New Skoda Octavia: testing a key Czech model
The supposedly compact car continues to grow and competes more with the Insignia and Mondeo today.
Since 1996, when Skoda revived the Octavia name, this model has become something of the worst kept secret in the Bulgarian car market. This gives its customers an indescribably pleasant feeling that they know something that others do not. Namely - how to get a car with the same drive and almost the same high residual value for less money like the VW Golf, but with much more space, cargo volume and practicality.
Skoda Octavia: testing a new and even old Czech bestseller
However, the new fourth generation Octavia is now entering the market and the big question is whether it will keep the "secret".
In terms of space and practicality, the answer is yes. The Octavia traditionally sits just above its compact class segment and perilously close to the top class executive sedans. In the new generation, this twine is stretched a little, definitively separating the Octavia from compact cars, leaving space for the new Skoda Scala. In its new form, the Octavia competes more with cars like the Insignia or the Mondeo - not in terms of dimensions, because it remains twenty centimeters shorter, but in terms of interior space and equipment.
To complete this exercise, the Czechs have relied not only on extra centimeters. The fourth generation is equipped with a bunch of additional options that are usually found in cars with a higher voice. You can order it like heated steering wheel, three-zone automatic air conditioning, head-up display ... Multimedia is already more than 10 inches for older versions, LED backlighting is standard. The ergonomic seats are specially certified by the German Society of Friends of the Spine.
You won't be surprised that the Octavia shares many of the technologies with the new Golf, including a new steering concept. the instrument panel is clear of buttons, and up to 21 functions can be activated from the steering wheel... The touch-sensitive center display allows you to enter commands with one touch, and as a fun addition, you can consider increasing the volume by sliding your finger along the bottom edge of the screen. Swiping with two fingers zooms in on the navigation map.
Octavia's tendency to grow at a rate that persists during puberty. The new generation is 2 centimeters longer than the previous one and one and a half centimeters wider. The trunk swells to 600 liters, an absolute record for the class, and the station wagon version even offers 640.
Tried a modification of the Octavia liftback on the road with a 1,5-liter turbo engine producing 150 horsepower and a manual transmission. This engine will also be available as a mild hybrid later this year, as well as a fully digitized 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. But even without them, it is quite dynamic. Acceleration from standstill to 100 km / h takes just over 8 seconds. When overtaking on the highway, the engine copes calmly, hinting at a solid supply of energy.
150 k. Maximum power Maximum torque 250 Nm 8.2 seconds 0-100 km / h 230 km / h maximum speed |
However, the Octavia reserves the right to choose: in Bulgaria it will also be available with two diesel units with 115 and 150 horsepower. These diesels are equipped with a new generation of catalytic systems that reduce nitrogen oxides by 80 percent. They'll be joining them soon plug-in hybrid capable of driving up to 55 km only on electricity, methane version G-Tecas well as the aforementioned 48-volt soft hybrids. They promise better fuel economy and more maneuverability for both the 1.5-liter and the base one-liter Octavia engine.
Last but not least, the Octavia remains the bearer of the famous Skoda Simply Clever philosophy. These are a series of little tricks that will improve your quality of life as a driver. The built-in ice scraper in the tank lid is already well known. To it, the Czechs add a built-in silicone funnel for pouring the wiper. In the station wagon version, the rear seats with special headrests that can be bent like in an airplane seat and thus give you a feeling of comfort and nap without neck stiffness. All Octavia modifications can also be ordered with an intelligent storage system for clothes in the trunk.
In general, by all accounts, the Skoda Octavia has a bright future ahead of it. The only cloud on the horizon is prices. New Generation starts from 38 thousand leva for a modification with a liter turbo petrol and reaches 54 thousand leva for a well-equipped 2-liter diesel engine. with an automatic. The car we tested cost just over BGN 50 – a price that allows you to negotiate generally good terms with leasing operators and drive a new car for less than BGN 000 per month. Of course, this is much more than previous generations. High car inflation, driven largely by new emissions and safety standards, has also affected the Czechs. But if we compare them to the competition, they stay true to Skoda's most important quality: being honest with your money.
