Scout's honour
Apr 30 2010 By Edward Stephens
SKODA has added a rugged look to its estate version of the Fabia with the creation of the new Scout.
It follows the success of the Scout derivative of the Octavia, which has been proving a popular buy among many who need a car more designed to tackle the elements.
And while it doesn’t benefit from the Octavia’s 4x4 system, the smaller of the Scout models – perhaps it should have been a Cub – does gain tough looking protective body-mouldings, roof rails and unique alloys.
There’s also an off-road-style front bumper to add to the 4x4 image.
The Scout gets stainless steel pedals and special upholstery to distinguish it from other Fabia estates, although basically under the skin the car is still a Fabia.
As such, it offers generous carrying capacity, both for passengers and luggage, in what is still, in effect, a super-mini and you get plenty of headroom.
The Fabia hatchback, in fact, is one of the largest of the so-called super-mini family and the hatch is even longer.
Sensibly, in the luggage area, there are two side compartments for smaller items as well as a flexible semi-circular enclosure which will hold awkward-shaped items and stop them rolling around.
With all the seats in place you get 480 litres of space but with the rear seat lowered this jumps to a hefty 1,460 litres – and that’s plenty of room for a couple of sets of golf clubs.
The interior is functional rather than flash, although the black dashboard is lifted by using brushed metal surrounds on the air vents. Unusually, you do get two glove boxes, an upper and a lower one, so there is no problem accommodating all those little extras that normally clutter up a car.
Powered by the 105 bhp, 1.9-litre turbo diesel, the most powerful of three diesels on offer in these cars, the Scout has plenty of pulling power even with four people on board and certainly surprises other motorists when you need to get away quickly at the traffic lights. In fact, if you hold on to the revs in each gear it is deceptively quick.
There is a slick and very easy to use five-speed gearbox which allows you to make full use of the car’s power.
The ride is surprisingly firm, and while that doesn’t detract from the Scout’s comfort it does mean that this estate can be rather quick around corners when it needs to be.
The bonus comes in the rare visits you have to make to the filling station as the Scout officially averages 57.8 miles per gallon and during the week I had the car it never dropped below 53mpg.
At more than £15,000 the Scout is probably not as cheap as you would think for a super-mini estate but it still represents a lot of car for your money.
