Like so many of its cars, Skoda’s large hatchback is another clever product that packs plenty into its design

2023 Skoda Scala 1.0 Monte Carlo

---

Launched: March 2023 – Price S$177,400 with COE and VES (June 2023)
Five-door, mid-sized hatchback, five seats
109hp, 1.0-litre petrol, VES A2, 4.7L/100km

---

PROS
Smooth engine
Refined, roomy cabin
Supportive sports seats

CONS
Chunky gear lever design feels last-gen
No wireless phone charging

SINGAPORE

The Skoda Scala arrived in Singapore way back in early 2021, alongside its small SUV stablemate the Skoda Kamiq. That was when the world was still struggling to come to grips with Covid-19 and Singapore was still tripping in and out of the heightened safety measures, phase. People had a lot more to worry about than look at nice cars during that time, and the result was that the Scala and Kamiq were slow burners as car buyers gradually discovered how good they could be.

The Scala seen here was initially launched with a 1.5-litre, turbo four-cylinder engine that had 150 horsepower and put it squarely in the pricier Category B COE segment. That made the car just that bit pricier than was ideal, so a 1.0-litre, turbo three-cylinder engine eventually appeared in the mix.

What is the Skoda Scala exactly? It’s not an SUV, nor is it an MPV. Think of it as a slightly chunkier version of the Volkswagen Golf hatchback, with ample space for five adults and a reasonable amount of boot space to a tune of 467 litres with the rear seats in place, and 1,40 litres when folded down. 

Pictured here in this review is the car in top-spec Monte Carlo trim, which costs an additional S$15,000 to the mid-tier Style version. However you can get a Scala in base level Ambition trim, which is in turn S$10,000 cheaper than the Scala Style.

So what’s a Scala with 109 horsepower like to drive and why would you want to pay all that extra for the Monte Carlo edition?

Unlike something like, say, the little Suzuki Ignis, the Scala is actually a decently sized car and while 109 horses may not seem like much from an engine in 2023, there’s a punchy amount of torque from the turbocharged engine that helps the car accelerate and react rather quickly. It’s not blazingly quick but the engine has a very flexible powerband, which when paired with the seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission, gives the car a zippy character in urban traffic. It’ll be naturally less responsive when fully loaded with passengers but it never really feels like it is underpowered.

The cabin is the same as what we saw in the launch edition version of 2021, which means you get the colourful, easy-to-use infotainment system, but also the chunky handbrake lever, which is a rarity these days, and a big gear selector lever that may feel either very reassuring or a little bit of an old hat, when most cars in this category have already moved on to low profile selector switches rather than a big stick. 

You would expect that a car of this ilk will get comfortable seats and soft, pillowy suspensions like what you would find in a Toyota Corolla Cross, but the Scala in Monte Carlo trim adds a big chunk of purpose with sports seats that look like they’ve been taken right out of a Skoda Octavia RS, by way of a Volkswagen Golf GTI. Together with the sculpted steering wheel, it feels like you’re behind the wheel of a rally car. That is, until you stab the accelerator and remember that the car has less than 110 horses under the bonnet.

That’s not the whole story however and we would be selling the Scala short if we didn’t mention how quickly the car can blast through corners. It’s planted and well-sorted, but bumpy and chattery. If you want to drive this car fast, it’s a matter of maintaining momentum through the corners and it does that very well.

Full LED light units at the front and rear, 18-inch wheels, the digital instrument cluster, full length panoramic glass roof, and red cabin accents are all part of the Monte Carlo package, along with the badging on the sides of the car. There’s no ungainly rear air spoiler or go-faster boy-racer bits outside the car, but we think that the super supportive sports seats really hit the spot.

As you would expect, the fuel economy is excellent whether mucking about town or cruising on the highway. It’s officially rated at 4.7L/100km, but in practical use we got 5.3L/100km over three days of driving. Take note, drive like a crazy person and this does creep up into the 7.5L/100km range. Three-cylinder engines are typically vibey, chattery units but the one in the Scala is pretty smooth and barely strains even when revved right to the redline. 

It’s not a hybrid, but given how efficient the engine already is, you’d barely notice the lack of electrification in the drive system. 

The state of affairs now with high COE prices is that the car carries a sticker price of almost S$180k with COE at time of writing. Want it cheaper? The base model Scala with the same engine and drivetrain has identical performance so you can pay S$25k less and get pretty much the same drive, minus all the nice premium bits. 

Few other cars now reside in the same class and category, but the Kia Niro Hybrid, Nissan Kicks e-Power and Hyundai Kona are reasonable alternatives. We say, the base variant already makes a very good family car, but the Scala Monte Carlo is all about the tactile bling you can feel. 

Skoda Scala 1.0 Monte Carlo

• 
  2024 Audi S3 Sportback First Drive Review: Diffy better rear diff!
• 
  Aston Martin Vantage unveiled. It is really much better!
• 
  Flash Drive: We pilot Tesla’s latest and greatest across the Malaysian peninsula
• 
  YHI Corporation marks 50 years with Yokohama unveiling 3 new tyres
• 
  If you own an EV and live in a condominium, you need to read this