As the latest kid on the block in the compact hatchback category, the Skoda Scala is unlike its rivals thanks to its wagon-esque proportions with its extended greenhouse and rear overhang that you'll hardly find on other compact hatchbacks.

Whether you love it or not, you can be sure that those additional length in the car allows it to have a generous interior space. There's more legroom than one would expect from compact hatchbacks, and that along with its segment leading headroom means full grown adults will ride in comfort.

At 467 litres, the Scala's boot space is one of the largest among hatchbacks Knock down the seats, and it further increases to 1,410 litres. Thanks to the wide and low loading aperture, you'll be able to load up bulky items without breaking a sweat as well.

There is so much space that we reckon it can go head to head with rivals that are supposed to be one size larger, such as the Golf or Leon.

Despite it being larger than normal, the Scala feels no larger than its direct rivals to drive. It is easy to place on the road and with 148bhp and 250Nm of torque on tap, there's surely enough power for the Scala to overtake with ease. While power is more than ample, it is no hot hatch with very average driving manners and suspension settings that are more tailored to being driven leisurely than quickly.

Another one of its highlights is its full suite of driver assistance features that you'll get to enjoy when you opt for its higher trim levels. There's Front Assist with emergency brake, rear view camera, a surprisingly unobtrusive Lane Assist, Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert along with the useful Adaptive Cruise Control that works even at crawling speeds - perfect for those peak hour traffic jams here.

Are all these points enough to make it the class leader in its segment? We think so.