Skoda Scala
Infotainment system quibbles pale when our relaxing family hatchback shows its true colours
AS FAR AS I’m concerned, every Alfa Romeo should be painted scarlet, every Land Rover olive green and any sports car something very vibrant. By the same token, I think I made the right choice with the ‘solid’ Meteor Grey of my Skoda Scala, no matter how much I wanted metallic Rallye Green (perhaps better dubbed depreciation sauce).
I say that because it’s a family hatchback that’s as understated as they come and fades into the traffic quite happily. If you’re a typical new car buyer, you’ll appreciate how it’s quietly competent in all the important areas.
In my four months with the car, I found no area in which it really stands out from its competitors; the Ford Focus has better handling, the Honda Civic is a tad more practical and the Mazda 3 has a classier interior. The Scala, though, is a jack of all trades and close to a master in more than one of them.
The first thing it did to really win favour with me was to offer loads of interior space. I ferried a couple of tall and (ahem) wide adults on more than one occasion and received not one complaint. The boot laughed at my weekend away gear, too, managing all my luggage, bedding and a pair of large mountain bikes. For not much more cash, you could have Skoda’s even roomier Octavia, but that’s big enough to feel cumbersome in comparison.
Indeed, the Scala is actually quite agile, with impressively direct, if rather numb, steering. Still, it’s clear to me that its engineers erred more on the side of comfort; it shrugs off potholes to waft smoothly along on my motorway commute. This kind of ride quality, which never agitates you and won’t make your kids feel queasy, is rare. Indeed, when I borrowed a Mazda 3 for a weekend away, I was genuinely taken aback at just how much busier its ride was on almost every surface. And did I mention that the Scala’s little turbo petrol engine achieved 50.3mpg with no significant economy effort from me?
To top it all off, the Scala was far quieter than my previous car, a Dacia Duster. That car was a very similar price to the Scala, yet you’d never know; aside from the obvious fact that it was an SUV (much less desirable to me than a handsome hatchback), it felt positively ancient on the road in comparison, while its dashboard was more Poundland than Sainsbury’s.
Mind you, as much as I’d like to praise the Scala’s logically laid-out interior, its infotainment system proved a major letdown. It was completely unusable when the car was delivered, so the car went back to Skoda for a software update. And while this initially appeared to fix things, before long the touchscreen just wouldn’t turn on – sometimes at all, sometimes only after an hour of driving before fading away again. Very odd.
This meant I was forced me to change radio stations through the small digital screen between the rev counter and speedometer, using the roller wheel and buttons on the steering wheel.
It also didn’t take long before I deactivated the standard lane-keeping assistance. Why, you ask? Well, I understand this function is crucial for a five-star Euro NCAP rating, but the Scala scared me one too many times by steering against me, sometimes for no obvious reason.
I always kept the automatic emergency braking engaged, though; this technology has saved me before, so I’m always grateful to have it. I only wish it had featured on the car that rear-ended me, breaking one of the Scala’s rear parking sensors in the process.
Troubles aside, the Scala – be it grey or green – is a practical, stress-free and, at times, enjoyable commuter car that I’m sure would make great family transport.
LOGBOOK
Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI 115 SE
Mileage 10,065
List price £18,930 Target Price £16,299
Price as tested £21,085
Test economy 50.3mpg
Of cial economy 49.6mpg
Dealer price now £15,086
Private price now £13,410
Trade-in price now £13,167
Running costs (excluding depreciation) Fuel £1147