Item: Used Skoda Scala 2019-present
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

Any <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/used-review/n19061">Ford Focus</a> will run rings around the Scala in terms of driver engagement, and there is a vast variety&nbsp;of different engine options&nbsp;(there's even a semi-hot ST version) to suit all needs and desires. It's let down by a low-rent interior and clunkier to operate infotainment system, plus you'll also have to spend more to buy a Focus than you will for a Scala.

A post-facelift <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/used-review/n17406">Vauxhall Astra</a> is even less expensive to buy than a Scala and has a plusher interior, but you will have to offset that against poorer handling, an inferior&nbsp;ride,&nbsp;and a less practical interior.

<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/scala">Find a used Skoda Scala&nbsp;for sale with&nbsp;What Car? Used Car deals&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</a></h3>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Emergency call system</h3>

There have been two recalls issued relating to the emergency call system, which automatically sends an SOS signal to the emergency service&nbsp;when the 'SOS' button is pushed, or when the system deems it prudent (such as when the airbags are deployed in a collision). However, a software issue on examples made between 10 July 2019 and 7 February 2020 could prevent the system from functioning correctly and will require an update at a Skoda dealer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition to this, some Scalas built&nbsp;between 28&nbsp;August and 17 September 2019 will need to have the online connectivity unit&nbsp;(OCU) that is a part of this feature&nbsp;replaced as part of the second recall.

The Scala&nbsp;is a little too new to have appeared in the&nbsp;latest What Car? Reliability survey, however, Skoda as a brand managed an excellent fifth-place finish out of 31 car manufacturers, so hopefully, the Scala&nbsp;will be equally dependable.

If you'd&nbsp;like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Hatchback

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

SCALA

A low price when new and acres of interior space made the Skoda Scala an excellent choice when new, so can it pull off the same trick as a used purchase?

Used Skoda Scala 2019-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

Predictably, the 1.6 diesel has the lowest fuel consumption, at 57.7mpg, but don't discount any of the&nbsp;petrol&nbsp;alternatives because the difference isn't that vast. The least powerful 94bhp 1.0 has a combined figure of 53.3mpg and both the 113bhp 1.0 and 148bhp 1.5 manage to achieve 51.4mpg, the latter being helped by clever cylinder deactivation technology that cuts fuel consumption at a constant cruise.

<h3>Car tax (VED)</h3>

Every Scala will be subject to the current flat rate fee for car tax, and none will fall foul of the additional surcharge for cars that cost more than £40,000 when new.&nbsp;To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing</h3>

No Scala is quite old enough yet to take advantage of the fixed-price servicing that applies to examples between the ages of three and 10 years old. You can purchase a service plan&nbsp;that covers the next two services, with prices starting from&nbsp;£17&nbsp;per month over 24 months, or an upfront fee of £408.

If you have an automatic Scala, make sure that its gearbox oil has been changed every four years or 40,000 miles. It isn't part of the routine maintenance schedule, rather it is a recommended service. However, woe betides anyone who doesn't have this carried out because if the gearbox fails due to infrequent oil changes, you'll be the one footing the bill for its replacement.&nbsp;

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The Scala has many appealing qualities aside from its reasonable price. Few rivals have such a comfortable ride or offer quite so much practicality thanks to a huge boot and lots of rear seat space. Yes, it isn't as refined as the very best, but then it was never priced as a premium family car when new, so that's to be expected. 

Used Scalas start at around £13,000 for a 1.0 petrol for an S or (more popular) SE version. The more potent 1.5 can be found from £14,500, while a diesel will set you back at least £15,000.

To keep up to date with used Scala prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal. 

Check the value of a used Skoda Scala with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

<h3 dir="ltr">Engine</h3>

If you only do short journeys in-town, the entry-level 94bhp 1.0-litre should serve you just fine.&nbsp;We'd recommend&nbsp;you&nbsp;upgrade to the more powerful 113bhp version because&nbsp;it gains an extra gear ratio for superior long-distance driving. The 1.6 diesel only makes sense if you do lots of miles since it is rarer and more expensive than an equivalent petrol, while the 1.5 petrol would be worthwhile if you can find one for similar money to a 1.0-litre.

A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is available on the 113bhp 1.0-litre, 1.5 and 1.6 diesel, but the manual is the superior choice unless you really have to have a self-shifter.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Specification</h3>

Of the five&nbsp;trim levels, SE provides all the useful equipment you'll need bar sat-nav. But, at least it gets full smartphone connectivity so you can use a navigation app from your phone instead.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/skoda">Skoda</a>&nbsp;Scala: 1.0 113bhp SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

Family

Most Scalas listed for sale will still be within the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/skoda-approved-used-car-scheme/n22145">Skoda franchised dealer</a> network and will have been reconditioned to look like new before resale, so there isn't much to add here. However, make sure that the dealer&nbsp;has&nbsp;applied the latest infotainment software update; there have been a few bugs in the system&nbsp;(our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/skoda-scala-long-term-test-review-report-2/n20379">Scala long term test</a> car had a few) that caused the infotainment&nbsp;to freeze.

Size isn't everything. It's all well and good being able to fit&nbsp;11 suitcases into the boot of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/used-review/n851">Skoda Octavia</a>, but not everyone's family is that indecisive when it comes to holiday packing. That's where the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/skoda">Skoda</a> Scala comes in, which is still highly practical and excellent value for money, but doesn't have an enormous rear end that makes it difficult to park in a multi storey.

The Scala offers a&nbsp;choice of two petrol engines&nbsp;and one diesel. The entry-level 1.0-litre turbo, with 94bhp,&nbsp;is&nbsp;perky enough, but the 113bhp version has a bit more overtaking urge, along with a six-speed gearbox for more refined motorway cruising. The 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine&nbsp;is pretty swift and very refined, while the&nbsp;113bhp 1.6 diesel is good for those who cover&nbsp;an&nbsp;annual mileage that would put a taxi firm to shame.

There are five&nbsp;trim levels to choose from,&nbsp;every one of which includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking (AEB)</a> and lane-keep assistance as standard. S&nbsp;trim gives you have 16in alloy wheels, LED headlights&nbsp;and a 6.5in touchscreen with a DAB radio and&nbsp;Bluetooth. Step up to SE for&nbsp;rear parking sensors, auto lights and wipers, cruise control and an upgraded 8in infotainment system&nbsp;that includes <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>&nbsp;to mitigate the lack of in-built sat-nav, although SE Technology (added in late 2020) does include the latter, along with front parking sensors.

SE L includes&nbsp;17in alloys,&nbsp;a 9.2in infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav, and a 10.25in digital instrument cluster. Monte Carlo trim is more of a styling package, bringing a&nbsp;sportier interior and exterior, but it does include a panoramic glass roof.

Where the Scala excels is in being a calm and competent performer on the road. It can't trouble the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/used-review/n19061">Ford Focus</a> in being fun to drive, but it does do a great job of&nbsp;smoothing&nbsp;over the worst road surfaces without being bouncy. The compromise is that it can feel a little floaty over crests and dips at speed. You'll also notice more suspension noise, along with higher levels of wind and road roar than you'll find in&nbsp;some of its rivals, particularly when travelling along a motorway.

The Scala will lean over more in the bends due to its soft suspension, but it still grips the road well and handles very tidily, plus its steering increases in weight progressively as you turn the wheel, giving you the confidence to drive the car&nbsp;briskly.&nbsp;

Another strong suit of the Scala is practicality. That it has plenty of room in the front and plenty of adjustment in the driving position is a given for the class, but&nbsp;what's different&nbsp;about the Scala is that it has a really spacious back seat that copes well with&nbsp;bulky child seats and lanky teenagers. The boot is big, too, and shouldn't have any trouble taking&nbsp;a pushchair. We even managed to squeeze seven carry on suitcases into it with no issues whatsoever. That's not as many as an Octavia will swallow, granted, but still much more than most other family cars can take.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/scala">used Scala</a>, or any of the other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/category/family">family cars</a> mentioned here, head over to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Skoda Scala 2019-present review

Advice for buyers

What should I look for in a used Skoda SCALA hatchback?

What are the most common problems with a used Skoda SCALA hatchback?