The Scout will see Škoda enter the compact SUV segment. The new model is designed for drivers who demand equal measures of practicality and individuality. The Octavia Scout 4X4 features all the usual Škoda refinements but adds rugged good looks, high equipment levels and a state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system, allowing owners to go where others fear to tread in some compact crossover SUVs.

The Octavia Scout 4X4 has been developed to offer drivers the best of both worlds. As happy on urban roads as it is in mud, sand or snow, Octavia Scout 4X4 is fitted with an abundance of features which allow it to tackle a wide variety of rough terrain. The key to its dramatic dynamic flexibility lies in its second-generation Haldex clutch mechanism, which allows power to be transferred between the front and rear wheels as and when it is required. A further development of acclaimed first-generation Haldex system, the new version reacts even faster to provide increased traction on loose surfaces.

The Octavia Scout 4X4 has ground clearance of 180 mm so that it can be used in many different conditions: on road, off road, for commercial purposes and recreation.

The power to the wheels is delivered through a powerful yet economical Volkswagen Group 2.0-litre TDI with diesel particulate filter as standard producing 103 kW/320 Nm, linked to a six-speed manual transmission.

As you would expect from a Skoda, the new Octavia Scout comes with a generous range of standard equipment including 17 inch “Proteus’ alloy wheels, heated front seats, dual zone air conditioning, ESP, 6 airbags, rear acoustic parking sensors, cruise control, twin chrome exhausts and unique ‘Scout’ touches throughout the cabin.

When you also consider the 580 litres of boot space (1,620 litres with the back seats down), there is no doubt the Scout is a true all-rounder.

Standard equipment

• All-wheel-drive
• 17” ‘Protetus’ Alloy wheels
• Cruise control
• Six airbags – dual front, front side and curtain.
• Dual-zone climate control air-conditioning
• Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
• ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme), ABS, EBD and ASR
• Front fog lights
• Height adjustable driver and passenger seats
• 180 mm ground clearance
• Radio ‘Audience’ 2DIN with 6 CD stacker and MP3 player (8 speakers)
• MP3 auxiliary input socket
• Rear parking sensors
• Remote central locking
• Body protective mouldings
• Leather pack (steering wheel, gear knob, and gaiter)
• Multi-function trip computer
• Heated front seats
• Light assistant (coming home/leaving home function)
• Rain Sensor windscreen wipers

Pricing

Pricing starts at $39,990*

* Price quoted is the Recommended Retail Price (RRP). Excludes dealer delivery charges which vary from dealer to dealer and stamp duty, compulsory third party insurance and registration charges which very from state/territory to state/territory.

Exterior Design

With its state of the art transmission and striking new look, the Octavia Scout 4X4 adds a new dimension to the Octavia range.

At 4,581 mm, the new Scout is 9 mm longer than the standard Octavia 4X4 wagon and thanks to its revised suspension set-up and special body mouldings, it’s also 15 mm wider and is 17 mm higher at 180 mm, making the ground clearance 40 mm greater than the two-wheel drive Octavia – an all-important consideration when venturing off the beaten track.

In terms of appearance, the Octavia Scout 4X4 features a host of styling additions designed to be both functional and eye-catching. New bumpers at the front and rear, moulded side protective strips and profiled door sills give the Scout a distinctive look and offer greater protection for the bodywork. Black roof rails reinforce the practical nature of the design, as do circular fog lamps installed below the headlights.

Protective wheel-arch strips, unique kick plates on the front door sills and sump guards below the front and rear bumpers are all part of the standard fittings and make the Octavia Scout 4X4 ideally suited to those who regularly have to travel on unmade tracks or gravel.

The Octavia Scout 4X4’s solid looking 17 inch ‘Proteus’ alloy wheels look rugged and hardwearing, and together with the  unique Scout badging and polished double stainless steel exhaust tailpipes, they complete the design package.

Interior Design

As with the standard Octavia, Scout drivers benefit from a large, comfortable and well-appointed cabin. The four-spoke multifunction steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake are trimmed in leather. Special seat fabric and a grab handle on the dashboard ahead of the passenger seat are other unique features.

The standard 580 litre luggage compartment can be increased to 1,620 litres by folding the split rear seat backrests 60:40. There is also a load-through provision for transporting long items inside. The large transporting ability of the car is also reflected in the payload that is now 660 kg.

A useful feature for transporting small items is a set of two nets in the luggage compartment that easily secure luggage so it does not move when driving.

Engine

The Octavia Scout 4X4 comes with a 2.0-litre TDI  with an output of 103 kW and high torque output 320 Nm respectively and is ideally suited. The performance and economy of this Volkswagen Group engine are outstanding, thanks to hi-tech fundamentals including direct injection, turbocharging and electronic injection control.

In addition, its high torque at low revolutions and low fuel consumption (combined consumption 6.6 l/100 km – ADR81/01) are just right when the car is used off road. A maintenance free diesel particle filter comes as standard and the engine is also EU4 compliant.

The 2.0 TDI drives through a six-speed fully synchronised manual transmission and four-wheel-drive Haldex clutch system as standard.

Engine

Engine	2.0 TDI
Type	4-cylinder in-line
Cubic capacity (cc)	1,968
Bore x stroke (mm)	81.0 x 95.5
Compression ratio	18.5:1
Acceleration 0-100 km/h	10.2
Power (kW/rpm)	103/4,000
Torque (Nm/rpm)	320/1,750

Chassis

The design of the chassis is the same as that of standard Octavia models. The McPherson front axle and multilink rear axle combined with four wheel drive provide excellent driving characteristics and a high level of active safety.

The ground clearance of the Octavia Scout 4X4 is 40 mm higher than the standard Octavia. The overhang angle of the Octavia Scout 4X4 is 16.3 degrees in the front and 16.9 degrees in the rear.

Designed to offer both the economy and driving experience of a two-wheel drive car with the ability to switch to four-wheel drive when required, the centrepiece of Scout’s transmission is the second-generation Haldex clutch. Installed in the rear axle, it acts electronically in a fraction of a second to the changes in traction and feeds the driving power to those wheels with the best grip.

As soon as a wheel slips by 10 degrees, the Haldex is connected. As the wheel rotates to 20 degrees, maximum torque is transferred to wheels still with grip. During normal driving conditions, when the wheels are slipping on the drive axle the Haldex clutch is connected and the torque is transferred using all four wheels. If the slippage occurs on one side of the vehicle, e.g. when on a differentially wet road, the clutch is activated and the torque is transferred via the Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) only on that side of the road that is on the dry surface.

Suspension

The front axle consists of McPherson struts with lower triangular links and a transverse stabiliser. The mounting architecture of the front end gives exceptional handling through corners without upsetting the ride quality. An anti-roll bar is also fitted.

At the back, the sophisticated multi-link set-up allows side and longitudinal forces to be eliminated independently of each other. Side forces are absorbed by three transverse supports. Their length, location and the stiffness of their mountings have been designed to keep the wheel in the optimum position on the road when loaded, directly influencing the car’s behaviour through corners. Finally, the longitudinal trailing arm is located as high as possible, to prevent the car nose-diving under heavy braking.

Steering

The Octavia Scout 4X4 features an intelligent electro-mechanical steering booster programmed so that its effect decreases as the road speed rises. When you need to twirl the wheel in a tight multi-storey, for example, the system delivers maximum boost. At higher speeds, when feedback from the road surface is all-important, the system reduces boost to give the driver a totally natural steering feel.

Unlike some systems, the Scout’s steering booster has a very natural feel when driving at high speeds in a straight line. It has been designed to help keep the steering wheel in the dead-ahead position at all times, making it easier for the driver to keep the car in a straight line when driving on a heavily cambered road or in heavy crosswinds.

All wheels have disc brakes, with the front discs being vented for increased stopping power and resistance to fade.

Safety

The Octavia Scout 4X4 is fitted as standard with ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) including ABS, EBD and ASR.

A function made possible by the Scout’s Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) system is the automatic brake disc drying programme.

The ESP system monitors the wiper activation signal and in the event of the driver not using the brakes for a certain period of time (e.g. when driving on motorway), the ESP system activates the pump and provides a short pressure pulse in the brake system, which pushes the pads against the discs, clearing the film of water away to allow maximum braking potential should it be needed.

This process is carried out without the driver even noticing that the system is operating. Further safety features such as ABS with brake assistant and front and side airbags fulfil even the most stringent demands for passenger safety.

The safety of passengers was one of the most crucial aspects in the development of the Octavia model range. It has been designed to meet legislative requirements and the requirements of consumer tests carried out by independent testing organisations. The high safety level has been achieved by using the latest design methods and state-of-the-art vehicle construction techniques.

An essential element of any car involved in a crash is a carefully designed body shell with a rigid central passenger compartment and progressive crumple zones at the front and rear.