Name: Skoda Octavia Review
Item: Skoda Octavia
Author: Gumtree.com

Skoda has grown in popularity in the UK, becoming renowned for its reliability and practical design. Now in its fourth generation, the Octavia gives the market something new to think about. Previous Octavias were lacking in style, but the new bodywork is sleek – its LED headlights lead you away from the front grille and along the length of the car. With British consumers increasingly looking to the SUV market for space and luxury, the Octavia may just offer a superb hatchback-shaped alternative to satisfy a family’s needs.

Visit our Skoda Octavia page for further details on the latest models.

What we think about the Skoda Octavia

Now available as an estate as well as a hatchback, the Skoda Octavia is a family car that gets more and more premium with each iteration. While the engine delivers an impressive performance, the interior is the star of the show.

Pros

Very spacious interior with plenty of storage space

Impressive fuel economy across a wide range of engines

A genuinely executive feel on the latest models

Cons

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Some important safety features are optional extras

The fourth generation of the Octavia brings with it improved engine performance, a restyled chassis and a better all-round driving experience. It also benefits from two new trim levels, bringing the total available to six: SE, SE First Edition, SE Technology, SE L, SE L First Edition and the sporty vRS. As well as the estate and hatchback body types, there’s also a sizeable range of engines to choose from, including diesels, petrols, mild-hybrid petrol and plug-in hybrids. The vRS 2.0-litre diesel option is available with the option of all-wheel drive, while all other variants are front-wheel drive only.

Driving performance of the Skoda Octavia

Our Driving Rating8 / 10

For a car revered for its practicality, the new Octavia offers more than you might think once you sit behind the wheel. Its new chassis offers firmer suspension, but not so much that it takes away from the quick steering and grippy tyres. Instead, this trio combines nicely to deliver a tight turning circle and superb handling on the road. Acceleration out of the blocks is a little sluggish, but the new transmission helps this by smoothly moving up the gears when exiting junctions. The ride inside the cabin is calm and quiet, with very little road noise squeezing in.

Safety and reliability of the Skoda Octavia

Our Safety Rating8 / 10

Safety has always been high on Skoda’s priorities list, and the latest iteration of the Octavia offers a new, updated spec sheet with more tech to enjoy. While the current version is yet to be officially rated by Euro NCAP, the previous model scored a full five-star crash test rating. In addition to the existing adaptive cruise control and blindspot monitors, there is better collision avoidance tech that will alert you to a potential collision at a junction and warn you about upcoming traffic jams.

Under the bonnet of the Skoda Octavia

Our Engine Rating7 / 10

The Octavia’s engine range has been completely overhauled. It now consists of petrol (with or without mild-hybrid assistance), diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options. Currently, there are 1.0-litre, 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines on the road, as well as 2.0-litre diesel options. This range of petrol and diesel engines produces 115 bhp, 150 bhp, 200 bhp and 245 bhp depending on the spec you choose. You’ll find the more powerful versions in the vRS trim models. A shift towards sustainability was always on the cards, and now Skoda offers two plug-in hybrids (again, the more powerful one coming with the vRS). The electric motors are complemented by a 1.4-litre petrol engine and a six-speed automatic gearbox.

What you'll find in the Skoda Octavia

Our Design Rating8 / 10

It’s strange to say that a family hatch is a growing rarity on UK roads. But in the wake of the mid-size SUV revolution, it’s sadly true. However, the Octavia may find a way to keep everyone happy. Its executive exterior appears smaller than it actually is, and the spacious cabin is neatly packaged. It has a flat boot lid, but the rear window lifts with it, so bulky objects won’t pose a problem. A grille insert and two-tone wheels add excitement to the family car, while LED headlights and silver trimming are equally stylish touches.

Comfort and interiors in the Skoda Octavia

Our Comfort Rating8 / 10

Moving from exterior to interior, the Octavia’s long body comfortably accommodates five passengers. The ergonomic layout is refreshing, with the seating, dashboard and door handles all clad in high-quality materials. You can expect excellent legroom and headroom in the front and rear cabin areas. The boot really is quite staggering, offering 568-litres of storage space – a lot more than you might think from looking at it. Going with the new estate will get you a huge 640 litres of boot space, which beats out pretty much all its rivals. The long windows allow for plenty of natural light, creating a more spacious feeling inside. Again, going with the estate adds to this further with the option of a panoramic sunroof, though that will set you back more money and cost you some headroom in the back.

What features you'll find in the Skoda Octavia

Our Features Rating8 / 10

The interior features include an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, with both include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. This can also be increased to a 10.0-inch screen with higher specs. There are no power outlets or USB ports in the rear cabin for passengers in the entry-level trim – you’ll have to go up the levels for these – though there’s plenty of handy storage front and back. There’s a touch-sensitive bar beneath the screen for volume control, which can be quite tricky for the driver to use. It’s best to give that job to the front passenger. Thankfully, the driver can make good use of the ergonomic steering wheel controls instead.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Skoda Octavia

Our Fuel Consumption Rating8 / 10

Skodas are generally reliable in terms of fuel efficiency, and the latest Octavia doesn’t disappoint. The entry-level 2.0-litre diesel with 115 bhp delivers approximately 62 mpg. In terms of emissions, it produces 113 g/km of CO2. The entry-level 1.0-litre petrol should also be quite economical to run, provided you don’t work the engine too hard. If you choose petrol, you can expect figures of 54.3 mpg and a CO2 output of 117 g/km. The new leader of the pack is destined to be the plug-in hybrid option, once its official figures are released.

Running costs of the Skoda Octavia

Our Cost Rating8 / 10

The new Octavia is a little too fresh-off-the-shelf for us to judge its reliability. But given Skoda’s history, customers shouldn’t have anything to worry about. The two core petrol and diesel engines on offer are already popular – the 2.0 diesel has a proven track record, while the 1.5-litre petrol engine has been a mainstay of the range since the previous iteration. The Octavia falls under insurance groups 12-25 and should be straightforward to cover.

Our verdict of the Skoda Octavia

4.5 / 5 Gumtree rating

The Skoda Octavia offers the spacious interior of an SUV with the sleek styling and comfort of a modern, executive family sedan.

Skoda Octavia Review