Is 2020 ŠKODA Superb Scout the Best Value Vehicle?

It is a long time since I drove a car I thought to be perfect, but ŠKODA Superb Scout comes pretty damned near to it. I’m sick of a conga-line of SUVs one after the other. Instead of a pea-soup blancmange that doesn’t know what it wants to be, Scout is the cross-over version of the family wagon that goes places. It knows exactly what it is.

Other GayCarBoys SUV Stories:

The moto of “Simply Clever”, should really be, “Utterly Brilliant.” Did you know the ŠKODA emblem is an arrow, three feathers and a circle? The Arrow for speed, the feathers for progress, and the circle to symbolise 100 years of Czech tradition. ŠKODA is no fly-by-nighter.

Above: Is ŠKODA Superb Scout the Best Value Large Crossover

GayCarboys Subscribe to our channel

Help Support Gay Car Boys Subscribe to our Youtube Channel 

ABOVE: Is ŠKODA Superb Scout the Best Value Large Crossover

Is Superb Scout good looking?

Looks are in the eyes of the beholder, but I love it. Superb Scout is pared back and restrained. It is long and low, yet 15mm higher off the ground than her FWD sister. It is still a modest 151mm, so keep off the rocks.

A handsome set of full matrix LED headlights is the star attraction up front. They flank the long wide grille, with bright driving lights down low.

The body is bereft of frippery. A very few lines highlight a certain European elegance. Scout is based on VW’s MQB platform, along other VW group brands like Audi and SEAT. In fact, think of Superb as a discount Passat, or a pov model A6.

Scout is a full-sized family car living in a segment once dominated by Falcon and Commodore. After the Australian government killed off Aussie car makers, the segment was left wide open. Sadly, passenger cars are becoming rarer and rarer as buyers opt for teller SUV models, so competition is not as tightly contested as once was.

What little adornment Scout has, is applied with attitude.

The profile is broken only by a simple belt line and some serious body skirts under the doors. The one small nod to off-roading aspirations are some plakky wheel arch extensions. SUV-like vehicles have these panels on extremities so that if there is scraping to be done, the paintwork will be tickety-boo.

All in all, the exterior is strong and handsome, yet shy and restrained. Scout is the big-chested gym bunny that doesn’t use mirrors, and prefers to shower at home. You know the type, right?

Is the cabin up to scratch?

The interior design uses the same subtle hand that crafted the exterior metalwork.

ŠKODA is meant to be the slightly discounted VW brand, so expect lashings of hard plakky trim. Strong lines traced by metal-look accents across the dash, extend the cabin horizontally. There is subtle mood lighting contained within it, which continues along door panels. You can choose the colour that suits the level of stress from your commute too.

However, the driver’s seat is a place of calm contemplation.

Instruments are a solo LCD screen, and you can entertain yourself by scrolling through display options. The infotainment screen has gesture control which will keep the kids occupied for ages.

Seating is heated front and back, and there are 3 zones of climate control.

The back seats are a real surprise. Rear doors are long, and there is enough legroom for some serious partying. If a snooze is what you prefer, you can raise the sun screens for privacy.

Front doors have a slot for a brolly, and the rear cargo area light is a detachable torch. So, don’t lose it.

Tell us about the safety and convenience features.

ŠKODA Scout is not only superb by name, is it also superb by nature.

A few highlights are:

  • Automatic Park Assist with manoeuvre assist
  • Rough road package, with additional powertrain protection
  • Tyre Pressure Monitoring
  • Hill start assist/hill descent control
  • Side Assist & Lane Assist
  • Emergency Assist
  • Passenger Protection Assist
  • Rear Camera
  • Front Assist with City Emergency Brake and Predictive Pedestrian Protection
  • 9 airbags
  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Traffic Jam Assist

The list is so long, that you’re better of going for a schmooze at the ŠKODA website for more.

Does ŠKODA Superb Scout perform?

Superb Scout is a peach of a thing.

The 1638kg body is propelled by a spritely 2.0L turbo petrol engine. The Euro 6DG power plant makes a decent 200kw and 350Nm. The oomph gets the ground through a 7 speed DSG via the fancy AWD system. You get to 100kph in 5.7 seconds, on to a top speed of 250kph.

Sensible driving gets 7.1L/100k, but a road trip should get around 6L/100k. You can tow 2,200kg, if you must, but please don’t. It’s a pain in the bum travelling behind you.

Steering feels light, but drive modes change the steering, DSG, engine, and suspension, to give a sportier feel. There is an off-road setting too, but its nebulous benefit is not clearly explained. If you’re going to experiment, do it with a rental.

Scout rides like a limo. Macpherson struts at the front, and a clever multi-element axle at the back, give the road experience a sophisticated air.

I’ve never felt anything like it, for the price. With 4 on board, you waft along in a quiet cocoon. Sure, corners are dispatched with alacrity, but this is a big old chunk of metal. You have far more fun loping along on a road trip. 18” standard wheels do allow a smidge of noise in, and the driver will notice just a hint of wind noise from around the A-pillar. None of it is intrusive.

There is a little body roll in normal mode, and although Sport Mode stiffens you up a little, I’m not sure you’ll notice a significant difference. Just go with it, and mark it down as just another stitch in life’s rich tapestry.

Parking is a doddle, with or without the automated assistant. A clever 360° camera includes sensors all-round, instead of just front and back. You can stop Scout exactly within the lines, even in the measly spaces at Coles.

Conclusion:

At almost $62 grand on the road, Superb Scout is not cheap.

It shares much with Audi and VW, and buying the same thing with the posh Euro Snob will cost many more shekels. Even at a retail price of $59,490, that then makes Scout excellent value.

It treats the occupants with a gentle hand, and on a road trip, you’d arrive fresh as a daisy.

No wonder Audi, Bentley, Porsche, and Lamborghini, don’t want you to know about Scout. In fact, VW is very quiet about ŠKODA, and I think I know why.

Why would you spend more?

Price: $59,490 ($61,990 drive away)

Engine: 2.0L turbo Petrol, Euro 6DG

Power: 200kw/350Nm

Econ: 7.1L/100k

CO2: 161g/km

Trans: 7 speed DSG

Drive Wheels: AWD (4×4)

Tags: audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, vw, seat, Bentley, skoda, skoda suberb, gay skoda, skoda scout, gay camping, gay road trip