Review: Škoda Scala SE L
What is it?
The Scala is the replacement for Škoda’s Rapid, which in turn I always thought was a replacement for their Fabia estate, and fills the gap between the Fabia and Octavia.
On the road
I have absolutely no complaints. The Scala was quiet, had a fair bit of poke and fulfilled shopping duties as well as a 5-hour round-trip slog to the NEC with aplomb. The 6-speed manual ‘box was slick, and along with the 1.0 TSI petrol engine that churns out 114bhp and 200Nm of torque, achieved just over 60mpg. I wasn’t driving like I was chauffeuring Miss Daisy, either.
During normal driving the Scala is one of the better family cars when it comes to isolating everyone inside from potholes and rough surfaces. It offers the kind of ride you expect from a larger and much more expensive vehicle.
What surprised me the most about the Scala was just how well it handled winding bits of road. With accurate steering it turned in and sped out of tight corners akin to a much more expensive sports hatch, whilst managing to deliver more grip than any of the other cars I’ve driven recently. It certainly gives you the confidence you need when threading your way along tight and twisty country lanes. I wasn’t expecting that!
On a more practical, and dare I say more sensible note, Muddy Madam mentioned that, unlike many of the vehicles we’ve had of late, the Scala is not overly wide, which means you’re not struggling to fit it into the smaller parking spaces that seem to be cropping up everywhere, making it easy to debark and get back in with relative ease.
Interior
I didn’t drive the previous version of the Scala, nor the Rapid before it, but apparently the interior of this generation has taken a leap forward with many of the hard and scratchy plastics being replaced with soft-touch materials and recycled fabrics. This SE L trim had the ‘Lodge’ interior that has an even nicer mixture of materials.
Settling into the driver’s seat, you have a wide range of steering wheel and seat adjustments, therefore even if you’re over six feet tall you won't feel hemmed in.
An easy to navigate high definition touchscreen display is available on all versions, but the size depends on which trim level you go for. In all honesty I would much rather have a rotary infotainment controller or knobs and buttons, they just feel safer and easier to negotiate when you’re driving.
The Scala was very nearly awarded 10/10 for its heater controls as it uses dials and buttons, but to direct the air flow you need to press the ‘menu’ button between the dials and prod the monitor, which is easy enough, but not ideal. It redeemed itself by having an actual physical handbrake, if you can remember what one of those is!
Typically in a Škoda, you’re not short of storage space. There are generous front door pockets and glovebox, a cupholder in the centre console, a large drawer under the front seats and a sunglasses holder above the rear-view mirror. There's room under the sliding centre armrest and a small area in front of the gear-lever for the optional wireless phone charging pad, or in my case, mints.
The hidden umbrella in the door has long been a revered feature of every Rolls-Royce since the Phantom, and in this car, and a number of other Škodas, there is a nod towards luxury with their own umbrella stowed inside the driver’s door, as well as an ice scraper and tyre tread depth gauge inside the fuel filler cap, and a cap for the screen-wash bottle that unfolds and turns into a funnel.
Tall rear seat passengers are in for a treat as there’s a decent amount of room for long legs, even if you’re sat behind six-footers, and they also have an armrest with cup holders and charging points.
With the 60/40 split rear seats in their upright positions, the Scala has a decent 467-litres of space, and folded flat 1410-litres. In addition the Scala’s boot is a useful square shape and has plenty of useful bag hooks and netting. While this press car didn’t have it, an adjustable boot floor is available which I’d certainly recommend.
Engine ’n’ transmission
The 1.0 TSI 114bhp fitted to this press car was great, it was quick enough, quiet, and on a long run managed over 60mpg. If you are planning on carrying passengers and a full load in the back, I reckon you would be better off with the 1.5-litre petrol with 148bhp and 250Nm or torque for a bit more load-lugging grunt. For those who don’t need it there is also a 93bhp version of the 1.0-litre, but this is limited to a 5-speed ‘box. Both other engines come with either the 6-speed manual or DSG.
Conclusion
There’s nothing really fancy or spectacular abut the Scala, except that it simply works well. It reminds me of any Subaru, a wonderfully designed and executed vehicle that manages to hide under the radar of other popular vehicles, but truly deserves more recognition.
For a smidge over £26k for the SE L, which includes a space saver spare (£150), and Velvet Red Red paint job (£1045), the Scala is great value. There are 3 trim levels to keep it simple; SE, SE L and top-spec Monte Carlo, and all have a 5-star Euro NCAP rating.
Overall the Scala is a sensible and great value addition to the Škoda range, and a worthy replacement for the older Fabia estate.
Prices from: £22,105
