchscreen or the Amundsen with its 9.2-inch colour touchscreen which integrates satellite navigation into the system.

And since we’re looking at the technology, now is the perfect opportunity to look at the 2022 Fabia’s safety features and equipment.

Skoda has loaded the Fabia with radar, multifunction camera, and ultrasonic sensors, giving the small hatchback adaptive cruise control, front assistance (autonomous emergency braking), lane assist, auto light assist, automatic braking, park distance control, front and rear parking sensors, manoeuvre assist and of course, the rear-view camera itself.

This generation Fabia has a drag coefficient of 0.28, which marks the Fabia as being the slipperiest in segment, and this despite the hatchback’s expanded dimensions.

Fabia is longer (+48mm) and wider (+8mm) than the previous generation, creating a more athletic appearance.

The new dimensions mean increased cabin space obviously, but perhaps more critically for professional applications, means Fabia offers significantly improved boot space, which goes from 380 litres to 1190 litres with the seats down.

New 2022 Fabia is also driving in the traditional Skoda wheel tracks of being larger than the segment norm – encroaching even – on the next segment up.

This tendency proved to be a significant formula for success for consecutive Skoda models, the Superb, Karoq and Octavia models especially.

Will it do the same for the athletic and chiselled hatchback? Time will tell, but in the meantime, and in keeping with the Ab Fab theme: “Get ready for this, sweetie.” Skoda’s new Fabia is priced at $39,990.