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By
EWAN KENNEDY
15 December 2008
There's something nice and old fashioned about the Skoda Octavia
Scout 4X4. A description that’s certainly not intended to be
insulting, because many people are looking for a family wagon
that’s easy to use and simple to drive. Scouts, the human type,
worldwide would appreciate the description of the vehicle carrying
their name.
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
now 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:
Three years/100,000 km
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Marque Publishing Company
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