New Skoda Octavia Scout revealed

The third-generation Skoda Octavia Scout has been revealed and it’s under consideration for Australia, where the new Octavia RS has been confirmed for local release early next year.

The all-new mid-size crossover wagon is based on the fourth-generation Skoda Octavia due on sale here in both sedan/liftback and wagon forms in the first quarter of 2021, when Skoda Australia says the range will launch with a new Octavia RS wagon, followed soon after by the new RS sedan.

The Czech brand’s latest Scout follows this week’s reveal of a limited-edition Superb Scout, which Skoda Australia says may become a permanent member of the facelifted Superb range that arrives here in late 2020.

Crossover wagons aside, with imminent local launches of the all-new Skoda Kamiq small SUV and a refreshed Skoda Karoq medium SUV range with new 140TSI Sportline 4x4 variant, Skoda Australia chief Michael Irmer says 2020 will be the year of the SUV.

“Although 2020 may prove to be the year Skoda sells more SUVs than cars for the first time, the Octavia is synonymous with Skoda,” he said. “It was the model with which we launched in Australia during 2007 and it remains a brand pillar.

“The new Octavia embodies the latest, distinctive, Skoda design language just as it will continue to represent the best of European motoring in affordable form.”

Dubbed as a ‘multifunctional lifestyle estate’, the 2020 Skoda Octavia Scout is based on the wagon (or Combi, in Skoda-speak) but brings a host of off-road oriented extras.

These include 15mm more ground clearance, a Rough-Road package including ‘aluminium-look’ underbody protection, and unique bumpers and lower body cladding that add about 15mm of length and width to the vehicle.

Other exterior additions include SCOUT badging for the front wings and a silver finish for the front and rear diffusers, roof rails, window frames and the electrically adjustable, folding, heated and auto-dimming wing mirrors.

Full LED Matrix headlights with auto high-beam will be available alongside the standard LED fog lights, along with 19-inch Manaslu alloys instead of the standard 18-inch silver-coloured Braga alloys.

Available in Europe with a 147kW/400Nm 2.0-litre ‘EVO’ TDI turbo-diesel engine offering towing capacity of 2000kg, the Scout will be also be offered with 85kW and 110kW diesel engines, plus 110kW 1.5-litre e-TEC mild-hybrid turbo-petrol and 140kW 2.0 TSI engines, all matched with a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.

For the first time, the Octavia Scout will be produced in front-wheel drive as well as AWD form.

Inside, there’s the same new 10-inch infotainment system and 640 litres of cargo space as the new Octavia wagon (up 30 litres on the outgoing model).

But the Scout adds specific dashboard trims, SCOUT logos on the front seats, aluminium pedals and contrasting Tabor Brown stitching on the upholstery, steering wheel, armrests and dash.