COMPARATIVE TEST: Ford Focus, Škoda Scala // Sodnikov podaljšek

This time we managed to get different motor equipment for both, for comparison, under the hood of hot competitors were turbodiesel cars. The Scala has a slightly larger 1,6-litre TDI and Ford has reduced its turbodiesel's displacement to 1,5-litres less than a year ago, but otherwise performance and features haven't changed much from the previous slightly larger one. Of course, both diesels are now organic - as "clean" as possible. Buyers of this class are now at a crossroads. How to solve? Choose now a more acceptable power plant with a gasoline engine? Will you be left with a more economical turbodiesel that has become sustainable with all the clean-up measures and emits much less hated CO2 into the atmosphere during operation?

We were unable to resolve such a dilemma in this comparison, but it's worth noting that both compare in terms of fuel consumption, completely within expectations. They also completed our test round with a fairly similar result, so their result remains uncertain in terms of fuel consumption.

It's the same with savings and purchase costs. If anyone could think so, feeling that buying a Skoda is more affordable than a Ford, the data from the price list changed the situation. And here they are approximately on the same level, taking into account the alignment of the equipment. This is especially true because we tested a Skoda with a manual transmission and a Ford with an automatic transmission. Looking at the purchase price (table below), the Scala is roughly even slightly more expensive than the Focus.... The discerning customer will have to dig through the price list for both of them and check it in the web configurators of both. Moreover, it seems to us that with the help of our table, where we assemble a car with equipment according to the special criteria of the Auto magazine, we have found a way to compare the purchase costs. Here the Focus shows itself even with a slight advantage.

In fact, when assessing driving performance, there were still the most noticeable differences between them. While Scala cannot and cannot be accused of being subordinate in this respect, the Focus is ahead of all competitors in its class in this respect, and here Scala can come close in many respects (acceleration, final speed) in terms of engine performance, however it competes with the assessment of dynamics movement and handling. So, here's the Focus slightly ahead.

The same can be said for the quality of workmanship and materials.... Unfortunately, Škoda has made significant savings here in the choice of interior materials and other items, which is supposedly a consequence of the fact that the Golf must maintain its leading role in this area. Judging by this evaluation criterion, Škoda and Scala are mainly targeting competitors from the bottom of the competition. The Focus cab is more pleasing to the eye (and to the touch), but it can certainly make up for some of the Scala's lag in terms of grip ergonomics, which Ford still seems to be heavily influenced by American taste in Ford. The Focus also doesn't offer a digital meter as compelling as the Scala, but the buyer might think of a head-up screen on the windshield. The damage is also due to the Simply Clever package, that is, various small convenient solutions for ease of use, although here, too, some problems are associated with the choice of additional packages.

The set of electronic assistants for both is almost identical, especially if you find out what kind of serial set they have. This is because both brands wanted to meet the requirements for achieving all five stars in the EuroNCAP test.... However, the list of possible additional electronic safety and infotainment assistants is also fairly consistent. The Scala boasts the first car in its class to have production headlights with LED technology, if we look for this equipment in the Focus we will have to dig in our pockets (855 euros). Only because of this, Scala can deserve a slightly better rating than its German-American competitor ...

We also give Skala some advantages in terms of infotainment solutions. The Focus center screen is the same transparent as the Scalin, and they are installed in the best possible place, the Ford is a little higher, "floating" on the dashboard. But the Scalin system offers additional buttons next to the screen, and finding individual functions this way is much safer than with Ford. The on-screen menus provided by Scala are also nicer (in terms of transparency and accessibility).