2011 Skoda Octavia Scout DSG Road Test

�We could have sold 10 times as many Scouts if it had been fitted with an automatic,� complained Matthew Wiesner, the man with the intriguing title of Head of Skoda, with a grimace when we spoke to him in 2008. The problem is that European drivers still prefer to do their own gearchanging so the design of an automatic is pushed a long way down the design line.

Now Wiesner�s wishes have finally come true and Octavia Scout is offered with the option of a Volkswagen DSG double-clutch automated manual. Skoda has been a division of the Volkswagen Group for almost two decades now and the Czech cars frequently have VW underpinnings.

Skoda invited us to Queensland�s Gold Coast to take part in a technical briefing of the new transmission mated to the 103 kilowatt turbo-diesel, followed by an extensive road test program as part of our review of the automatic Scout.

As with virtually all double-clutch gearboxes the DSG in the Skoda Octavia Scout 4×4 Skoda it can be a bit slow and harsh at very low speeds. Once it�s up and running gear changes are fast and smooth. Manual control is offered by using the floor selector, but no steering wheel paddles are installed.

Octavia Scout 4×4 is based on the regular Octavia station wagon, but with four-wheel drive and ground clearance raised by 20 mm, to 180 mm. The setting of 180 mm is a good compromise between the 150 or so millimetres of a conventional wagon and the typical 200 to 220 mm of a dedicated 4WD.

Protective cladding around the wheel arches and under-bumper changes reduces the chances of body damage when off road. There are larger diameter wheels and tyres and the overall look of the Skoda Scout has a tough, no-nonsense stance.

Skoda Octavia Scout 4×4 isn�t being sold as an off-road 4WD, rather it�s a vehicle that can provide extra traction on slippery surfaces; such as when exploring harsh forest trails, going to the ski fields, or using a boat off slippery ramps.

Interior space is good and the luggage area is sizeable at 580 litres. The boot is well shaped and easy to load.

Octavia Scout 4×4 rides well and is stable on bends and in 110 to 120 km/h cruising.

Noise, vibration and harshness are well controlled and the Scout 4X4 is an excellent long-distance cruising machine.

Will Skoda Octavia Scout 4×4 now attract ten times as buyers as before? We don�t see any reason why not and this could result in about 1000 Australian buyers a year going for one.

The complete Skoda Octavia Scout range, with prices (excluding government and dealer charges) is:

Scout 103TDI: $39,490 (manual), $41,790 (DSG automatic)

Scout Premium 103TDI: $43,490 (manual), $45,790 (DSG automatic)