Skoda Scala review – a practical hatchback at a supermini price

Verdict – is the Skoda Scala a good car?

In a market increasingly obsessed with SUVs and electrification, it would be easy to overlook the Skoda Scala. It is, after all, little more than a five-door hatchback powered by a range of petrol engines (the diesel version was axed in 2020). But the Scala adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. For a start, it’s one of the most practical cars in its class, with a huge boot and space for five adults. It’s also comfortable, quiet and much better value than the Volkswagen Golf. It’s not exciting or remotely fun to drive, but if you’re after a winning combination of space, practicality and low running costs, the Scala is hard to beat.

Skoda Scala models, specs and alternatives

The Skoda Scala arrived in 2019 as a replacement for the forgettable Rapid. It’s a small hatchback sitting between the Fabia supermini and Octavia in the Czech company’s family car range. Don’t let the ‘small’ tag fool you, though, because the Scala offers the space and practicality of a Volkswagen Golf for the price of a Polo. It’s a welcome alternative to the glut of SUVs we’ve seen in recent years.

Prices have fluctuated over the years, but as it stands as of September 2024, the range has been updated with more kit and now starts from just over £22,255 for SE Edition – that said, it is very well equipped for the money.

The Scala is essentially a stretched version of the Fabia hatchback, itself based on the current Volkswagen Polo, which helps keep the price down. The Scala is a tad longer than a Volkswagen Golf, but offers a much bigger boot, which is really its biggest selling point – at 467 litres, it’s almost 90 litres larger with the seats up, or 140 litres larger with them folded down.

Skoda has given the Scala much bolder styling than its spiritual predecessor, the Rapid, with pointed headlights, a wide grille and rear lights stretching across the tailgate to differentiate it further from the Fabia on which it’s based. The Scala was facelifted towards the end of 2023 with subtly updated styling that gives it a slightly sportier look, with new thinner headlights, a revised octagonal front grille and redesigned front and rear bumpers. Upgrades also include the option of matrix LED headlights and improved interior tech such as a larger infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard.

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Few, if any, other car companies sell so many different hatchbacks, but Skoda has realised that some customers find the VW Golf-based Octavia too large, and that it’s not as easy to park as the Golf, which is where the Scala fits in. It’s made more attractive because of a lower price and similar specifications to some of its more expensive rivals. Prices start from around £22,000 for a 1.0 TSI SE, while sporty top-spec Monte Carlo models with the same engine cost just under £28,000 (or around £30,000 for the 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine with a DSG automatic gearbox). Few new cars offer better value for money.

In 2024, Skoda updated the Scala lineup, so it now starts with SE Edition moving up through SE L Edition and Monte Carlo Edition models. Every Scala is well equipped and gets a 9.2-inch infotainment screen replacing the old 8.25-inch unit and 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster replacing the previous eight-inch one as standard. Other standard features on SE Edition, which costs £22,255, include metallic paint and a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors.

SE L Edition trim costs around £1,800 more and brings heated seats, front parking sensors, keyless entry and a drive mode selector. If you think the Scala looks a little dowdy, then the top-spec Monte Carlo Edition trim brings a host of sporty styling upgrades to give it a bit more presence, as well as a heated three-spoke steering wheel, heated front sports seats, adaptive cruise control and wireless smartphone charging.

The engine range is shared with other VW Group cars. Three petrols are available, starting with an entry-level 94bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. Above that, there’s a 114bhp version of the 1.0-litre and a punchier 1.5-litre engine with 148bhp. Although originally launched with a diesel engine, this was discontinued in 2020. 

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As you might expect given the lower price, the Scala’s interior isn’t as plush as the VW Golf’s – the facelift in 2023 did improve the interior slightly and it does feel well built, but there are still some cheap scratchy plastics on the doors and centre console.

While it might feature some lower-quality fixtures and fittings, the Scala makes up for it by offering plenty of space for four six-footers. Skoda has added to the appeal of the Scala with all the thoughtful touches of the Octavia – there’s an ice-scraper with an integrated tyre gauge stowed away in the fuel filler cap, a parking ticket holder on the windscreen, and an umbrella in the doors (on higher-spec models), while the screenwash reservoir has a built-in funnel so you don’t slosh fluid all over the engine bay.

Skoda Scala alternatives

The Scala goes up against a broad range of rivals, including the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and the SEAT Leon. Its price means that it’s also an alternative to the Hyundai i30, Kia Ceed, Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, plus smaller models like the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza.

Family hatchbacks

• Volkswagen Golf
• Ford Focus
• Vauxhall Astra
• SEAT Leon