OVERVIEW
£19,480 £36,230
WHAT IS IT?
What is it? Yep,
the new Skoda Octavia would possibly
simply be a better automobile than the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf upon which it's far
based.
More on that
later. For now, a few introductions. This is the fourth generation of the
modern-day Octavia’s, and as is to be expected it’s the maximum complicated and
tech-crammed yet, with Skoda Octavia
seeking to inject a piece of favor to match the standard practicality.
The Czech
company has kept with subculture in supplying the Skoda Octavia as an property (you could study approximately that
here) and the form of booted-hatch/lift back saloon type issue we've got here –
whereas VW and Seat stay with conventional shapes for the Golf and the Leon.
The lift back has usually allowed Skoda Octavia
to score those all-crucial practicality points, although, and there’s no
alternate on that front here. The new Octavia’s boot is actually 10 liters
larger than earlier than at 600 liters – a whole one hundred twenty liters more
than you get inside the new Golf.
But this
time the Octavia hatch (Skoda Octavia
nevertheless refers to it as such) is some distance greater swoopy and
thrilling to have a look at too. You’ll no doubt have your personal reviews on
that slightly aggressive Audi-lite front cease, however while the Golf’s
styling might simply have regressed with its new generation, the Skoda Octavia is higher-searching than
the one that went before. It’s large on the outside too - 19mm longer and 15mm
wider to be particular.
Now the
‘First Editions’ have long gone off sale (you might nonetheless be able to bag
one from stock), there are simply three trim degrees to pick out from – SE, SE
L and vRS. The latter is satisfactorily specific to warrant its very own
assessment, which is hidden at the back of these blue words.
There are no
real shocks at the drive train the front both, although there’s plenty of
feasible combos to run via. Here goes – within the UK, petrol engines consist
of a 1.0-litre faster 3-cylinder with a 6spd guide gearbox and 109bhp, as well
as a 1.Five-litre faster four-cylinder with the equal gearbox and 148bhp. Both
of these can be had with 7spd DSGs too, even though they’re badged as e-TEC
moderate-hybrids thanks to a further 48-volt machine.
The diesel
is a 2.0 liter TDI that comes in 113bhp and 148bhp flavors and may be paired
with a guide or DSG gearbox. There’s additionally a plug-in hybrid – badged
Octavia iV – which combines a 1.Four-litre petrol engine with an electric motor
for a total output of 201bhp and an all-electric range of round 37 miles.
WHAT'S THE VERDICT?
“Skoda Octavia may simply have grew to
become things on its head. You’d now recommend an Octavia over a VW Golf or
Seat Leon”
As we
alluded to earlier on, the Skoda Octavia
is now almost definitely the car you’d advise ahead of the Golf and Leon.
Crikey, who noticed that one coming?
With our
most realistic hats on, it’s without difficulty the most sensible of the 3, has
the least stressful indoors and is set up to offer a comfy (if rather
forgettable) using revel in. Some of the substances can be barely scratchier
than in the Golf and that 2.0-litre TDI is actually a little louder, but it’s
additionally the most thrilling-looking hatch and doesn’t just experience like
a Volkswagen Group replica and paste task. A turn up for the books indeed.
DRIVING
WHAT IS IT
LIKE TO DRIVE?
In heartland
148bhp 1.Five-litre TSI petrol spec the Skoda
Octavia feels greater sensible than ever – a 0-62mph time of 8.2 seconds
isn’t gradual but stays notably common, and also you’re never recommended to
pressure too quickly. It’s a well-delicate, quiet engine which shuts down two
cylinders each time feasible to enhance its performance. Skoda costs forty
eight.8mpg on the mixed WLTP cycle, plus emissions of 132g/km, and from our revel
in actual-global mpg within the mid-forties is easily manageable.
We’ve also
attempted the 1.0-litre Skoda Octavia
with the DSG gearbox, which forces you into Skoda’s first mild-hybrid system
(eTec). This too is an incredibly easy power train, and admirably eager to
replace the engine off every time you carry-off the gasoline. Efficient – we
saw over 54mpg on a 50-mile path that’s yielded worse results from actual
plug-in hybrids – but not rapid. 0-62mph takes over ten seconds, but it
maintains up with site visitors nicely sufficient and manages now not to
experience underpowered. That stated – load the Octavia’s boot to the gunwales
and its cabin with as many human beings as will match, and it would war.
The exec is
hugely inexpensive to buy than the plug-in Skoda
Octavia iV. A accurate, tentative step into the murky international of
electrification for those now not equipped or capable of make the leap to a car
you have to (or ought to) plug in. Skoda
Octavia.
More
commonly, there’s minimum avenue noise within the Octavia and the journey is
supremely smooth, even on the optional 18-inch wheels but specially at the
entry-stage automobile’s 16s and balloon tyres. It’s absolutely installation to
be spongier than either the Golf or the Leon, which does make it roll through
corners, however in truth that floaty, lollop nature suits the Octavia’s man or
woman to a tee and makes it properly comfortable.
INTERIOR
WHAT IS IT LIKE ON THE INSIDE?
The huge
change from Mk7.5 to Mk8 Golf got here at the interior. The new technology
receives a minimalist indoors that prioritizes touch displays and touch keys
over bodily buttons, and the tale is lots the equal inside the Skoda Octavia.
At first
glance the interior appears clever and maximum of the touch points at the
doorways and the dash feature smooth-contact substances for a premium
experience. Skoda Octavia says that
significant chrome strip displays the shape of the auto’s grille too, and it’s
creating a large point of the layout being ‘modular’ or at the least on
different levels.
Perhaps
that’s in response to VW’s try and merge the virtual dials and infotainment
machine within the Golf – something that we continue to be unconvinced by way of.
As a end result, the Skoda Octavia
receives a ten.25-inch digital cockpit at the back of that -spoke steerage
wheel. The dials may be configured in four different ways with a vast
navigation screen an choice, and the layouts are all controlled using the strollers
at your fingertips. Nice.
Base spec
automobiles then get a separate 8.25-inch principal touch screen with Apple Car
Play and Android Auto compatibility, whereas different trim stages get the
entire works with a responsive 10-inch screen, gesture manipulate and get right
of entry to Skoda’s Digital Assistant, Laura, who can reputedly control the
onboard structures in six specific languages. Show-off.
BUYING
WHAT SHOULD I BE PAYING?
The Skoda Octavia hatch starts at £21,230
within the UK for a bathroom-widespread SE with the 1.Zero-litre petrol engine
and a manual gearbox. Prices upward thrust to £33,150 for the plug-in hybrid,
which is best available in SE L trim. Meanwhile the vRS begins at £30,605.
Key options
to be aware about are the overall matrix LED lights (a hefty outlay at £1,610),
a rear-view parking digital camera (£605) and leather-based upholstery at £240.
There’s lots
of clever safety tech too. Skoda Octavia
collision avoidance gadget can now perform evasive man oeuvres without any
driving force enter, and the brand new Octavia is apparently one of the most
cycle-friendly cars ever built. ‘Predictive Cycling Protection’ and ‘Turn
Assist’ are each able to observe the brakes and convey the auto to a prevent if
a bike owner is detected beforehand or at a junction, even as an exit caution
machine stops you commencing the door onto hapless bicyclists while parked.
A
three-year/60,000 mile guarantee is widespread, and Skoda nonetheless consists
of neat touches like the umbrella hidden within the drivers’ door and an ice
scraper in the back of the gas filler cap. Very clever, and a big part of why
we tend to like Skoda Octavia.
What do you get?
Equipment
highlights for the Octavia Ambition encompass:
10-inch
touch screen infotainment gadget
Apple Car Play
and Android Auto (wireless)
10.25-inch
Virtual Cockpit (digital contraptions)
18-inch
alloy wheels
Paddle
shifters
Privacy
glass
LED
headlights (reflector-type)
LED tail
lighting fixtures with dynamic signs
Ambient
lighting
Silver roof
rails
Rear center
armrest
Dual USB-C
ports
Bluetooth
phone connectivity
Eight-speaker
audio
Power
tailgate
Push-button
begin
Umbrella in
driver’s door
Foldable
baggage hooks
Two tablet
holders
Rain-sensing
wipers
Keyless
entry (new for MY22)
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