I just wanted to come on here and offer some praise to the Scala!

As you can probably guess by my username, I drive a lightly modified vRS 245. If I’m honest, the Scala isn’t really my sort of car.

However, when my Octavia was in for a service last week, I was interested to find the courtesy car was a 2026 Skoda Scala! It was a 6-speed car, with what I think was a 1.0 (although it felt like a 1.5!). I admit, I thought it was a Fabia at first, and didn’t find out it was a Scala until I opened the boot.

I really, really liked it. Okay, sure, the clutch pedal felt like it wasn’t attached to the car, I couldn’t get the driving position right, I didn’t like how the steering wheel looked and I couldn’t stand the key fob with a physical key I kept flipping open to insert into a KESSY button. Aside from that though, I loved it!

The steering wheel, while visually gawping, was very nice to use. I particularly like the one in my vRS, and found that the button placement in the Scala was even better. The digi dash offered plenty of options (far greater than the significantly more expensive 2024 M Sport 1 Series we have at home). The gearbox felt really tight, solid and engaging - pairing really well with what I thought was a 1.5 until I checked the build sheet in the glove box. I didn’t like how the clutch had no feedback, but that might have been a combination of the car having 1900 miles on it, and me not having driven a manual in a few months.

That particular car was an absolute bog standard base model with one button for disabling stop-start. It did have a rear camera (which my vRS doesn’t), and I found everything inside a little bit nicer than the similarly priced Ibiza FR I normally drive. It sounded better, and I appreciated small features such as the adjustable seatbelt height, armrest and physical light switch.

I’ve driven a lot of newer VAG cars (Mk4 Octavia, Mk8 Golf, Mk8.5 Golf, 2024 Polo, 2024 Leon FR, 2024 SEAT Arona, 2025 A3, among others) and almost all of them have been terrible. I thought they were overpriced and awful to drive (as both a keen driver and just a random person) with scarily light steering, no control feedback and dismal performance.

I was really pleased to see that the Scala seems to have broken that trend.

I agree, it is a nice family car, at first when we planned a trip to vacation with our newborn, i thought it will have no enoguh space for everything. But eventually it did fit. Now we are 4 and we manage to fit anything we need .

Only problem what i have made, when i was configuring the car, i didnt put all the options that i wanted (reverse camera, black spot in mirrors etc).

I've just traded in my 68 Plate Octavia 1.5 TSI SE L last week for a 22 Plate Scala 1.0 TSI 110 SE L.

We only had few payments left on our pcp deal and had quite a bit of positive equity on the Octavia. We started having a look around. There were no octys in our price range so looked at a Kamiq, it was a 1.0 TSI DSG, it was nice enough to drive but liked the Scala more. The Scala is easier on the eye than the Kamiq.

The 1.0 TSI performs well enough. Mainly short cummutes to work and the occasional longer journey. The Scala is very good to drive whilst not as spacious as the Octavia it certainly ticks all the boxes.

The virtual cockpit is nice, the 9.2" infotainment system and interior is very nice. We have the KESSY system, reversing camera and it also has a tow bar. That will be handy for a bike rack.

I Bought a new 1.5 DSG Scala Monte Carlo in 2021 and changed to a Karoq in 2025. It was one of those decisions you make in life that you think, did I do the right thing? Loved the Scala and wouldn't hesitate to get another.