Skoda Octavia Scout. Strip game

Today, the appearance of new sub-models surprises no one, and marketers don't have to blush for such decisions. Essentially, the same technical base is simply packaged in different bodies to try to stimulate demand. But besides the increased ground clearance, what else can the Skoda Octavia Scout offer to hook a potential buyer?

The discussion about this modification should start from afar. The relationship between the automaker and the buyer is very convenient to analyze using terms from family psychology. The manufacturer, who plays a one-sided game, has to become more and more inventive to attract the attention of a consumer exhausted by advertising. In this scheme, the consumer is the man, and the manufacturer is the woman. The initiative always comes from the "woman," but she carefully hides it.

Let's take one of the Skoda models as an example. The all-wheel-drive Octavia Combi wagon with a peppy two-liter FSI engine would very much like to please its potential "man." It has the capabilities and knowledge for this. But first, it needs to attract attention, and that's exactly the problem: in two years, fewer than a hundred Russians chose this car. Abroad, local "men" are spoiled by excellent roads and quality diesel, so all-wheel drive and direct injection are not strong arguments there. What to do?

2007 Skoda Octavia Scout
© Photo: Skoda

The solution was found as easily as a lady of Balzac's age putting on sheer lingerie before a date with a young man. The fabric is so thin that it involuntarily makes you study every curve of the figure. So they decided to dress up the Octavia Combi 4x4, or rather, to change its clothes. At the same time, the sculpted shapes of the Scout's off-road bumpers can be examined without strain, and if desired, even touched. But Scout has another trump card — ground clearance increased to 180 mm. Men bite on such bait, like a raised skirt, in droves.

Your hand automatically reaches for the door handle. You want to settle into the comfortable seat as soon as possible. And it doesn't disappoint: the seat profile provides excellent lateral and lumbar support. Once inside the cabin, you can fully enjoy the tactile sensations. Your imagination runs wild. Turn the key and try to be a bit mischievous on dry asphalt.

2007 Skoda Octavia Scout
© Photo: Skoda

The Octavia is very obedient and tries to please the driver in every desire. Did the steering wheel seem too slippery? No, it's just that your palms get a little moist from pleasure. With careful throttle work, the handling is close to neutral, but if you overdo it, the car may get a little capricious. However, in search of new emotions, it's better to change your position and give both yourself and the car a rest without stopping the movement. Reclining the seatback to a "strolling" position, we won't make the car perform complex maneuvers.

The ideal straight road is where you can find harmony in the union of man and machine.

Let's relax and smoothly start revving the powerful 150-horsepower engine, shifting gears on the manual. Unlike many competitors, the sixth gear here is not for economy. The maximum 200 km/h is achieved only on the highest gear. The beauty is that the path to this speed is long. At this pace, you can drive until evening.

2007 Skoda Octavia Scout
© Photo: Skoda

What else do you need from a car besides pleasure? Probably a bit of practicality. After all, even the most skilled courtesan gets boring if she can't cook. But Scout is also in perfect order with functionality. If there's nowhere to park — no problem. Our Octavia will softly, with the grace of a wild cat, climb onto any curb, even the highest one. Any normal "man" will surely want to repeat this exercise several times. Having parked on the lawn, don't rush home: the standard 580 liters of trunk easily turn into a 1620-liter volume. On such a platform, you can comfortably spend the night with three people... or rather, two — it won't be cramped.

In the morning, as usual, there's a reason for a headache: this dressed-up Octavia costs crazy money! And now you have to shell out a whole $43,000 for it! However, instincts come at a high price!

Driving
On dry asphalt, the handling is close to neutral. Difficulties arise when fully loaded: in fast corners, the Scout behaves strangely.

Interior
All interior elements are familiar from other models of the brand. The materials are high-quality and pleasant to the touch.

Comfort
At high revs, engine and drive noise is audible. Aerodynamic noise starting from 120 km/h also causes inconvenience to passengers.

Safety
Passive safety is at a modern level. Even in a serious accident, the consequences for the driver and front passenger will not be catastrophic.

Price
The test car for $43,000 didn't even have electric seat adjustment.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Good dynamic qualities, large trunk, moderate off-road capabilities.
- The car's interior completely lacks elements characteristic of this particular model.

Our opinion

Skoda continues to follow the beaten path. The brand's cars are getting better, more qualitative, but this inevitably affects the price. Czech engineers are now practically not designing cars but merely synthesizing them, using ready-made components and assemblies. The case of the Octavia Scout is a typical example of what reserves for attracting buyer attention are embedded in the car's exterior.