Skoda Scala review

Is the Skoda Scala a good car?

For family car buyers looking for value, the Skoda Scala is a great choice. It’s also one of the most practical cars in its class, offering a huge boot and lots of passenger space. It also gives the Volkswagen Golf a run for its money when it comes to ride, handling and build quality. Standard equipment is good across the range too, as is the fuel economy offered by the Scala's range of petrol engines.

Value is what impresses most with the Scala, though – all of this ability comes at a price that undercuts every version of the Golf and matches most of its nearest rivals. It’s hard to recommend the Volkswagen Golf over the Skoda Scala unless you really want a little extra quality, polish and prestige; the Scala is so good it’s more than just a viable alternative.

How much does the Skoda Scala cost?

Whichever trim level you choose on a Skoda Scala, it’ll offer impressive value for money versus its nearest rivals, with prices starting at under £22,500 for an entry-level SE Edition. The mid-range SE L Edition is a little more at just over £24,000, while the top-of-the-range Monte Carlo Edition begins at a little under £28,000.

While the Skoda Octavia features a saloon-like body (albeit with a large hatchback), the Scala takes a more practical shape that allows for lots of boot and passenger space. The Scala is built on the Volkswagen Group's MQB A0 platform – the same one that underpins the VW Polo, Audi A1 and SEAT Arona – and all its engines are familiar Volkswagen Group units, too.

Buyers are given the choice of a 1.0-litre TSI petrol producing either 94bhp or 114bhp, and a 1.5-litre TSI engine producing 148bhp. The 94bhp petrol unit is offered with a five-speed manual gearbox, while all other versions come with either a six-speed manual, or a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.

The Scala's trim structure consists of SE Edition, SE L Edition and top-spec Monte Carlo Edition models. Base SE Edition cars come with LED headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display, an 9.2-inch central touchscreen with sat-nav, dual-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, cruise control and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera.

SE L Edition versions feature 17-inch alloys, front parking sensors, rear privacy glass, heated front seats, and automatic lights and wipers. Finally, top-of-the-range Monte Carlo Edition models get matrix LED headlights, black exterior trim, a panoramic glass roof, adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, and a rear-view camera.

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There are more fun family cars to drive, but the Skoda Scala provides a safe, comfortable, and confidence-inspiring driving experience that’ll suit most buyers needs. It’s also easy to drive in town, with light steering and fine visibility. We’d avoid the least powerful 94bhp 1.0-litre and go for the more powerful 114bhp version for its extra performance, plus it gets an extra gear for quieter and more efficient cruising on the motorway.  Read more about the Skoda Scala's engine, performance and drive…

A lower starting price compared with its premium rivals and affordable running costs should mean the Skoda Scala won’t be all that hazardous to the bank balance of private buyers. Company car drivers should avoid the DSG automatic version to keep their tax bill down, or consider one of the Scala’s hybrid or electric alternatives, although the latter might result in higher insurance costs and greater depreciation when compared with the Scala.  Read more about the Skoda Scala's MPG, CO2 and running costs…

​It may not be the most radical of designs (either inside or outside), but the Skoda Scala feels well-built and is finished in a decent amount of plush materials inside to embarrass pricier rivals. It’s also good to see in a world where touchscreens are beginning to take over all in-car functions that the Scala still retains physical controls for frequently used controls, while the touchscreen it does come with is easy to navigate and comes with sat-nav as standard. Read more about the Skoda Scala's interior, design and technology…

As with most Skoda cars, the Scala features many thoughtful and practical touches that set it apart from its rivals, while its interior has plenty of room for a growing family. It also comes with a big boot that can handle a family holiday’s worth of luggage without breaking into a sweat. Read more about the Skoda Scala's boot space, comfort and practicality…

The latest Skoda Scala received the maximum five out of five star rating from safety experts Euro NCAP back in 2019, and all versions come with the expected amount of passive and active safety systems of a family hatchback. Revisions to the trim levels have brought down the cost of some safety assistance technology options, although it is a little cheeky that some of it is still only reserved as an extra for the top trim level. The Scala didn’t feature in the most recent Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but the Skoda brand shows the manufacture has room for improvement. Read more about the Skoda Scala's reliability and safety…

Skoda Scala 1.5 TSI SE DSG long-term test

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In 2020, our photographer, Otis Clay, ran a Skoda Scala for six months, racking up over 6,000 miles. Otis found it to be a very practical family car that was perfectly capable of ferrying around all his camera equipment, with the more powerful 1.5-litre engine providing all the power he needed to get to and from shoots quickly and efficiently.

He did experience issues with the infotainment system (an older version that has since been replaced) crashing on him, and the DSG automatic gearbox was often slow to respond in town traffic, an issue that wasn’t helped by the Scala’s start/stop system. However, the latter could be easily turned off, making the car a little more responsive when pulling away at traffic lights.

Skoda Scala alternatives

The Skoda Scala joined the Czech manufacturer’s range in 2019, sitting alongside the slightly larger Octavia in the hotly contested family car market as a more direct rival for the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Kia Ceed and Vauxhall Astra, among others.

There isn’t a hybrid or electric version of the Scala, unlike with its Peugeot 308, SEAT Leon, Toyota Corolla and Astra rivals. It's also worth noting that high-mileage drivers looking for the economy of a diesel engine will need to look elsewhere, because the 1.6-litre TDI diesel has been removed from the price list.