2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
Skoda is expanding its range of all-wheel drive vehicles. In August, the VW subsidiary sends the Scout to the start. Our driving report with the 184 hp top diesel shows what the compact off-roader has to offer.
By Frank Mertens
Sometimes cars with an off-road character are nothing more than bluffers. With their plastic planking and underride protection, they look like serious off-road vehicles. But they lack one thing: all-wheel drive.
Only with the power of the four wheels can you avoid the risk of getting stuck off the beaten track. Looking smart isn't enough to reach your destination in deep mud or ice and snow. The Skoda Scout, which the VW subsidiary sends on the market in August, does not have to put up with the accusation of faking something that it is not. The youngest model from the Czechs not only looks like an off-road vehicle, but is also one: a modern all-wheel drive with Haldex clutch takes care of that. The system adapts to the different road conditions in milliseconds and distributes the drive forces variably to the individual wheels on the front and rear axles.
Reliable companion
That not only sounds good, but also passes the practical test, as test drives with the new Octavia Scout in the Lüneburg Heath showed. Here, the Scout proved to be a reliable companion off the beaten track on loose surfaces as well as on the journey through mud and steep climbs on loose surfaces. So if you are looking for a car with which you can not only cut a good figure on the road, but also occasionally have to drive off-road, the Scout is a good choice.
Compared to the classic Octavia, the Scout, at 17.1 centimeters, has 3.1 centimeters more ground clearance. It makes it possible to steer the vehicle through rough terrain without touching down. The customer can choose between three engines, one petrol and two diesels. The 1.8 liter TSI (from 31,250 euros) comes up with an output of 180 hp, the 2.0 TDI is available with 150 hp (from 30,250 euros) and 184 hp (from 32,650 euros). The top diesel is even celebrating a premiere at Skoda: it was already available in this engine-transmission combination with six-speed DSG in the Octavia RS, but not yet with the EU6 emissions standard.
Sporty acceleration
The top diesel we drive offers a full torque of 380 Nm, which is available between 1750 and 3250 tours per minute. The Scout also comes up with a sporty start: a speed of 100 is reached in just 7.8 seconds and the top speed is 219 km / h. The Czech is quite relaxed on the way there, although he does get quite present when accelerating. According to the manufacturer, the Scout should be content with 5.1 liters per 100 kilometers (CO2 emissions 134 g / km).
A theoretical value: during the test drives it was just under seven liters. A good value for a car with this performance and all-wheel drive. Since all-wheel-drive vehicles are also used as tractors by the owners, Skoda has improved the tractive power by 25 percent. Now two tons can be pulled.
For the Czechs, the all-wheel drive models are very important in terms of their growth strategy. From 1999 to the end of 2013, the company sold around 386,400 all-wheel drive vehicles. This corresponds to around 22 percent of all Octavia Combi, Yeti and Superb sold during this period. The Scout had 53,600 deliveries between the market launch in 2007 and the end of last year. This corresponds to almost eight percent of the total Octavia Combi deliveries during this period. The new Scout should ensure an even higher share of sales. Skoda expects a share of over ten percent. The new scout has everything to ensure that this goal is achieved.
