Established in 1894 as Laurin & Klement in the Czech Republic, Skoda has an outstanding and rich history. Besides, they have also produced some exceptional car models, such as the Skoda Fabia and Skoda Octavia. But is the Skoda Octavia a good car?
The Skoda Octavia can be a good car to some people and bad to others. It is a good car for individuals searching for a luxurious car with a spacious cabin, top safety features, excellent performance, great mileage, comfortable ride, and elegant looks. On the contrary, it is not ideal for those looking for a highly-advanced, fuel-efficient, and low-maintenance car.
History of Skoda Octavia
The Skoda Octavia is a small family car made by Skoda Auto. This car has been in production from 1996 to date. So far, this model has been produced in four different generations. Besides, it is offered in either a 5-door liftback or a 5-door estate. Additionally, the car has a front-engine design with front-or-four-wheel drivetrains offered.
Note that Skoda Octavia is the most popular and best-selling Skoda model on the market. Around 40 percent of all newly manufactured Skoda cars are Octavias. While the Skoda Octavia has had different platforms over the years, the current platform is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB EVO, which is closely related to the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf Mk8.
Features of Skoda Octavia
Appearance
If elegance is what you’re looking for, Skoda Octavia is a uniquely designed and lovely car. It comes with neat surfaces and enhanced aerodynamics, giving it a stylish and sporty appearance. If you want your car to look even more elegant, you can fit up to 19-inch wheels.
While the exterior of the Skoda Octavia looks elegant, the interior is even more appealing. The car comes with a spacious and high-end cabin. The interior is very modern with a user-friendly head-up display. Besides, it also features a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Performance
The Skoda Octavia comes with various trim options and engines. Some of the popular trims options include Skoda Octavia Tour, Combi Sportline, Sportline, Combi G-Tec, G-Tec, Scout, Combi RS, RS, and Combi iV. Note that the manufacturer also offers a plug-in hybrid option known as the Skoda Octavia iV.
The performance of the Skoda Octavia depends on the engine option you select. The most powerful engine is the 2.0 TSI petrol engine with a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission. It also delivers a maximum of 245 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. It has a top speed of 155mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds.
Comfort and cargo space
One of the best-selling features of the Skoda Octavia is its high-end and spacious cabin. What’s more, the top-notch cabin comes with comfy and well-built seats that can accommodate up to five passengers. Some of the features that make this car to be comfortable are back-friendly AGR-Certified seats, a well-positioned head-up display for ease of use, and huge passenger space in the front and rear.
Apart from having a nice and spacious cabin, this car also features a large cargo area that can be increased if need be. The trunk space offers a total of 21.2 cubic feet of space. But if you want additional space, you can fold the rear seats and get a total of 55 cubic feet of space.
Fuel-efficiency
The Skoda Octavia has one of the best fuel-efficiency ratings among Volkswagen car brands. Depending on the engine that you select, you will get an average fuel-efficiency rating of 36.7 mpg to 57.6 mpg. This is better than both the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf, which have low fuel efficiency.
Safety
This is a considerably safe car. The Skoda Octavia comes with various safety features, including airbags, seat belt warning, child lock, over-speed warning, anti-theft engine immobilizer, and speed-sensing door lock. It also boasts central locking, a flashing emergency brake light, middle rear three-point seatbelt, and anchor points for a child seat.
Price
The Skoda Octavia is slightly costlier than similar mainstream cars. This is because it comes with a starting price of around $21,000 for its base trim, the Octavia Ambition. On the contrary, the high-end trim, the Octavia RS goes for around $35,400.
FAQ
Is Skoda Octavia worth buying?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re in the market for a reliable, luxurious, spacious, safe, and stylish car, the Skoda Octavia is a nice car to have. But if you’re searching for a highly advanced, fuel-efficient, and low-maintenance car, this is not the car for you. It is also slightly costlier than mainstream cars.
What are the common problems with Skoda Octavia?
If you’re planning to buy or have already bought a Skoda Octavia, it is vital to know some of the common problems that you will face along the way. Some of them include gearbox problems, DPF issues, faulty child lock, lack of power, EGR valve issues, electrical problems, leakage issues, headlamp problems, faulty dual mass flywheels, and failing wing mirror indicators.
Does Skoda Octavia hold its value?
Yes, Skoda Octavia holds its value very well. It is one of the few cars under the Volkswagen umbrella that holds its value well. So, if you’re thinking about reselling your Skoda Octavia after a few years of ownership, you don’t have to worry as you won’t lose a lot.
Which cars are similar to Skoda Octavia?
Skoda Octavia is an excellent luxury car with lots of exceptional features. Nevertheless, this car also faces stiff competition from different car brands. Some of its closest competitors are the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3, Ford Focus, BMW 1-Series, and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
Is Skoda Octavia a good daily driver?
No, the Skoda Octavia is not a good daily driver. This is because the car is not fuel-efficient. Furthermore, the cost of repairs and maintenance is pretty high than average. Last but not least, the cost of acquiring spare parts is also high, making it not ideal for daily use.
Summary
The Skoda Octavia is a wonderful car with lots of fascinating features. It has a spacious cabin, excellent mileage, is safe, and comfortable, and performs outstandingly. Nonetheless, it also has several issues that interested buyers should be aware of. But with proper repair and maintenance, the Skoda Octavia should last for a long while.