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Car buyers are set to learn which models qualify for the UK government’s new Electric Car Grant (ECG) on August 11.

Speaking at a briefing to announce the UK’s latest automotive manufacturing figures, Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders (SMMT) boss Mike Hawes confirmed the August date and said he expected around one third of electric cars on the market to qualify for the grant based on the criteria set out by government.

This criteria includes not just a £37,000 cap for a qualifying model but also science-based targets around emissions from a car company and its models’ manufacturing location.

Should a car qualify, grants will be banded at either £1500 or £3750. 

On the basis that half the market is ruled out on price, that means around two thirds of EV model ranges with a sub-£37,000 model look set to qualify for a grant, based on early projections. 

Hawes confirmed that the automotive industry had not been consulted on the ECG ahead of its publication and said that while “any support is the right thing”, the fact that it “will help some but not all OEMs” isn't ideal.

The fact that some manufacturers and models would be denied access to the grant also meant that for them “the route to ZEV mandate compliance is worse" and "at £37,000 you split the market”. 

The SMMT had been advocating for VAT cuts on EVs sold to private buyers as a way of ensuring support was targeted at the area of the market that needed it most. 

“We understand the ambition, but there is a lack of clarity,” said Hawes.

Hawes believes that the ECG isn't intended to disadvantage any particular region or manufacturer, despite cars originating from South Korea and China set to miss out, saying it looked to have been formulated to target “products with broader sustainability goals, not just zero tailpipe emissions”.

It's also worth noting that “the government has said it will look to support local manufacturing if possible”, he added.

The chances of access to the ECG convincing any foreign car maker to invest in UK EV manufacturing is incredibly slim, said Hawes, as it's likely the £650 million purse would have run out by the time production could be ramped up. 

In response to the fact that the ECG is also available to business buyers (who already get EV subsidies through favourable BIK tax rates), Hawes said the “objective of the government is to get EVs on the road, and that includes fleet, rightly or wrongly”. 

Car makers will also be able to get the ECG paid to themselves through registering the likes of demonstrators and staff vehicles, but Hawes said that for manufacturers, “the grant will be monitored by the government to ensure it flows through” to the right places.

“Invariably there might be sales channels that are easier than others," he said, "but ultimately this is going to shift the market.”

To that end, Hawes believes the scheme "will be a success, as consumers respond to carrots”.

Now the challenge is to ensure that investment in charging infrastructure keeps up with a likely increase in demand.

One test of the ECG scheme's success will be whether it tempts new buyers into EVs, rather than existing EV drivers to swap one EV for another, added Hawes, saying: “It needs to be the former.”

It’s tough to quantify value, because it’s different for everybody. What one person considers good value may be irrelevant to the person standing next to them. That means a car has to be a seriously capable all-rounder to offer good value to a wide range of people. And that is precisely what the Skoda Scala does, which is why our sister title, What Car?, named it the Best Family Car for Value for 2025. 

It’s earned that prize on two previous occasions, too, so it’s clear that Skoda knows how to deliver a car that punches above its pricepoint. Here are five ways in which it earned the accolades.

Learn more about the Skoda Scala

#1 Exceptional space and practicality

Whether you’re travelling on your own or have the car full of family members, everyone is going to be happy with the amount of space on offer in the Skoda Scala.Even if you’re six-feet-plus you’ll be able to sit comfortably in the driver’s seat without having to have the front seat in its lowest setting – the same applies to the front-seat passenger, too.

There’s great news for those in the rear seats too, because anyone sitting behind a six-foot driver will still have plenty of legroom and headroom. As What Car? says: “Rear space is one of the Scala’s greatest attributes. Leg and head room are exceedingly generous for the class.”The cabin is also wide enough that three adults will be able to sit comfortably enough without feeling that they should really be on a first-name basis.

And nor will everyone’s legs be scrunched up, because “there’s plenty of foot space under the front seats, and the cushy headrests help your passengers kick back happily and relax”.Everyone can bring along as much stuff as they like, too, because the 467-litre boot is more than big enough to take it all. It’s a clever space, too, as What Car? points out. “The Scala’s boot is a useful square shape and has plenty of bag hooks, while the load lip is manageably low if you put the optional (and recommended) adjustable boot floor in its higher setting.” 

The ‘Simply Clever’ ethos is prevalent in the cabin, too, because as What Car?s testers note: “Storage space for odds and ends is good, and includes generous front door pockets, a decent-sized glovebox, a cupholder in the centre console, a large drawer under the front seats and a sunglasses holder above the rear-view mirror. There’s also a small cubby in front of the gearlever, which doubles as the area for the optional wireless phone-charging pad.”In short, when you travel in a Skoda Scala, you don’t have to pack light.

#2 Comfortable and easy to drive

There are some cars that simply get on with the job in hand, and do it well. And the Skoda Scala is undoubtedly one such car. It just does what you ask it to – no fuss, no fluster. And it does this no matter which powertrain is under the bonnet. The range kicks off with a three-cylinder 1.0 TSI 95 engine and five-speed manual transmission – the version that won What Car?’s Best Family Car for Value award –  which endows the car with the sort of acceleration that makes keeping up with the ebb and flow of daily traffic a stress-free experience. And as What Car?’s testers state: “The five-speed manual gearbox you get with the TSI 95 offers a good, slick shift action”, which makes driving the car all the easier. The engine also generates a characterful thrum as you accelerate, enhancing the journey.

Comfort is one of the Scala’s strengths, and indeed, What Car? says: “The Scala has softer, cushier suspension than most family cars, meaning you’re better isolated from harsh bumps and potholes.”

The praise continues for this best-value choice: “The most comfortable Scala is the SE Edition trim on its standard 16in wheels, but even the higher trims on larger wheels ride well.” So if you want to go from here to there in complete comfort, a Skoda Scala is the car to choose.

#3 Wallet-friendly running costs

Not only does the Skoda Scala make perfect sense in the real world, it also adds up in the financial world.

For a start, its list price is just £22,395 RRP or £23,500 OTR, which, when you consider everything the car has as standard, is simply incredible value.

But the good financial news doesn’t stop just there. The 1.0 TSI 95 SE Edition model is classified in insurance group 12E, so the annual cost of the premium will be much less than… premium.

The Skoda Scala stacks up well as a company choice, too. Its WLTP combined emissions are 115g/km, which puts the car in the 29% band for Benefit-in-Kind taxation. This equates to a monthly bill of just £111.19 for a 20% income tax payer.

Low-rolling-resistance tyres are fitted as standard, while the sleek shape cleaves the air cleanly, which helps the Scala 1.0 TSI 95 achieve a WLTP combined economy figure of up to 55.5mpg. So you certainly won’t be a regular at the local fuel station.

#4 More for your money

More for less. It doesn’t happen very often, but that’s what you get with a Skoda Scala SE Edition trim.

This is the award-winning model that kicks off the range, but it has everything you need, plus pretty much everything you might want. To that end, there are LED headlights with LED running lights, plus super-bright LED taillights, a 9.2-inch central touchscreen infotainment system with Wireless Smartlink for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a 10.25in Virtual Cockpit ahead of the driver.

And there’s more, as What Car? notes: “SE Edition includes 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone air conditioning, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, a front centre armrest, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.” 

You want more? Okay, Skoda has also included traffic-sign recognition, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera, plus a keyless engine start/stop system. There are also no fewer than four USB-C sockets, so everyone can keep their devices topped up on the move.If you’re looking for one word to describe the SE Edition, then that word would be “generous”.

In addition, Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ features are front and centre in every single Scala model. These are surprising touches that just make living with a car easier, such as a parking ticket holder mounted on the windscreen pillar, an umbrella stowed in a compartment in the driver’s door, an ice scraper and tyre tread depth gauge inside the fuel filler cap, and a fold-out funnel on the screen-wash tank. You just know that Skoda has thought about how people live with cars, and has designed the Scala to make everything simple. Clever.

#5 Impressive safety kit

Any car that is aimed at families has one assignment that is absolutely paramount – it must keep that family safe. In that regard, the Skoda Scala is absolutely on point.

Every Scala comes with Front Assist, which monitors the vehicle ahead, and automatically brakes the car if it detects that a collision is imminent. But should the worst happen, the Scala features an emergency call system that automatically contacts the emergency services for you. 

Skoda has also ensured that the Scala has more airbags than a bubblewrap factory – it can be fitted with up to nine airbags. The rear seats have ISOFIX preparation, so the youngest family members are held securely in their seats.And when you’re on the road, the lane-assist system will keep you between the lines, and the hill-hold control ensures that there’s never any concern about rolling back during hill starts, no matter how steep the incline.

Verdict

As we said at the start, it’s hard to quantify value, because everyone has a different definition of what constitutes good value. But Skoda has absolutely hit the nail on the head with the Scala, which is guaranteed to make you feel good about the initial purchase, the running costs during your ownership, the luxury and convenience it provides on every journey, and the fact it keeps you and your family safe on the road. Now that’s award-winning value.

Learn more about the Skoda Scala