After five months in limbo, Skoda can finally sell the Scala in Australia again.
Sales of the new Scala hatchback, along with the 110TSI variants of the small Kamiq SUV, have been on hold because of a start/stop warning light in the dashboard.
The stop sale was announced in July 2020, and was initially expected to last “a matter of weeks”.
“Skoda’s Scala and Kamiq 110TSI have been on stop sale due to an error message that appeared during initial start-up,” a Skoda Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.
“The cause was a delay in the airbag signal reaching the engine control unit. It didn’t show on restarting the car. Even though there was no mechanical fault, Skoda would not sell the cars until the glitch was solved.”
The Scala represents an aggressive push from Skoda into Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Hyundai i30 territory.
Even the entry-level Scala will get a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, while range-topping models will pack wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Although it’s built on the same MQB A0 platform as the pint-sized Volkswagen Polo, the Scala is actually larger than a Golf or Corolla – and promises to pack more into its boot than its rivals, thanks to Skoda’s famously clever packaging.
Meanwhile, the Kamiq 110TSI will sit above the existing 85TSI model in the range as a more powerful, better-featured alternative.
Where the entry-level Kamiq 85TSI is priced to compete with the Volkswagen T-Cross and Mitsubishi ASX, the more expensive 110TSI lobs squarely into Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, and Hyundai Kona territory.
Despite barely two months on sale, Skoda managed to sell 383 examples of the Kamiq in 2020. It was the brand’s second-best selling car in December behind the Octavia, with 182 sold.
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