Skoda continues the renewal of the Octavia range. Now, the more robust Scout with the new face rolls on, the sedan and Combi already show for several weeks. With standard four-wheel drive, increased ground clearance and extensive standard equipment, the price list starts at 31.110 Euro.
The plastic cladding on the wheel arches, side skirts and bumpers as well as the underride protection make it clear at first glance that the Skoda Octavia Scout Combi is not afraid of tougher use. The car is equipped with all-wheel drive as standard so that it can also be easily mastered. The hydraulic multi-plate clutch with electronic control is placed directly in front of the rear axle. Depending on the slip, the force is distributed automatically. A control unit calculates the ideal drive torque for the rear axle.
In addition, the front and rear axles have an electronic differential lock to enable smooth starting on any surface. Nevertheless, the differential lock XDS + also has a positive effect on handling. When it comes to the corners briskly, the wheels on the inside of the bend are braked in slightly, more power goes to the outer wheels. This increases the agility of the Scout, whose track has been widened by three centimeters to 1,54 meters. Due to the nice, direct working steering, the car stays in the specified lane at all times. Suspension and damping are designed so that nothing stands in the way of a dynamic ride, but the comfort on unpaved terrain is still so high that the passengers feel comfortable. Even if the Scout, which accounts for eight percent of Octavia sales, is of course no longer a true off-roader - the increased ground clearance by three centimeters and the enlarged embankment angles of 16,6 degrees at the front and 14,5 degrees at the rear help to make excursions off the beaten track paved paths can be tackled carefree.
Skoda offers three engines for the corresponding drive. On the petrol side, this is a 132 kW / 180 hp 1,8 liter turbo engine that transfers the power to the two axles via a six-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG). And with vehemence. Class is a start and a move. Skoda offers the two-liter diesel with either 110 kW / 150 hp and a manual six-speed gearbox or 135 kW / 184 hp and a six-speed DSG gearbox. Both diesel engines convince with smooth running and high pulling power.
Visually, the new Octavia Scout differs from its predecessor as already introduced a few weeks ago sedan and Combi mainly by the new, two-part front lights, which there are also available in full-LED technology. Inside, a step towards more value is recognizable. Standard features include a heated three-spoke leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons, two USB ports, a six-inch display, LED ambient lighting, cruise control with speed limiter, electrically operated front and rear windows and particularly breathable fabric covers for good support seats. The material is said to offer twice as much vapor and air permeability as conventional fabric-covered chairs.
Whether front or back leg, elbow and headroom are as usual really good. And the luggage compartment with variable loading floor, multi-functional storage under the boot cover, luggage net partition, four bag hooks, two trunk lights and an 12-volt power outlet also offers plenty of room with a volume of 610 liters with full seat occupancy and 1.740 liters with the rear seats folded down.
At no extra charge, the so-called Care Connect is integrated in the car. Vehicle owners can use a special app on their smartphone to retrieve information such as the current status of the tank or the parking position of their scout. In the first year, remote access to the car is available free of charge. But Care Connect includes services such as an emergency call that can be placed at the touch of a button, contact to the breakdown service and the emergency call. An emergency call is automatically triggered after an accident. These services are free of charge for 14 years.
And with the Simply-Clever solutions typical of Skoda, the VW subsidiary is also following suit. The center console now has a bottle holder for one-handed opening of PET bottles. And the removable LED flashlight in the boot charges up while driving. In addition, Skoda has expanded its range of assistance systems to increase active safety and to make driving life easier, such as with Rear Traffic Alert when reversing out of the park or the Trailer Assistant maneuvering backwards with the team. (Wolfgang Schäffer)
