I enjoyed reading / watching your review on the new Skoda Scala, Tom, as I intend to purchase a new small/ compact SUV at the end of this year. The Skoda Kamiq & Karoq are high on my list. Now comes the Skoda Scala (which is not an SUV) to consider. The choice would boil down to whichever offers the better driving experience plus my other priorities being having rear air vents, a very quiet cabin and good ride comfort, especially on country roads

Great looking car! Do you guys know when the golf 8 launch review is happening??

Great review Tom, I just bought the Launch Edition Scala in Quartz Grey with the panoramic sunroof just waiting on delivery now. My partner and I test drove all the competitors that you mentioned plus a few more and narrowed it down to this and the Corolla. Went with this for the extra space and practicality plus with the sunroof option still turned out to be $4k cheaper than the top spec Corolla ZR Hybrid and as it was on stop-sale Skoda gave us 5 years free servicing and roadside. Couldn't say no to a deal that good. Such a great little car.

I test drove the base Scala today and gotta say it was quite nice! Also sat in the Launch Edition and noticed one thing. The steering wheel in the base was much nicer with the chrome selector wheels, whereas the Launch Edition had the same steering wheel as that in your video. I think the difference was the MY20 vs MY21.

Great review, as always!!

Great video Tom! Definitely something to keep on my list as I'm looking for a new hatch just for myself. I've always wanted a Golf and didn't mind the mk7 however they've stopped production since April-May 2020 I believe. I just find it really annoying that they've stopped production but there's no replacement or new model coming in until April this year for Australia! It's so annoying, as I've been in many mk 7's and it just is something I see myself in and am comfortable with and would like to purchase NOW! What makes me angrier is that coming out of lockdown in NSW, probably to recoup the loss of sales, VW was selling these golf's for sooooo cheap and it was flying out the door, therefore there's nothing to offer now. Nothing to offer unless you pay a deposit and wait for the new one to come in a couple months. How stupid, a deposit for something you don't know what's inside and what all the features are and if it works/ suits you. I was really set on the mk 7 but all gone and it's not like the new one is on our shores yet. AT LEAST SKODA GOT THEIR'S HERE EARLIER/ WAS SET TO BRING THE CAR EARLIER THAN THE NEW GOLF.

Great review and I really like your intro and recent Skodas have better interiors the Volkswagen’s I reckon

Love this model as very practical for the $ and their packaging is brilliant

I've got an i30 Sedan N-Line on the way, getting close now, have you guys been able to try one yet?

In Germany or Switzerland, you can upgrade the 1.5 litres 150 ps / 250 Nm to a 1.5 litres 190 ps / 290 Nm engine. It’s an official preparation from ABT Tuning, an official tuning company from VAG group. Yes, it’s not as good as the 2.0 engine 200 ps from the Polo GTi. Furthermore, the 1.5 litres 190 ps preparation sadly requires premium fuel (SP98) whereas all other versions can use all fuel available in Europe (E85, SP95, SP98, etc...).

Looks way different in real life than in the photos I've seen. Looks good for this segment. Colour make s big difference with this shape. Darker metallic colours seem to look better. Rear remind me of a certain Volvo from a few years back.

Fan control in the touch screen is not a big deal. My '91 Toyota Soarer and 2008 Lexus GS300 both have theirs in the touch screen menu and it never bothers me. Although theirs are mapped to large buttons rather than a little slider thing which I guess could be a bit fiddly whilst driving.

Been driving the 1.0l 115hp Scala for a few months now. It drives like a skoda, or to say a VW group car, with decent rear seating and a solid boot for what is essentially a stretched out hatchback. It's comfortable, easy to drive. Slightly larger than a hatchback but drives like one. For me and my family of 3 it's tight, couldn't recommend it enough. Little bit noisier than I'd like on motorways but it's a negative among many positives. Lane Guidance being on automatically is shite though, I hate it. Muscle memorised turning it off quickly.

@Chasing Cars: If you had to choose... Would you go for a Kamiq Monte Carlo or a Scala?

So no umbrella in the door or under the seat?

What would you choose between Opel Astra Skoda scala skoda kamiq vw golf Seat Leon kia ceed kia stonic Renault captur Hyundai Elantra hyundai kona Opel Crossland x suzuki vitara ?:) thanks

Thanks for the overview. With tiny cupholders, fiddly fan speed controls, no rear arm rest/cupholders and hard rear door plastics, the top model doesn't seem be decked well enough to justify its premium over the lower grade model.

Love Skodas, please review new Kamiq with this engine, and Skoda Superb

Great review! We just bought an MY21 Scala and everything is great so far, however it didn't come with the boot nets. The dealer said the nets were a feature on MY20 but have since been removed in 2021. Can you confirm this?

It’s funny. On my Scala Style in Switzerland, I have a central armrest and 2 USB-C port for the back seats.

I've seen fishing trawlers go out to sea with less nets than this car

Hi Tom, great review. Any further thoughts on the highway? Engine rpm at 100/110? How's the tyre roar at those speeds? Is the 1.5 peppy enough for overtaking trucks on B roads etc..

Would a greyhound/large dog fit in the boot with the parcel shelf taken off?

For those who collected their Scala on 18" rims with 205/45 R18 tyres. May I know what is the brand/model of tyre provided ?

It is very good review. You just missed few nice touches that Skoda offers: Ice scraper and parking ticket holder on windscreen. I'm looking forward for your review of vw golf mk8. If you don't like scala design with soft touch buttons and screen, you will probably not like vw golf mk8. Vw took this design to next level. I don't understand vw Australia why they are bringing vw mk8 with existing 1.4 engine with 8 speed automatic, while mk8 Europe same as scala 1.5 with DSG and drive tra has a new 1.5 engine with DSG.

Is the Apple Car Play and Android Auto wired or wireless? Assuming they are both standard?

U have to review suzuki baleno n suzuki Jimny waiting.

Strange that you only have 1 engine to choose from. In Europe we have 3 or 4 to pick from. From 95hp to 150hp.

Please Chasing Cars when you review any car could youtell us if a car has a spare tyre if any and what size. for me this is a deal breaker when i am looking at cars.

Speaking of the upcoming Octavia Mk IV - do you have any insight you can share as to when we're likely to see it? The Facebook ads are growing in intensity recently so I'm hoping it's just around the corner.

just wondering if this is on conventional transmission or DSG? if so, how are the two compared, in terms of take of and gear change. I like the DSG shift between gears on gen6 Golf but really wish there’s smoother take off. Or if the Auto still able to translate a similar punch from the engines, because the engine is only marginally better than old 1.4 or so...

Tom, how does it drive compared to Kamiq? Seems the Kamiq doesn't cop the SUV "tax" as it's priced (more or less) the same as the Scala. I actually prefer the style and look of the Kamiq over the Scala. Does the lower ride height produce a better handling vehicle or do the Kamiq and Scala drive the same.

Is the Scala an alternative to a GTI? No.

The silhouette is same the audi A3 not the golf

Replacing buttons with touch screens will go the way of Piano Black: a fad. I'm also skeptical of that screen tilt and glare?

How come Skoda can give us the newer 1.5 engine but VW give us the older 1.4 because of Australian fuel quality? Anyhoo, another super review. The car seems a bit dowdy to me, but I do like the blacked out rear glass. It reminds me of the Volvo C30.

I don't like the idea about the climate controls being in the infotainment screen. I believe the VW group are trying to save money by pushing everything into the infotainment screen and making you touch certain buttons 3 times to get the function you want. I think it could be a safety issue if they keep on cutting costs. I'm a bit old-school. I prefer all functions to have their own dials.

Hi! Whats the colour name on this car? Thanks!

Octavia Ambition or Scala Signature? Or is there no wrong choice here?

Nice little wagon. Wouldn't mind owning one, with a manual transmission.

Does australia get the SEAT brand?

These should make great used buys

Why it took so long to come it's basically a golf underneath

12:15 Ironic street to turn into Tom 🙂

Sounds like a good thing, pity the resale is average on Skodas in Australia

Skoda makes great looking cars 👍

Like the look of Skoda but there's the elephant in the room..DSG transmission recalls? Hence why the latest golf has used torque converter transmission, I used to be a appraiser in the car industry and Skoda really isn't popular when resale value comes into it where Volkswagen is ok, but a hell of a roll of the dice of your money on a worldwide known issue

I quite like Skodas. European cars servicing costs and overall longevity is a worry for me though.

This feels like a hatchback that was made to fill a gap in Skoda's lineup rather than making a consumer buy it. I wouldn't even put this on a list for cross shopping hatchbacks.

Doesn't this car just cannibalise the sale of the Golf?

Skoda, Skoda what a shame. The beauty of Skoda is taking VW products and making them better. The Octavia is a hugely more functional car than a Golf. The Superb was so good VW copied it (Arteon). The Scout was waaaay better than the Golf Allroad. But a Golf competitor based on inferior underpinnings for not much cheaper? Ummmm?? (Note I've owned all three, Octavia, Scout, Superb).

SHMOK

In person this car looks much much better than I thought, but the engine choice kills it and ofc fan in the infotainment is dumb

I'd rather get Honda for that money

Golf rival? This is Golf itself with another name. Or did you forget that Skoda belongs to the VOLKSWAGEN group? ha ha ha