Skoda Octavia Scout available for UK emergency services

The Skoda Octavia has been reintroduced in the Scout specification exclusively for UK emergency service customers.

• The Skoda Octavia Scout is raised and offered with four-wheel drive
• Its 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel is tuned to make either 150hp or 200hp
• The fourth-gen Octavia sedan will be launched in India in June

Skoda Octavia Scout: what is it?

The Scout specification is the only non-vRS Octavia model to offer four-wheel drive. It also gets an automatic gearbox and a rough-road package as standard.

In essence, the Scout variant is a more rugged version of the Octavia. Its bodywork is suited for off-road environments, with chunky front and rear bumpers and a ground clearance of 161mm – 15mm higher than on the standard Octavia.

The Czech firm says the Scout’s off-road ability has also been improved, with a 15.8deg approach angle, a 13.9deg departure angle and a ramp angle of up to 19.7deg. It's also fitted with a rear-axle skid plate, revised suspension springs and model-specific chassis tuning.

Skoda offers the Octavia Scout with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that is either tuned to produce 150hp or 200hp.

The new Scout will be available through Skoda’s ‘one-stop shop’ exclusively to emergency services fleets, where they can be customised and purchased directly or financed. It is worth mentioning that the last generation Octavia was offered with a Scout variant abroad, from 2014 until 2020, and was previously available for private customers as well.

Skoda Octavia Scout: features and technology

The Scout also benefits from several driver assistance systems, including hill-descent assistance and Crew Protect Assist, which tightens the seatbelts when activated. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and front and rear parking sensors are also included.

Inside, the Scout is also equipped with Skoda’s digital cockpit, mated with a 10.0-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to five USB-C charging ports.

New Skoda Octavia: India launch

The Czech carmaker is set to launch the fourth-gen Octavia sedan in India in June, 2021. The model for India will come with a sole 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that will be mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Besides this, Skoda is also gearing up to launch its all-new mid-size SUV – the Kushaq – in India. The launch of the Kushaq will also take place in June, following its delay due to the second wave of the pandemic.