Driving pleasure in the Scout 4×4
by Joanne Ahern • January 25, 2012 • Car Reviews, Test Drives
If you’ve got your heart set on something that has the look of an estate but the feel of a 4×4 then you could do worse than check out the Skoda Octavia Scout 4×4.
While the Yeti might be the best known of Skoda’s 4×4 offerings, it’s joined in the line up by the Superb 4×4, the Superb Combi 4×4 and the Octavia Combi 4×4.
Looks-wise, the Octavia Scout looks like a slightly raised estate car. Large and roomy in both front and rear seats, the Scout also has a massive boot with a ski hatch and boot divider.
The driving position is comfortable, with a height adjustable seat. Upholstered in cloth material, the car I was driving had cruise control, rain sensing wipers, steering wheel radio remote control, front fog lights and rear parking sensors as standard.
The touch screen radio/CD/aux provided a good audio backdrop. Of course it also had the windscreen ticket holder which is overlooked when designing so many cars.
Already with a very large boot, the rear seats can also be easily lowered to increase rear capacity even more.
Although they weren’t fitted in the car I was driving, I was very interested in the blown bulb and flat tyre alert options.
While it’s certainly not ugly, I wouldn’t describe the Scout as a head turner either, but it more than makes up for its looks in how it drives.
A two-litre diesel, the six speed Octavia Scout feels lovely on the road. With great acceleration, there’s a beautiful sound from the Scout’s engine. It’s fast, gear changes are smooth and cruise control is very easy to use.
The Scout is a big and roomy car that’s an absolute pleasure to drive – you’ll certainly be volunteering to be the designated driver in this vehicle. It’s a great cruising car on the motorway and it holds its own in city traffic too.
The 2l diesel manual Octavia Scout I was driving is available from €32,350, with prices for the 2l automatic starting from €35,705.
Tech Spec.
Engine: 2.0 TDI, 140bhp, 6 speed manual (diesel)
Acceleration: 0-100kph in 9.8s
Maximum Speed: 204kph
Combined fuel consumption: 5.6l/100km
CO2 emissions: 148g/km
Annual road tax: €330
A version of this article first appeared in Metro Herald