We review the Skoda Octavia from price to economy and all its features
Skoing mental ... 15 millions Skodas made so far
THE new Octavia was proving a seriously impressive car... until it refused to start.
The failure was a major shock for a car noted for its reliability, and an embarrassment — because it happened when I was giving some friends a lift to a funeral!
The excellent man from the AA who quickly got me moving said there was an electrical glitch that had drained the battery.
He also said that such faults occasionally happened on just about every car because of the huge amount of technology in modern vehicles.
So I’m happy to give the Octavia the benefit of the doubt and put it down to a rare gremlin, because the car and a second model were excellent — and I’ve never had a problem with a Skoda in over 20 years of testing.
The latest Octavia is quite simply better than the model it replaces in every way.
It’s bigger, better quality and although it competes against hatchbacks in price, it’s the size of a big family car.
Although it shares its body platform with the latest VW Golf, it has an extended wheelbase that makes it 90mm longer and 45mm wider.
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This means it’s got executive car interior space for four or five tall adults, and the boot is huge.
At 590 litres, it’s bigger than a Mondeo’s, and increases to 1,580 litres with the rear seats down. That’s big estate territory.
And driver and passengers travel not only in comfort but also in style, with quality soft-touch plastics and trim and plush leather in the top-of-the-range models.
Even the entry-level model gets air con, a DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, electric front windows, heated door mirrors, central locking and an outside temperature gauge. You can add sat-nav for £550.
Stepping up to the SE trim adds rear parking sensors, dual zone climate control and alloys, while the range-topping Elegance gets sat-nav, leather upholstery and cruise control.
The Octavia is now an imposing looking car with a strong, elegant profile that gives it an upmarket appearance.
It’s the same story on the inside where everything from the smart instrument dials and trim make this a Skoda with a VW Passat feel about it.
And as the Octavia shares the full VW line-up of top notch petrol and diesel engines, the driving package is top drawer as well.
The old entry level 1.4 has been replaced by an excellent 1.2litre TSi petrol, used by Audi.
This is a gem, more than capable of pulling the extra bulk of the Octavia in a smooth and refined way, plus nearly 50mpg.
But if you want more power, there are other petrol options on the TSi, up to 2litres, that deliver between 37 and 44mpg.
And if economy is your aim, the 1.6 and 2litre diesels are good for between 58 and 62mpg.
Handling and ride are also good which means as an all-round package, the Octavia is hard to beat.
Though it’s about £2,000 more than the model it replaces, the reality is the Octavia has been superseded by the new Rapid model and is now competing with models in the class above.
Which means that the starting price of £15,990 for the entry 1.2litre TSi is a real bargain for a car that offers so much.
And at £23,240 even the top-of- the-range 2litre turbo diesel Octavia in full leather makes plenty of sense.
Compare that to £7,500 for the cheap, nasty and considerably smaller Favorit in 1991 and today’s Skodas look every inch a bargain.
What to look out for when buying a used Skoda Octavia Mk2 (05-13)
Owners will go on about how much they love their Octavias, but don’t be fooled; there are some problems to watch out for.
Windscreens can delaminate, leaving unappealing white stains in the corners, and climate control issues aren’t exactly rare. Many early models have suffered from anti-lock brake failures, while door seals can be dodgy too. Batteries go flat on cars driven infrequently because the radio drains the power, while rear screen washer pipes have been known to come loose, leading to a soggy spare wheel well.
Four recalls so far isn’t bad, especially as most of them have affected relatively few cars.
Some early 2.0TDi editions have suffered leaky fuel pumps and engines, while those with the six-speed manual gearbox could also have problems with the flywheel disintegrating. Make sure that these issues have been fixed before you hand over your cash.