ŠKODA – Octavia Scout Estate 2.0 TDI PS 4X4

OK, so straight off the bat, I have to say that I really like this car, so all of you ‘Skoda-haters’ can back off now. Is there even such a thing as a Skoda hater nowadays? I should hope not. The days when the brand hosted it’s own sub-genre of jokes; mainly about value, performance or general quality are, or at least should be, long behind us.

It’s true to say that the company has come a long way since those dark days and, in reality it kind of had to if it was to stand any chance of surviving in any capacity. With a little help from the Volkswagen (VAG) Group initially back in 1991, making it a wholly owned subsidiary in 2000, the Skoda company has seen somewhat of a revolution with regards to its perception; build quality, reliability and value.

These factors are all present here in the Octavia Scout model that I have for the week. The Scout estate is very much like the regular Octavia estate, only a little taller from the road (approx. 30mm) and with some SUV style added extras, such as greater protection underneath the car and a generally greater robustness throughout.

The interior is a reassuring and comfortable place to be, with decent quality upholstering throughout, plenty of gadgets (the Scout models all come with sat nav display as standard) and good, overall ergonomics inside the cabin.

The ride is forgiving and responsive, thanks to the suspension’s extra few millimetres and 50-profile rubber on the 17-inch wheels, but handling remains composed and secure. It’s not as perky as the regular estate, but that can be forgiven as there is still plenty of power under the bonnet. It just doesn’t all come at once.

The latest-generation 4WD system doesn’t necessitate the front wheels completely losing grip before power is diverted rearwards, so traction is strong, even on lock out of junctions from a standing start.

All this makes the Octavia Scout a more rewarding option than most full-size SUVs, in a slightly old-fashioned way. You can make a big SUV more keen to drive than this, but usually that involves ruining the ride. The Scout strikes a good compromise.

So would you buy one? Well, I think so. It’s a great all-rounder and has oodles of space in the cavernous boot. It’s well built with a good finish, powerful enough and with a good amount of gadgetery to satisfy most modern drivers.

It’s great value too. Cars like this are still niche in a market where the perceived qualities of a fully-fledged SUV win through, but truth be told, unless I was desperate for the increased towing limit of the model, this is where I’d rather put my money. It undercuts most rivals on price too.

Engine: 2.0 TDI 150PS 4×4

Transmission: 6 spd manual

Combined mpg: 58.9

CO2: 125g/km

Max speed: 127mph

0–62 mph: 9.1 secs

Total inc. VAT and extras: £28,325