Skoda Octavia

Our rigorous testing regime is famous for exposing hidden flaws and sneaky cost cutting.

On the surface, the Czech-built cousin of last year’s COTY-winning Golf is cracking value for money, since it offers much of the same hyper efficient MQB engineering tech, but in a larger, roomier, more practical and arguably prettier package. And all for thousands less than the previous, smaller iteration. It should have been a dead cert for the finals.

Frustratingly, however, there’s an unspoken VW hierarchical cynicism that insists that a Skoda simply cannot outshine its German equivalent. That much is obvious in the first few moments inside an Octavia, and it goes against the very essence of COTY.

Predictably, the chief culprits lurk at the low end of the price list, where, for all its acreage and accessibility, the base Ambition is decked out with all the swank of a Europcar rental. Forget the austere plastic trim; where are cruise control, rear air vents and front centre armrest as found in the $200-cheaper boggo Golf? All cost extra, eroding the Octavia’s value.

Strangely, value is most visible at the top of the range in the more richly finished and much better equipped 132TSI petrol Elegance and RS variants. Is it a coincidence that (in these models only) the cheaper old-tech torsion beam suspension has been replaced by a more sophisticated multi-link independent rear end?

Unfortunately, while these premium versions corner and ride with palpably more control and finesse, no Octavia is immune to the boom that mars cabin tranquillity, particularly in the handsome wagon. The alarmingly pricey, though satisfyingly torquey, $35K Elegance 110TDI diesel is especially loud.

And the magic ride quality of the Golf that has so impressed us over two iterations is sadly missing across the Octavia range, regardless of rear end configuration a fact rudely highlighted by the competing Peugeot 308’s rediscovered suppleness.

Such profound disappointments undermine what could so easily have been a blockbuster COTY contender, because there’s still plenty of VW-derived goodness infused in every Octavia, including smooth, powerful, highly efficient powertrains, high levels of standard and optional safety gear, firmly comfy seating, mammoth luggage capacity and vault-door quality build. Indeed, if the quick-steering RS was the only Octavia on offer, the oversized hot hatch/wagon may have snarled and growled its way through to the next round.

But it isn’t just the fond memories of last year’s high-flying Golf that dilutes the Skoda’s argument. The technical, refinement and spec regressions since the previous-gen Octavia are equally challenging to its aspirations.

Tech package
PRICED between $3300 and $3900 (depending on model grade), the Technology Package bunches safety and convenience gear for a 40 percent saving, including bi-Xenons with cornering lights, adaptive cruise control, City Emergency Braking, automatic parking and keyless entry/start.

BODY
Type 5 door hatch/wagon, 5 seats
Boot capacity 568-588 litres
Weight 1302-1503kg

DRIVETRAIN
Layout
front engine (east-west), FWD/AWD
Engines
1395cc 4cyl turbo (103kW/250Nm);
1798cc 4cyl turbo (132kW/250Nm);
1984cc 4cyl turbo (162kW/350Nm);
1968cc 4cyl turbo-diesel (110kW/320Nm);
1968cc 4cyl turbo-diesel (135kW/380Nm)
Transmissions
6-speed manual; 6-speed dual-clutch; 7-speed dual-clutch

CHASSIS
Tyres 205/55R16 – 225/40R18
ADR 81 fuel consumption 4.9-6.6L/100km
Greenhouse emissions 129-154g/km
Collision mitigation OPT (Ambition Plus/Elegance/RS)
Crash rating 5-star (ANCAP)
Prices $21,690 – $41,440