The Scala is fun to drive

If you’re after a hatchback for your growing family, the Skoda Scala offers space and versatility as well as good looks.
I can guarantee you’ll like the Scala for its aesthetics as well as its five-door, five-seat practicality. The driver and front-seat passenger have generous leg and headroom, while there’s ample space for two adults or three kids in the back. And at 467 litres the boot will swallow a lot, too. What’s more, this cargo capacity expands to 1,410 litres with the rear seats folded down. So, if you need to pick up some flat-pack furniture, or you want to take some stuff to the tip, the Skoda transforms into a virtual ‘van-car’.

On the move, the Scala is fun to drive, shifting gracefully around corners with hardly any body roll. The steering is pin-sharp, making the car easy to manoeuvre at all speeds, but particularly so in town. The Skoda is easy to park too, due to its rear sensors and excellent all-round visibility.

Performance is surprisingly quick on the Scala, with the 1.0 TSI 115 PS engine automatic on test here capable of 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds. The fuel economy is equally impressive, with the model averaging out a frugal 40+mpg on an average run. CO2 emissions are low as well at 116g/km, meaning road tax will only set you back £145 after the car’s first birthday.

The seven-speed automatic transmission moves fluidly through the gears, making the DSG version of the Scala an effortless drive, especially if you regularly need to drive in stop-start traffic. It saves you getting that ‘clutch in, clutch out’ ache in your left foot, which is a tick in the positive box first thing on a Monday morning, right?

In SE L trim, the Scala gets a bunch of features that sound as if they belong to a ‘prestige’ badged car. Kit includes navigation with a 9.2-inch colour touchscreen, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, and a leather multifunction steering wheel.

If you’re buying or leasing a family hatchback, then safety will be a priority. The Scala holds a top five-star rating, as awarded by Euro NCAP. Furthermore, Skoda does well on the reliability side of things, so you can be assured the Scala will look after you and your clan.

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