This is a no-nonsense vehicle with logical placement of controls, simple to read markings and things that work the way you expect them to. You won’t need a 600-page operations manual to drive the Scout! Just jump in and you will find everything is intuitive and sensible.

Skoda Octavia Scout 4X4, is based on the regular Octavia station wagon, but has four-wheel drive and increased ground clearance, up by 20 mm to 180 mm, over the standard Octavia wagon.

This 180 mm ground clearance is a good compromise between the 140 to 150 or so millimetres of an on-road station wagon and the typical 200 mm of a dedicated 4WD. It lets adventurous families explore forest trails, drive on the beach and visit snowy areas with few, if any hassles. But provides on-road handling and comfort that’s almost to car standards.

Octavia Scout 4X4 is stable on bends and in the 110 to 120 km/h cruising that’s so normal on Australian country roads. Noise, vibration and harshness are well controlled and you will arrive at the end of a long run feeling relaxed. And all ready for the aforementioned exploring of the great Australian bush.

Should the driver make a mistake they may well be helped out by standard safety equipment such as ESP (Electronic Stability Program). If they make a big mistake the six airbags will help offer protection during the crash. Interestingly, the ESP system incorporates electronics that keep the brake discs dry during wet weather. It does this by gently applying the brakes from time to time to wipe off the water. Dry discs stop the car in less distance.

Of course, macho looks are important in this market segment. Skoda's stylists have modified the standard wagon by adding protective cladding around the wheel arches and in the lower areas of the bumpers. That, combined with larger diameter wheels and tyres, improves its visual appearance.

Interior space is good, a feature of all the Skodas we have tested to date as the Czechs like to have room to move in their cars. Four adults can stretch out in comfort and if you want to carry a third in the dreaded centre-rear position they won’t suffer from too much shoulder rubbing. The luggage area is sizeable at 580 litres, is easy to load and can be greatly expanded by folding down the 60/40 rear seat.

Initially, all Scouts 4X4s in Australia are turbo-diesel models with a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine is a comparatively old Volkswagen unit that produces 103 kW and 320 Newton metres.

On test we found it to be reasonably quiet (for a diesel) and it’s only when you are outside the vehicle that the noise really intrudes. Torque is healthy and is there from about 1600 revs upwards, with a real boost once you get past 2000 rpm. There's the inevitable turbo lag you will find in any engine of this type. Thinking ahead can minimise the inconvenience.

Fuel consumption is impressively low for a vehicle of this size and air penetration. Expect to get figures under six litres per hundred kilometres on the motorway if you drive moderately. Six to seven without any real effort. This will rise to about eight litres per hundred kilometres in suburban running and only heavy-duty commuting will see the Scout getting into the nines.

Don’t forget to look at the current price of diesel fuel compared with petrol before making your decision on one of these low-consumption engines.

Skoda knows the lack of an automatic transmission will hinder sales in Australia and is looking forward to the time when a DSG unit is developed for the car. That automatic may be teamed with a new-generation turbo-diesel engine. European drivers tend to prefer manual gearboxes in this class, hence the delay.

In the meantime, the Skoda's six-speed manual unit offers good change quality and the feel belies the fact that the ‘box is located a long way from the shift lever. There's generally a gear ratio for all conditions and the aforementioned thinking ahead to minimise turbo lag is often easier with a full manual gearbox than an automated manual unit.

The new Skoda Octavia Scout 4X4 comes well equipped, with 17-inch alloy wheels, power windows and door mirrors (with heating on the latter), climate-controlled air conditioning, heated front seats, a trip computer, automatic wipers, and an eight-speaker, six-CD audio system that can handle MP3 inputs.

Modestly priced to reflect the fact that the Czech marque is still a relatively unknown marque in Australia, the Skoda Octavia Scout 4X4 offers a lot of sensible, practical vehicle that won’t make a giant hole in your budget.

AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE

Octavia Scout 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $39,990

FEATURES

ABS Brakes: Standard

Air Conditioning: Standard

Automatic Transmission: Standard

CD Player: Standard

Cruise Control: Standard

Dual Front Airbags: Standard

Front Side Airbags: Standard

Stability Control: Standard

Traction Control: Standard

SPECIFICATIONS (Skoda Octavia Scout 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon)

ENGINE:

Capacity: 1.968 litres

Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line

Head Design: OHC

Compression Ratio: 18.5:1

Bore/Stroke: 81.0 mm x 95.5 mm

Maximum Power: 103 kW @ 4000 rpm

Maximum Torque: 320 Nm @ 1750 rpm

DRIVELINE:

Driven Wheels: All-Wheel-Drive

Manual Transmission: Six-speed

Automatic Transmission: Not offered

Final Drive Ratio: NA

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:

Length: 4583 mm

Wheelbase: 2578 mm

Width: 1784 mm

Height: 1533 mm

Turning Circle: 10.2 metres

Kerb Mass: 1635 kg

Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres

Towing Ability: 650 kg (1600 kg with braked trailer)

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:

Front Suspension: MacPherson struts, lower triangular links, torsion stabiliser

Rear Suspension: Multi-element axle, one longitudinal and three transverse links, torsion stabiliser

Front Brakes: Ventilated disc

Rear Brakes: Disc

PERFORMANCE:

0-100 km/h Acceleration: 10.2 seconds

FUEL CONSUMPTION:

Type: Diesel

Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 6.6 L/100km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:

Greenhouse Rating: 7/10

Air Pollution Rating: 5/10

STANDARD WARRANTY: