The cub in Skoda’s crossover family is first to sport this new ‘Scout lite’ designation.

 SKODA’S Scout badge placed on the back of raised, all-wheel-drive station wagons that sat adjacent to the manufacturer’s regular-height variants.

Octavia and Superb in Scout form competed with the Subaru Outback and Volvo’s Cross Country models plus, within the VW Group, the VW Passat Alltrack and Audi Allroad. Back in the day. 

Scouts might never return; with the Kodiaq and Karoq doing much the same job, local representation seems a needless replication.

But there’s opportunity for Scoutline. Which is? Kinda like ‘Scout lite’. As in, you get styling cues reminiscent of the old look, but in front-drive format, so probably not the same level of ability. Gravel, yes. Outright off-roading? Erm, you’d be taking your chances …

Skoda’s Scoutline push is literally off to a small start. The first and so far only model to bear this new badge is the Kamiq, the smallest of the brand’s crossovers and the only one that doesn’t offer in all-paw anyway. You won’t miss what you’ve never been able to get, right?

In the maker’s view, this is your ‘city sports utility with adventure appeal’. The broader picture is that it’s a sister model of the Volkswagen T-Cross, also soon to offer here, and Seat Arona.

At $36,990, it sits $2000 above the Scala Ambition hatchback, with which it shares an 85kW 1.0-litre motor, and $3000 below the Fabia Monte Carlo, also on sale from later this month. There’s also a Kamiq Monte Carlo, with a 110kW engine, leaving $10 change from $46k.

The rugged ambience is provided by matte black wheel arches and front silver ‘underbody protection’. More silver accents have been applied on the rear diffuser as well as on the side profile where the mirror caps, roof rails, and sills come in a similar finish.

The new flavour of Czech’s B-segment crossover rides as standard on 17-inch wheels. It also sports LED taillights, chrome-plated window frames, and tinted rear windows. Plus special badging.

There’s no mention of a winch kit but, to be fair, Scouts weren’t hard core enough for that sort of stuff, either.