New Škoda soft-roader

A rival to the Subaru Outback is to be launched by Czech Republic car maker Škoda. The Octavia Scout, like the Outback, is a raised mid-size four-wheel-drive station wagon but it has two main points of difference. On the upside, the Octavia is a diesel; on the downside, it comes only as a six-speed manual. Both Vehicles provide better driving dynamics than the ragingly popular raised SUV styles.

Being more grounded, the wagon styles sit flatter on the road during cornering and have a superior ride. Basically, Škoda has taken its regular Octavia wagon, raised it by 200mm to provide 180mm ground clearance and added a 4WD system.

It makes the vehicle capable of light off-road tasks such as running on gravel, beach sand and snow, or towing a light van or boat.

In short, it is a spacious family vehicle with a few adventurous tricks up its sleeve. However, don’t expect it to handle even semi-serious off-roading; it doesn’t have enough ground clearance and articulation. The Scout, which I tested this week, will be released in Australia in late September. Though pricing is yet to be announced, my tip is $38,990, which puts it in similar territory to the highly regarded Outback.

The Octavia Scout is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesesl engine that provides 103kW of power, a punchy 320 Newton metres of torque and excellent fuel use of about 6.2L/100km.

It has extensive safety credentials, such as anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and six airbags including full-length curtain airbags.

The Scout’s crash test rating is four stars, though the testing was done without curtain airbags. The well-appointed vehicle also has the likes of 17-inch alloys, driver’s electric seat, reach and rake steering-wheel adjustment, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors and fog lights.

A full-sized alloy spare is expected to be included as well.

The vehicle has a well-muscled look along with a modern and well-finished cabin fit-out. Its interior is spacious and flexible with 60:40 split-fold rear seats.

Škoda was last in Australia about 40 years ago when it was a staid Eastern Bloc car maker. Volkswagen took a share of the company in 1991 and later assumed full control. The result has been the development of a range of good products with some key attractions.

Škodas have the same outstanding drivelines as those used in companion brands VW and Audi yet are priced at levels more aligned to Japanese than European cars.

It has also consistently done better than VW and Audi in reliability Surveys.

So far the band has two product lines in Australia.

The Octavia comes as a hatch and wagon, which start at $29,990 and $32,990. The unusual $26,990 Roomster is a small yet spacious family runabout with a frugal diesel engine.

Coming products include the Superb Luxury family car, Fabia small hatch and Yeti compact 4WD.

Stephen Williams