Unlike the smaller Fabia or the larger Octavia, not to mention the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs, the Rapid hasn’t been the best-seller that Skoda was hoping for. It’s still offered in certain markets, but its successor, the Scala, is finally here.
Based on the VW Group’s MQB A0 platform, it slots under the Octavia and is the brand’s rival to the likes of the Hyundai i30, Opel/Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and the rest in the compact segment. Furthermore, just like all other Skodas out there, it counts on its spacious interior and an affordable starting price to help it on the sales front.
Also See: Could This Image Actually Preview The Skoda Scala Scout?
In the United Kingdom, the Scala can be had from just a little bit under £16,600 ($21,789/€19,404). As a result, it’s £2,170 ($2,848/€2,536) more affordable than the base Volkswagen Golf and £1,670 ($2,192/€1,952) cheaper than the entry-level Seat Leon. Paying the aforementioned sum gets you a 95 PS (94 hp / 70 kW) 1.0-liter petrol engine, but the automaker is also offering other units, with up to 150 PS (148 hp / 110 kW), as well as a 115 PS (113 hp / 85 kW) 1.6-liter diesel.
The Scala thus has new underpinnings, looks decent and adds an all-new cockpit layout. But are all of these enough to make it stand out from its competitors? Autotrader traveled to Split, Croatia, to get a closer look at it. They drove the 115 PS (113 hp / 85 kW) 1.0-liter petrol version of the car, equipped with optional adaptive suspension, and found it to be… on a second thought, we think you’d rather want to watch the review and find out all about the Scala.