Skoda Octavia


Debut: 2020
Maker: Skoda
Predecessor: Octavia (2013)



 Published on 4 Mar 2021
All rights reserved. 


The Skoda is unbeatable for value for money.


Over the last couple of years, sales of Octavia slid a bit, blame to the increased product diversity and especially the introduction of more crossovers, but it still registered 364,000 sales globally in 2019, maintaining the top seller status in Skoda's range. The Octavia was first introduced in 1996 as a spin-off from the Volkswagen Golf platform. Benefited with the lower production costs in Czech Republic, it utilizes the classy components of Golf to realize superior value for money. On the one hand it achieves 90 percent of the build quality and engineering excellence of VW. On the other hand it offers more space and practicality for less money. This winning formula continues to prosper in the 4th generation car shown here.

The new Octavia is once again built on the MQB platform, although like Golf Mk8 this is an evolution of the original MQB. All the hardpoints are maintained, as is the unchanged wheelbase of 2686 mm. It gets a little longer and wider, but the best news is a sleeker exterior design that finally turns the Octavia closer to an Audi than a lunchbox. Despite the deliberately angular front grille and headlights, the body shape is actually quite wind-cheating, no wonder drag coefficient is lowered to a remarkable 0.24, one of the lowest in the world. However, don't be fooled by its 3-box shape, as the Octavia remains a hatchback, offering better luggage versatility yet the long trunk swallows 600 liters of luggage, easily topping the class. In comparison, the Golf’s 380-liter boot seems tiny. There is also an estate body called Combi, which offers even more luggage space.



The best news is a sleeker exterior design that finally turns the Octavia closer to an Audi than a lunchbox.


The Octavia shares a full range of engines with Golf Mk8:

- 1.0TSI 3-cylinder turbo, 110hp (48V mild-hybrid is optional);
- 1.5TSI turbo ACT, 150hp (48V mild-hybrid is optional);
- 2.0TSI turbo, 190hp;
- 2.0TDI turbo diesel, 116hp or 150hp;
- 1.5TSI CNG, 130hp;
- 1.4TSI plug-in hybrid with 13kWh battery, 204hp combined (= Golf eHybrid).

Besides, performance model vRS has 3 engine options mirroring Golf as well:

- 2.0TSI turbo, 245hp (= Golf GTI);
- 2.0TDI turbo diesel, 200hp (= Golf GTD);
- 1.4TSI plug-in hybrid with 13kWh battery, 245hp combined (= Golf GTE).

Transmission choices include 6-speed manual and 7-speed DSG, predictably.

There are 3 suspension options: standard, sport (15mm lower and stiffer) and adaptive dampers. Bread-and-butter models are served with only torsion-beam rear suspension, while 150hp 2.0TDI, all plug-in hybrid and vRS models get a multi-link setup.



Spacious, high-quality feeling and slightly easier to use than Golf.


However, the highlight remains to be its interior. It is incredibly spacious for a C-segment car, offering class-leading rear seat accommodation. There are also a lot of in-cabin storage cubbies and even 5 USB-C ports for your convenience. Moreover, build quality has improved markedly in this generation, closing the gap from Volkswagen significantly. The dash top and door panels are soft-touch plastics, the rest covered with stitched Alcantara. The seats are comfy. The “Virtual Cockpit” TFT instrument and large center touch screen look classy. Moreover, it is offered with much the same safety features as the Golf, such as predictive cruise control. However, it shares also the ergonomics flaws of Golf Mk8, in particular the touch-sensitive volume slider which is difficult to operate on the move. The lack of hardware switch knobs for air-con and audio also makes life more difficult than it used to be. At least, Skoda improves from the Golf by turning the touch-sensitive buttons on steering wheel to physical switches, so you are unlikely to switch on something unintentionally.

The Octavia drives well, too. Undoubtedly, its chassis tuning majors on comfort, so it rides smoothly on all but the worst surfaces, accompanied with light steering and clutch for easy driving. It is refined on motorway, with the 1.5TSI engine working quietly and other noise sources well suppressed. This engine is also willing to pull and proved to be remarkably frugal. In terms of driver appeal, it is not as strong as the likes of Ford Focus and Mazda 3, of course. While it offers good grip and stability, the steering is not exactly sharp or feelsome, and the body control could be tighter. But let’s face it, it fulfills the expectation for 90-percentile drivers and exceeds their expectation for comfort and practicality.



vRS blends fine dynamics perfectly with everyday usability.


As for the vRS performance models, only the petrol 2.0TSI is worth recommendation. Although the 200hp diesel is also very quick in the real world, only the 2.0TSI has the VAQ active differential from the Golf GTI. As a result, the petrol vRS can put down its power cleanly in corners, allowing you to push it as hard as you would in typical hot hatches. All vRS models get the 15mm lower sport suspension and a quicker ratio steering rack, but again the lightest petrol model put them to the best use, displaying decent agility and control. The plug-in hybrid called vRS iV is the worst here, as it carries another 180kg of weight. Moreover, once its battery runs out, you get only a 150hp engine hauling 1620kg of car. The petrol vRS is certainly not going to threaten the likes of Civic Type R, Megane RS, i30N or Focus RS for speed and driving thrills, but like the rest of the Octavia range, it is a remarkably good package, blending fine dynamics perfectly with everyday usability yet costing less than most rivals. Performance model or not, the Skoda is unbeatable for value for money.
Verdict:
Specifications





Year
Layout
Chassis
Body
Length / width / height
Wheelbase
Engine
Capacity
Valve gears
Induction
Other engine features
Max power
Max torque
Transmission
Suspension layout
Suspension features
Tires
Kerb weight
Top speed
0-60 mph (sec)
0-100 mph (sec)
Octavia 1.5TSI
2020
Front-engined, FWD
Steel monocoque
Mainly steel
4689 / 1829 / 1470 mm
2686 mm
Inline-4
1498 cc
DOHC 16 valves, DVVT
VTG turbo
DI, cylinder-deactivation.
150 hp
184 lbft
6-speed manual
F: strut / R: torsion-beam
-
205/60R16
1338 kg
143 mph (c)
7.7 (c)
-
Octavia vRS 2.0TSI
2020
Front-engined, FWD
Steel monocoque
Mainly steel
4702 / 1829 / 1457 mm
2681 mm
Inline-4
1984 cc
DOHC 16 valves, DVVT
Turbo
DI
245 hp
273 lbft
7-speed twin-clutch
F: strut / R: multi-link
Adaptive damping
225/45YR18
1445 kg
155 mph (limited)
6.4 (c)
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vRS / vRS iV



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