VOLKSWAGEN is only now taking orders for its new small 4x4, the Tiguan, which puts it a little behind its other arm, Skoda, with its Octavia Scout.

In fact, by the time Tiguan deliveries start next February, Skoda will be around a year ahead of VW.

Scout is the new name given to Skoda's leisure vehicles. And while the slightly off-beat-looking but extremely practical Roomster Scout remains an overdressed two-wheel drive on steroids, the Octavia Scout has the full monty - a 4x4 set-up featuring a Haldex clutch that sends the power to the wheels with the most grip.

While VW is offering the Tiguan with two front-end choices to allow different extremes of off-road use, Skoda has taken a more low-scale approach, so the Scout comes with just one beefed-up body style and a raised ground clearance.

You shouldn't confuse the Scout with the likes of the Land Rover Freelander, but then the Skoda doesn't carry the inflated price tag of the Freelander either.

Octavia Scout prices start at a very reasonable £17,585, and for that you get plenty of bang for your buck.

Back in the summer, we took an Octavia Scout fitted with the 2.0-litre 140bhp turbo diesel engine to Scotland and racked up about 1,650 miles in the process.

One thing you don't do out in the wilds is take unnecessary risks with a car as there's a need to get home.

So, since then I've also had an excursion in the petrol-engined model to see how it copes with a bit of mild off-roading.

The answer is that it does well, provided you don't hurl it at the horizon across too-vicious terrain.

The petrol car has a very willing 2.0 engine running VW's stratified fuel injection system and pumping out 150bhp.

It feels very torquey, especially if you've been fed on a diet of petrol engines, but once you have tried the diesel, you realise just how much better the oil burner is.

The petrol car has a top speed of 124mph and nought-to-62mph time of 10.0 seconds, but even flat out it's not going to leave the diesel Scout far behind as that has 122mph and a time of 10.2 seconds to play with.

If those are too close to call, then the diesel really holds the trump card when it comes to torque, delivering 236lbft between 1,750rpm and 2,500rpm, compared with the 147lbft the petrol motor manages at 3,500rpm.

When it comes to towing, the petrol car will shift 1.5 tonnes and the diesel 1.6, so again the margin's small. But the diesel would lug with much less strain, and if you want a relaxing life, that's what counts.

The diesel Scout is also 40kg heavier than the petrol model, which probably helps explain why the diesel feels more refined to ride in.

Spec check

Skoda Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI PD Price: £19,690 0-60mph: 10.2 secs Max speed: 122 mph Engine size:1,968cc Max power: 140bhp Insurance group: 10

Certainly you would appreciate the difference on a long journey, when there would be much less Paula Radcliffe-style head-bobbing involved.

Like Paula, the diesel car can also cope admirably with marathon distances and it's unlikely to dash in for a comfort stop along the way unless you want to.

It won't be begging for much fluid intake, either, as it manages 47mpg so has a theoretical range in excess of 550 miles.

There are other 4x4 versions of the Octavia, but they don't come with the lumberjack clothes of the Scout so look a little more puny - and a little less obvious!

My petrol car was finished in a bright blue, which looked great, although maybe a bit too in-your-face. But the more discreet dull metallic of the diesel was more in keeping with its role.

Good news for owners who want to work with their cars is that the Octavia estate comes with more than 1,600 litres of load space.

The Vauxhall Antara, which looks more butch, has less.

Octavia prices are also good, with the petrol car at £17,775 and the diesel at £19,690. Paying almost £2,000 more for the diesel might seem like a false economy and it would be, if you were buying on fuel figures alone.

But it's the more complete car, so makes the better choice.

All modern Skodas are very impressive kit, but this Octavia is just about ideal.

The car's raised ground clearance also means it can cope with slightly rougher terrain, so if you have a hobby that takes you off the beaten track it would be very useful.

Best of all, it's more discreet than a full-blown 4x4 or even some of the other soft-roaders.

That also adds appeal - and stops you getting pilloried by other mums on the school run.

For more information, contact Winchester Motor Company on 01962 866331.

-Maurice Hardy

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