What is it?
Skoda may be an automotive synonym for utility but I guarantee this won’t be at the forefront of your mind when you clap eyes on the the new Octavia.
Still available in both hatchback and estate form, nothing aside from the introduction of hybrid powertrains has changed radically since the third-generation car, and yet the sharper creases, sharper lighting and surprisingly sharp silhouette deliver a car more striking in the metal than many of the Octavia's recently refreshed including the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Seat Leon.
Naturally, the new Octavia is also less expensive than its rivals, and the upcoming entry-level 1.0-litre TSI should drop below £20,000. Models equipped with the ultra-smooth Volkswagen-built 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI tested here aren’t quite so exceptionally affordable, but do still undercut most rivals.
And they do it despite the inclusion of Skoda’s new 10.25in virtual cockpit display, five USB-C ports, cruise control, light and rain sensors, two-zone climate-control, smartphone wireless (wireless for Apple CarPlay) and rear parking sensors as standard.
There is then the not-so-small matter of space. The Octavia uses the same MQB platform as its Golf cousin, only with the gap between the axles widened by 67mm. Slimmer seats (with dedicated phone pockets) then free up even more legroom in the back and the sloping hatch results in 600 litres of boot space, compared to a paltry-looking 380 litres for the others. So despite its sharp new suit, clearly the Octavia remains very much The Pragmatists’ Choice in this class.
Join the debate
Add your comment
Rapidly increasing car price inflation in recent months
My current car's make/model/trim level has increased in price by 33% in the last 5 years. That's a lot more than inflation has increased over that time, and the model hasn't changed significantly enough during that time to justify that hike.
It's also why I'm still driving around in a 5 year old car rather than changing it every 3 years like I used to before prices got ridiculous, so the manufacturers are shooting themselves in the foot (car sales were declining long before Coronavirus arrived thanks to huge price hikes).
gavsmit wrote:
What is it?
YES, why are modern cars overpriced??
totally agree gav , wages have not increased by 300% over the last 18 years so why are ‘new’ cars especially small and city cars in 2020 cars obscenely priced ?
Remember when the base Iseat biza sold for 6995? now a base ibiza starts from 16475! Entry level ‘new’ mini sold for 10,300 in 2002 now 16,240 and that's for a stripped out car taking into account BMWs usual up selling tactics (steel wheels standard..) .
Depressing south korean cars like the kia picanto has gone from a 5995 car to ten grand for a base model today. Can anyone think of any new car model that has not increased in price by insane rates over the years?
Only cars I can only think of is the the Nissan 370z which is 30 grand and renault parts bin reject barrel scraping Dacia sandro access at 6995
Nissan 370Z
I thought you must have got that wrong so I had to check, and it seems I owe you an apology. 30 grand is indeed the starting point for a 370Z. Considering the sort of cars it is up against that really is terrific value for money (relative to everything else on sale, that is!). Good spot!
Golf and Octavia don't have same wheelbase
Current Golf (8) and Octavia (4) have a different wheelbase. That was one of the main advantages advertised by VW Group for the MQB platform. Thought Autocar would know that. A lot of people here spending a lot of time writing about a car they seem to dislike so much...
Say what you mean, aye!
So Kind Of Don't Aquire, then.
SKODA
Just Saying wrote:
Yeah... nah.