Skoda UK has announced pricing and specifications for the updated version of the value-focused Scala hatchback, starting at £22,095 for the entry-level SE model, and topping out at £30,445 for a top-spec Monte Carlo fitted with the 148bhp engine and a dual-clutch transmission. Much like the Kamiq SUV, there are three engines available spread across three trim lines, with the optional DSG twin-clutch automatic transmission available with the upper two engines. The new Scala will go on sale on October 3, and will reach customers early next year.
In the main, the revisions to the Skoda Scala – a conventional five-door hatchback designed to rival the likes of the Ford Focus, Kia Ceed and Vauxhall Astra – mirror those applied to the Kamiq small SUV. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, since the two models share the same MQB A0 platform and, as a result, engines and transmissions, and are made alongside each other at Skoda’s main factory in Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic.
The design tweaks are typical mid-life fare, with no expensive alterations to the sheet metal, but changes to the front and rear bumpers, and the headlights. There’s a new front grille, too – designed, Skoda claims, to take the production Scala closer to the Vision RS concept that previewed it back in 2018.
The headlights themselves are slimmer than before, and there’s a diamond pattern in the mesh of the new air intake, which gives it a more ‘three-dimensional’ look. Matrix-LED headlights will be available as an option, as will the extended rear-hatch glass that stretches down to the tail-lights. Other exterior tweaks include fresh designs of alloy wheels, ranging in size from 16 to 18 inches, and nine paint shades, including three solid colours.
The Scala will be offered with a choice of three petrol engines and three transmissions – and Skoda is steering clear of hybrid technology that would force prices up. The entry point remains a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol with 94bhp and a five-speed manual gearbox, while the mainstay of the range should be the same motor but in more powerful 114bhp guise; this is available with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
At the top of the range, the Scala will continue to be offered with the VW Group’s 1.5-litre 148bhp motor – again, with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed auto gearboxes.
The Scala is getting useful tech boosts across the range, too; all models get an 8.0-inch digital instrument panel as standard, with a larger and more interactive 10.25-inch display available as an option. An 8.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system will be fitted across the range, too, with the option of upgrading to a larger 9.2-inch panel that comes with a navigation package. The car can have up to five USB-C ports, including one embedded in the rear-view mirror, which is convenient for plugging a dash cam into. Other new features include hands-free gesture control for the optional powered tailgate.
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