Skoda Octavia Scout: final report

Arrived: May 2008
List price (including options): £20,240
Average economy: 44.9mpg

The Skoda Octavia Scout has been -

Doing what it does best: mixing long distance cruising with the rigours of rural driving seamlessly. Despite the poor weather, the Scout never feels anything other than completely assured on wintry roads. It's also kept up its impressive economy, even when loaded up with Christmas goodies and friends in festive mood.

We're loving the -

Comfort, which is something I haven't really touched on before with the Scout. In the time I've had the car, its heated seats have warmed the cockles of my heart on many a chilly morning. This only adds to the luxury of the front seats, which are firmly padded but afford top notch support on every journey. The driver's seat is also easy to adjust to maintain comfort on long distances. Anyone who suffers from a dodgy back - as I do - will appreciate the charms of a car that delivers you to journey's end without any aches or pains.

I was also continually bowled over by the Scout's fuel economy. When the car arrived, it was turning in between 40- and 42mpg, depending on how it was driven. But as if by some miracle, when diesel prices rocketed last summer, the Scout responded with a leap to 45mpg and it refused to budge from that figure forever after. The difference was around an extra 40-miles from every fill of the tank, which is a worthwhile saving.

But not so impressed by -

The Scout's ability to absorb low-speed bumps was never a strong suit and, having tried a few other comparable estates and compact SUVs recently, I can say it's definitely on the firm side. It was fine as speed built past the urban limit, but in town the Scout can pick up on ridges and ruts some rivals make light work of.

A crackly speaker in the driver's door appeared and vanished within a day. It was annoying at the time as it meant Radio 4 sounded more like a wireless broadcast from 1934, but as it never staged a comeback tour I didn't bother with a dealer visit.

The only time the Scout saw a Skoda dealer was to cure a water leak from the headlining. It turned out to be a faulty windscreen seal, which was replaced along with the headlining under warranty. This misdemeanour introduced me to Skoda's dealer customer service and I came away mightily impressed with their swift, friendly approach, so it was not all bad news.

We're looking forward to -

The only bright spot in the Octavia Scout returning to its rightful owners at Skoda is that used values of the Scout are dropping to a point where I can afford one. From £20,000 new a year and a half ago, this car now has a trade-in value of around £11,000. Tough for those who have bought one new, but great news for skinflints like me who love a bargain.

Alisdair Suttie