Te s te r s’
notes
Spec advice
Jobs for
the facelift
ROAD TEST
3 1 JULY 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 41
ROAD
TEST
RIVALS
MATT
SAUNDERS
The Scala’s
dimensions are
on the limit of what the
MQB-A0 platform can be
adapted to. Trouble is,
in the way the car rides,
I think you can tell. You
just get a sense of axles,
bushings and chassismetalwork being asked to
work that bit harder than
perhaps they ought.
SIMON DAVIS
I’m no fan
of the trend
of replacing
traditional badges
at the rear of the car
with chromed lettering,
as Skoda has done here.
Even on the likes of
the Aston Martin DBS
Superleggera I think it
looks a bit naff.
iven how Skoda bills the Scala’s new-generation design language and its
distinguishing ‘emotional appeal’, you might conclude it was intended to make a
statement. But you wouldn’t want to predict how widely that statement will be
perceived, or exactly where it will take its maker.
This is a dynamically respectable car which, with Skoda’s 1.5 TSI Evo four-pot, has an
engine that can deliver strong performance, good refinement and decent economy.
It might be smaller than an Octavia but it remains more practical than most hatchbacks.
It might not have the quiet, rubber-footed ride of its most comfortable rivals, but it
handles tidily and is easy to drive. And the interior might suffer a sense of by-the-numbers
anonymity, but it’s not short of equipment or tactile substance.
Considering the Scala’s price, and how much less rounded the Rapid was (the last Skoda
to use a supermini platform adapted for a larger market segment), we must recognise
progress where we find it. For driver involvement, dynamic character or truly imaginative
desig n , howe ver, we w i l l cont i nue to look to bra nd s ot her t ha n t h is.
If you’re happy without
factory-fitted sat-nav,
mid-spec SE models
come with all the basic
features you need. We’d
be inclined to go for abrighter paint colour than
that of our test car, mind.
z Be bolder with the
styling. If this represents
the new Skoda, we need
to know we’re looking at
something different.
z Add sophistication and
ride refinement to the
suspension.
z Make more of the
clever convenience
features. If they were all
bright orange or green,
you’d notice them more.
Price
Power, torque
0-62mph, top speed
CO 2 , economy
1 2 3 45
G
Different from the bigger Octavia, but perhaps not by enough
AAABC
VERDICT
Verdicts
on every
new car,
p82
SEAT LEON FR 1.5 TSI EVO
150PS DSG
Same engine as the Golf,
wrapped up in a more athletic
exterior. Lacks some of the VW’s
final polish, though.
AAAAC
£24,840
148bhp, 184lb ft
8.2sec, 134mph
117g/km, 44.1-48.7mpg
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF MATCH
1.5 TSI EVO 150PS DSG
Slick Golf offers impressive
ride refinement, a smooth
powertrain and a plusher cabin.
A solid, dependable all-rounder.
AAAAB
£24,935
148bhp, 184lb ft
8.3sec, 134mph
116g/km, 42.8-44.8mpg
FORD FOCUS ST-LINE
1.0 ECOBOOST 150PS AUTO
Sharply styled Focus is also far
sharper to drive than the Scala
and more refined. Auto ’box a bit
tardy, but still our first choice.
AAAAB
£24,595
148bhp, 177lb ft
8.9sec, 129mph
133g/km, 40.4mpg
MAZDA 3 SE-L LUX
2.0 SKYACTIV-G AUTO
Handsome Mazda is one of the
best-looking hatches on the
market. Interior quality has been
boosted, too. Fun to drive.
AAAAC
£22,995
121bhp, 157lb ft
10.8sec, 122mph
126-128g/km, 42.2-43.5mpg
KIA CEED 3 1.4 T-GDI DSG
Smooth engine, respectable
driving dynamics and a
comfortable cabin are Kia’s
s t r o n g s u i t s. I t ’s a wo r t hy
contender.
AAAAC
£22,910
138bhp, 179lb ft
8.9sec, 127mph
127g/km, 50.4mpg