Be Prepared!

I first heard the phrase "Be Prepared" in the cartoon "Hoodwinked!", where a funny mountain goat was ready for anything.

Later I found out that this is the official motto of the world scouting movement, adopted back in 1907. And our pioneers adapted it in their own way, replacing the "bourgeois" "Be Prepared" with the native "Always Ready!".

So, the Skoda Octavia Scout, despite its name, is not "their" scout, but "our" pioneer.

"Always Ready!"

What is the Octavia Scout? Essentially, it's an all-wheel-drive wagon with a Haldex coupling, which we already tested in winter, but with a bit of "factory tuning". The modifications turned out so successful that I want to immediately advise: "don't spare the two and a half thousand dollars (that's exactly what they ask for the Scout version) and take it — it's worth it!".

Firstly, for this money you get a ground clearance of 180 millimeters — 17 mm more than the Octavia 4x4, and 40 mm more than the regular wagon. Secondly, the Scout sports a practical body kit of unpainted plastic: bumpers, sill covers, and wheel arch flares. With it, the car looks even nicer. Thirdly, the base already includes 17-inch wheels and a grab handle above the glovebox — the passenger will have something to hold onto if the driver decides to "get rowdy".

By the way, the silver bumper covers on the "Scout" are not plastic, as stated on the Russian Skoda website, but metal. And that's a plus: they perfectly protect the bumpers from scratches when parking near curbs or on dirt roads.

Dirt!

While looking for a place to shoot our "Scout" in one of Moscow's parks, we came across a narrow, washed-out road leading, as it turned out, to an abandoned track for extreme cyclists. With ramps and other delights.

At first, we carefully drove around all the large puddles — afraid of getting stuck on the asphalt tires the car was fitted with. But our fears were unfounded. Thanks to its light weight, the "Scout" confidently handles light off-road.

Growing bolder, we deliberately stopped in the middle of the black muck and tried to pull away. And the "Octavia" drove out: after a barely noticeable spin of the front wheels, the Haldex coupling engaged the rear ones, and we continued on.

It's clear that on a clay section we'd have to call a tractor. But in less severe conditions, the "Scout" is unlikely to get stuck. And if it does "sit down", it can be pushed out by hand — it's not a two-ton SUV.

Another test awaited us on the approach to the bike track — a steep grassy slope. We conquered it only on the second attempt: first, my colleague behind the wheel got scared of the steepness and stopped at the very top. When starting on the incline, the car spun all wheels and slid backward. We had to roll down and storm the hill again — this time successfully.

After that, the dirt mounds of the "dirt" track were easy for our "Scout". The main thing is to avoid diagonal wheel hanging and be careful on steep ascents and descents. After all, despite the ground clearance, the wagon's overhangs are too large for serious "rock climbing".

In real life

If the all-wheel-drive "Octavia" seemed comfortable and balanced to us in winter, the Scout is an ideal candidate for the role of an "everyday car". In summer, you can safely go to lakes or the countryside without fear of puncturing the oil pan or hitting something on a country road, and in winter — push through snowdrifts with the unpainted bumpers.

At the same time, having become a bit more "off-road", the Octavia Scout hasn't lost comfort. It still swallows small and medium bumps perfectly, and only on large potholes does the "stretched" suspension lack rebound travel — it handles them a bit harshly. The steering is still slightly artificial but informative, the brakes are responsive.

The familiar 150-horsepower two-liter engine with direct injection pleases with low-end torque and moderate appetite: on average 10-12 liters in the combined cycle. The idyll is spoiled by noticeable delays when pressing the gas pedal (Euro-4, nothing to be done) and a too long-travel clutch pedal. But you quickly get used to these little things.

There's another "minus". If you order optional seats with leather and Alcantara, dual-zone climate control, and a good audio system (all of which were on the test car), the price will exceed 40 thousand dollars. And that's already quite close to "real" SUVs...

Competitors

Oddly enough, the Skoda Octavia Scout has virtually no direct competitors. The Audi Allroad Quattro with a similar philosophy costs several times more, and the similarly equipped Subaru Outback is noticeably more expensive.

But there's an army of "crossover SUVs": Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson. They have similar engines, similar "electronic" all-wheel drive, and similar off-road capabilities. And prices are comparable — from 35 thousand dollars.

But it's a matter of taste: some like Japanese "almost SUVs" with dubious abilities, while others prefer European wagons with "decent off-road capability". Besides, there are plenty of "crossovers" on the streets, but I haven't seen any "Scouts" yet. So there's a chance to stand out… Be Prepared!

P.S.

By the way, the scouting movement was founded by Colonel Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. That is, exactly 100 years before the appearance of the Skoda Octavia Scout. Coincidence?

Lenta.Ru thanks the Russian representative office of Skoda for providing the test car.

Specifications