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11/04/2011
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
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When Skoda launched its Octavia Scout 4x4 in Australia in October 2008 a lot of interested buyers travelled to the showrooms of the Czech importer to look it over, but to leave disappointed when they found that the Scout was only offered with a manual gearbox. While the sales people were able to prove the six-speed manual was a thorough modern six-speed unit, Australian drivers showed an overwhelming desire for the convenience of an automatic transmission.
“We could have sold 10 times as many Scouts if it had been fitted with an automatic,” complained Matthew Wiesner, the man with the intriguing title of Head of Skoda, with a grimace when we spoke to him in 2008. The problem is that European drivers still prefer to do their own gearchanging so the design of an automatic is pushed a long way down the design line.
Now Wiesner’s wishes have finally come true and Octavia Scout is offered with the option of a Volkswagen DSG double-clutch automated manual. Skoda has been a division of the Volkswagen Group for almost two decades now and the Czech cars frequently have VW underpinnings.
Skoda invited us to Queensland’s Gold Coast to take part in a technical briefing of the new transmission mated to the 103 kilowatt turbo-diesel, followed by an extensive road test program as part of our review of the automatic Scout.
As with virtually all double-clutch gearboxes the DSG in the Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4 Skoda it can be a bit slow and harsh at very low speeds. Once it’s up and running gear changes are fast and smooth. Manual control is offered by using the floor selector, but no steering wheel paddles are installed.
Octavia Scout 4x4 is based on the regular Octavia station wagon, but with four-wheel drive and ground clearance raised by 20 mm, to 180 mm. The setting of 180 mm is a good compromise between the 150 or so millimetres of a conventional wagon and the typical 200 to 220 mm of a dedicated 4WD.
Protective cladding around the wheel arches and under-bumper changes reduces the chances of body damage when off road. There are larger diameter wheels and tyres and the overall look of the Skoda Scout has a tough, no-nonsense stance.
Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4 isn’t being sold as an off-road 4WD, rather it’s a vehicle that can provide extra traction on slippery surfaces; such as when exploring harsh forest trails, going to the ski fields, or using a boat off slippery ramps.
Interior space is good and the luggage area is sizeable at 580 litres. The boot is well shaped and easy to load.
Octavia Scout 4x4 rides well and is stable on bends and in 110 to 120 km/h cruising.
Noise, vibration and harshness are well controlled and the Scout 4X4 is an excellent long-distance cruising machine.
Will Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4 now attract ten times as buyers as before? We don’t see any reason why not and this could result in about 1000 Australian buyers a year going for one.
The complete Skoda Octavia Scout range, with prices (excluding government and dealer charges) is:
Scout 103TDI: $39,490 (manual), $41,790 (DSG automatic)
Scout Premium 103TDI: $43,490 (manual), $45,790 (DSG automatic) |
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