► Skoda Scala gets revised looks, more safety kit
► Plus, some more efficient petrol engines
► First deliveries set to arrive in 2024
Skoda has confirmed prices for the facelifted Scala. The updated version of the Czech company’s segment-defying family hatchback will start from £22,095. UK buyers will be able to order their cars from October, with first deliveries expected to arrive in the first half of 2024.
The facelifted Skoda Scala line-up is separated into three specifications called SE, SE L and Monte Carlo. Even the cheapest SE model is well-equipped, though. Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and keyless go. Inside, there’s an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, an 8.25-inch infotainment system and dual-zone climate control.
Skoda’s mid-range Scala SE L is priced from £23,895. Upgrades over the base-model include 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome window surrounds and rear privacy glass, while the interior features a larger 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, an upgraded 9.2-inch infotainment system and ambient lighting.
At the top of the range, there’s the sporty Scala Monte Carlo. Prices start from £27,795, which is quite a big leap from the SE L grade. However, it’s worth noting that you can’t have the Monte Carlo with the Scala’s entry-level petrol engine and that you get a lot more standard equipment.
Upgrades include 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a rear-view camera and Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam and a cornering function. You also get a drive mode selector and an upgraded suspension setup with 15mm lowered springs and adjustable dampers.
Now scroll down to learn more about the changes Skoda has made to its hatchback.
It looks quite familiar. What’s different about the 2024 Skoda Scala?
Skoda has been quite conservative with the Scala’s styling changes, but the changes are there if you scrutinise the images hard enough. Skoda tells us its tweaks make the facelifted Scala look more like the Skoda Vision RS concept from 2018 that preceded the car’s launch.
The tweaks include a new radiator grille, slimmer LED headlights and a redesigned front bumper with a diamond-pattern lower intake. Skoda has also tickled the Scala’s rear end, adding a new undertray and some fresh LED taillights which available with dynamic indicators on Monte Carlo cars.
Other, perhaps even less noticeable, changes include a slightly redesigned Skoda badge on the tailgate and a range of new alloy wheel designs.
Are there any changes to the Scala’s cabin?
Yes. Skoda has taken the decision to use more recycled materials in the Scala’s cabin for the sake of sustainability. The car’s door panels and roof lining are trimmed in new fabrics made from natural hemp and kenaf (a type of hibiscus) plant fibres.
The car’s seat upholstery, carpets and floor mats are also made from recycled materials. Skoda’s eco-conscious changes aren’t just limited to the interior, either, because the Scala’s windscreen washer bottle and wheel arch liners are also now made from recycled plastic.
Like the pre-facelift Scala, buyers get a digital instrument cluster as standard, along with a central touchscreen in two sizes. There are up to four USB-C ports dotted around the cabin, too.
What engines can you have with the car?
There are three units in total, all powered by petrol. The cheapest option is a 94bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder pair with a five-speed manual gearbox, which is somewhat of a rarity amongst new cars these days.
Stepping up a rung, there’s a 114bhp version of the same engine. It’s priced from £23,070 and it’s paired with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although you can have a seven-speed DSG automatic for an additional £1395.
The most powerful option is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 148bhp. It’s also fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although you can have a seven-speed automatic for an extra £1350.
Anything else worth mentioning?
The revised Scala also has an increased amount of standard safety equipment. Now, you get front assist with pedestrian detection, lane assist and traffic sign recognition. There are six airbags, too, although Skoda’s optional safety package can bring that tally up to nine.
Buyers can also specify an optional safety piece of safety tech called Crew Protect. It’s a pre-crash system that prepares the cabin for an unavoidable impact by tightening the seat belts and closing the car’s windows.
The updated Scala (and closely related Skoda Kamiq) are also the first vehicles on the VW Group’s MQB-A0 platform that will allow you to open the boot with a foot gesture. This optional Virtual Pedal comes as part of the Scala’s electric tailgate package.
It joins existing ‘Simply Clever’ features such as the ice-scraper on the inside of the fuel filler flap and ticket holder on the windscreen. Skoda has expanded the list, though, adding new smartphone storage pockets on the front seat backs and a removable box on the rear of the central tunnel.