{"id":171644,"date":"2018-12-06T12:23:03","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T12:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=171644"},"modified":"2019-10-11T08:40:25","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T08:40:25","slug":"skoda-octavia-scout-will-take-you-all-the-way-to-the-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2018\/12\/06\/skoda-octavia-scout-will-take-you-all-the-way-to-the-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0160koda OCTAVIA SCOUT Will Take You All the Way to the Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even cyclists drive cars. Not all of them, obviously, but the majority do. Sometimes they cover long distances to enjoy a holiday in the Alps, other times it\u2019s just a few kilometres to hit the trails after work without losing precious time cycling in traffic. Driving is a comfortable and fast way to get to the start of the trail where the real fun on a bun begins. Car is quite an important tool for cyclists, so it comes as no surprise that they only choose models that can meet their high demands.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cyclists need cars that can accommodate both them and their bikes and take them to their destination even if it\u2019s off-road. That narrows the choice quite a lot. A van is not really suitable for city driving, but it probably won\u2019t do well off road either. On the other hand, full-blooded off-road cars are not an ideal choice for longer distances, as they offer less comfort, are slow, and get poor mileage.<\/p>\n

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\u0160koda OCTAVIA SCOUT 4×4 combined with a bike carrier mounted to a tow bar seems to be a good way to go. We don\u2019t want to deal with all the ins and outs of various engine options or enumerate all the optional extras; that has been done well by our colleagues from car magazines. We want to find out if OCTAVIA SCOUT has what it takes to serve as a universal car for cyclists.<\/p>\n

The legendary OCTAVIA<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When OCTAVIA hit the market, it was not a revolution, but Czech drivers took an immediate liking to the car of their domestic brand, and their European colleagues soon followed suit. OCTAVIA became a practical family car. Soon taxi drivers too discovered its charm, and so this mid-sized \u0160koda model could pick you up at airports from Barcelona to Tel Aviv. Especially the 1.9 TDI engine has become a legend, clocking up nearly a million kilometres.<\/p>\n

Facelifted in 2007, the second-generation Octavia Combi featured a 4×4 wheel drive version with an increased ground clearance and plastic cladding to protect the bodywork. Preceding the YETI, KODIAQ and KAROQ models, it became the first \u0160koda car to venture off-road. From day one, SCOUT has won the sympathies of people who like to spend their free time in nature because it is able to get them there with all their bikes, prams, surfboards, snowboards, wakeboards, and other fun stuff for leisurely activities.<\/p>\n

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The new generation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The latest generation of SCOUT arrived in 2017 with a facelift of the third-generation OCTAVIA. The car features LED strip DRL, stylish inscriptions on the door sills and originally designed interior decorative mouldings. SCOUT logos appear on several other places, such as the steering wheel. The model gives an impressive look of an executive car although it\u2019s not the case.<\/p>\n

We want to go biking in the mountains, so we head to the rear of the car and mount a bike carrier from the \u0160koda e-shop. The manual says it takes about five minutes, but in fact it can be done faster. If you want to open the boot, just use the lever lock to release the carrier and push it aside. OCTAVIA\u2019s boot is known to be one of the most spacious in the class. If you come back covered in mud from your rides, consider equipping the boot with a washable plastic dish by \u0160koda Genuine Accessories. After loading our luggage, we move the carrier back in the place same way we had pushed it aside and mount two medium-heavy freeride bikes on the racks. They weigh about a third more than road bikes, but the carrier seems to do just fine. The manipulation is fast and easy.<\/p>\n

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Functional details<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As is customary with well-equipped \u0160koda cars, the door has a keyless entry system. All you have to do is carry the key in your pocket, grip the handle, and the door will unlock on its own. As our hands are often full of stuff before hitting the road for a ride, this is a minor but most welcome addition.<\/p>\n

Dressed in sportswear, we get in the suede and leather seats. There is a big 9.2” touch display shining in the middle. The automatic transmission version is an ideal choice for cyclists. If you don\u2019t have to deal with the clutch pedal, driving in cycling shoes with metal cleats is less of a nightmare.<\/p>\n

The seats feature electric adjustment with memory and heating. After an all-day ride in the November weather your back will surely appreciate some warmth. The dual-zone air conditioning allows all cyclists aboard to adjust temperature as they like.<\/p>\n