Bouncing back: Fresh Czechs set out to revitalise Škoda

History is on Škoda’s side. It survived two world wars and Eastern Europe communism, as well as snide Western criticism of its cars in the 1960s and ‘70s. So the global financial crisis will be a doddle.

Why? Because Škoda is one of the world’s oldest car companies and one of Europe’s fastest-growing car-makers.

So with the might of the Volkswagen group behind it (the German giant has owned Škoda since 1999), finally gaining growth in this market should be no problem.

With the recent arrival of the refreshed Octavia range, the Czech company is poised to bring in the updated Octavia RS and Scout all-wheel drive later this year.

The RS (for Rally Sport) will still be available as a sedan and a wagon (Combi, in Škoda-speak) with improved two-litre petrol and diesel engines.

VW Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says Škoda needs to lift local interest in the RS, which until now has had modest success. Twenty per cent of Octavia sales here have been RS models.

Like the Octavia models, the RS and Scout benefit from some beneficial styling tweaks ahead of the A-pillar.

The grille is more prominent and new headlights curve around to the sides of the car. The bonnet is more pronounced, thanks to some sharp crease lines, and the headlights, grille and honeycomb lower air intake look more purposeful. The rear is treated to new taillights and a more defined bumper.

Like the Subaru Outback, the Scout goes chunky with plastic bumpers and wheel arch liners for a more utilitarian off-road look.

Inside, there are better materials, a redesigned centre console and heating controls, and a three-spoke, multi-function steering wheel.

The RS is due to arrive later this year, but Škoda Australia expects it to hit the showrooms close to the current car’s price. That means about $38,000 for the TSI manual, topping out around $44,000 for the TDI wagon.

The Scout should be about $40,000. At first, it will be available only with a six-speed manual mated to the TDI; a DSG gearbox will arrive late next year, Gehling says.

“People are more likely to accept a manual gearbox in a diesel car than in a petrol one,” he says. “When the DSG arrives, we may look at a 1.8-litre TSI petrol Scout too.”

The RS is powered by VW-sourced, four-cyclinder TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines driving the front wheels. The Scout, which runs a TDI and a Haldex all-wheel-drive system, has a 40mm higher body than the standard Octavia.

Volkswagen fans will love the silky TSI and TDI engines of the RS – but especially that of the petrol car, which is shared with the hugely successful Golf GTI. Both power plants comply with Euro V emissions requirements.

These well-engineered units are mated to six-speed manuals of VW’s six-speed DSG gearbox. Drive is through the front wheels.

As with the GTI, the TSI pumps out 147kW from 5100 to 6000rpm and 280Nm from 1700rpm, while the TDI manages 125kW at 4200rpm and 350Nm from 1750rpm.

Škoda has tweaked both engines for marginally improved fuel economy. The TSI returns 7.5L/100km combined and the TDI 5.7L/100km. The manual-only Scout achieves 6.4L/100km.

The more sober-looking Scout shares much of the RS’s safety gear, but loses some of its bling. A big plus with both the sedan and wagon is plenty of luggage space.

The RS and the Scout benefit from the styling updates to the Octavia range, but the standard 18-inch Zenith alloys on the RS really set it off. Look closely at the RS, and you won’t be able to tell a TDI from a TSI; there are no badges to distinguish them.

The refreshed interior looks smarter. Faux-alloy trim highlights help lift the RS’s ambience, whereas the Scout gets durable cloth seats and a somewhat Germanic – but good quality – interior.

On the road, the RS TDI exhibits some turbocharger lag low down in the rev range, which is annoying if you want to press on or are winding your way along mountain roads.

The trick is to keep the turbo on song by selecting a lower gear and keeping the revs up.

The TSI will certainly give the TDI a run for its money, with almost equal low down grunt married to greater rev range flexibility.

The TSI wins the acceleration stakes with a zero-to-100km/h time of 7.2 seconds for the six-speed manual, but the TDI isn’t too far behind at 8.3.

Handling-wise, the RS has a bias to predictable, progressive understeer. It’s never a problem, and most drivers will be able to exploit the car’s fluid balance and inherently good dynamics.

The RS is easy to drive smoothly and both the petrol and diesel are deceptively quick and quiet, even in wagon form. Ride is firm but not uncomfortable, and at high speeds on the autobahn both sedan and wagon were rock-solid.

Likewise the Scout, though its higher-riding body causes some “float” at high speeds – but we’re talking in excess of 160km/h here, which is academic in Australia. Both the RS and Scout exhibit a high degree of reassuring solidity, good grip and precise steering.

RS buyers won’t be disappointed with either engine, but the TSI proves it’s more than competent to wear Škoda’s badge of honour.