Agreed, but my benchmark is the vrs which is better equipped and cheaper

I think it's swings and roundabouts. I prefer the Scout's ride and the extra height off the ground is a bonus as I have arthritis and it's easier for me to get in to and out of. The VRS may be better equipped (I prefer differently equipped myself) but it's not cheaper to lease at the moment, unless you know differently.

Picking my Scout up in a few days.

For the past 4 years my daily driver has been a Mondeo ST TDCi. A great car with good performance v mpg and lots of toys. The bad points are that it has delightfully delicate 18" alloys that really dislike the potholes that adorn every road around where I live. The ride is great if your driving, mildly tedious as a passenger. Road noise was quite boomy and being a hatchback it was pretty versatile but not as useful, for me, as the estate will be.

Maybe it's an age thing but I'm looking forward to the slightly higher ride height, and more relaxed ride. Be nice to not get the wheels straightened on a regular basis as well!