Skoda Octavia 2007 Review

The first Octavia model to be produced by the company after Volkswagen stepped in was the so-called Octavia I. This is still in production at one of Skoda's three Czech factories and sold in a limited number of markets under the name Octavia Tour.

The Octavia One was introduced in 1996, built on a platform shared with the series four Volkswagen Golf. Departing from the Volkswagen way of doing things, the Czechs endowed the Octavia with a much longer boot, which leads people to believe the Octavia is a larger car than it is, in fact.

The current Octavia (Octavia II), was introduced to Europe in 2004. It continues with Volkswagen underpinnings, but also remains true to the Octavia tradition of providing huge boot-space. As for the previous model, it's a liftback built on a small car platform, but resembling a significantly larger car.

In many respects, the Octavia and the Roomster are polar opposites. The Roomster is a bit off-beat and quirky, but that very character is a by-product of lateral-thinking solutions to design quandaries. Differences between the two are like the Apple Mac ads on TV. Roomster is the fun-loving but laid-back guy in the T-shirt. Octavia wears a three-piece suit and is only to be taken seriously.

The Octavia's styling is conservative, but not unappealing. There's a chiselled look to it that's right up to date without being overpowering.

Skoda estimates that 80 per cent of the company's local sales will go to Octavia. That hints at the proposition that the Octavia will be an easier sell in this market than the Roomster. It's a case of what you see is what you get, whereas the Roomster as a marketing concept will require some explaining in the showroom.

The simple case for the Octavia is this: it's approximately Corolla-sized, but with the sort of luggage-carrying capacity that could lead it up against some mid-sized cars as well. From a pricing point of view, buyers will enjoy a broad range of variants with European design and engineering, very good build quality and an almost obssessive concern with safety -- for a price starting just under $30,000.

It is actually the very diversity of the model range that might be the Octavia's undoing.

This is where selling the Octavia could become tricky. Volkswagen, encouraged by the response to their diesel-engined passenger cars has taken the rather ambitious step of positioning diesel models to fill the entry-level spot in the Octavia range.

That entry-level grade is the Octavia Ambiente, which is priced at $29,990 for the liftback model with 1.9-litre turbodiesel and five-speed manual transmission. This engine is the only one available in the Ambiente grade, but can be specified with a six-speed DSG transmission, which is the 'automatic transmission option', to all intents and purposes.

The DSG box is not, technically speaking, an automatic as we know it, but it operates much the same way as an auto and, as an option, costs $2300 over the price of the conventional manual variant.

Joining the Ambiente variants in the wagon range is an all-wheel drive model. The base wagon is priced at $31,990 ($2000 higher than the liftback equivalent) and as for the liftback, the DSG option adds $2300 to the price. For a further $1200, buyers can specify the 4x4 version, but that is only available with the five-speed manual transmission, not the DSG unit.

The next grade up the ladder in the Octavia range is the Octavia Elegance, which offers two petrol engines and one diesel: a new 1.8-litre turbo FSI engine with a manual transmission, a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated FSI engine with a six-speed automatic transmission option and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel with six-speed manual, six-speed DSG or in the case of the wagon, six-speed manual with all-wheel drive.

All these 'Elegance' variants are available in liftback and wagon styles, with pricing for the 1.8-litre turbo FSI manual liftback starting the ball rolling at $30,990 and the 4x4 wagon hitting the ceiling at $38,990.

The flagship of the Octavia range is the Octavia RS (known as VRs in most markets), fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo FSI engine and driving through a six-speed manual transmission. This car is priced at $37,490 for the liftback or $39,490 for the wagon.

Options for the range include: metallic paint  $630, pearl effect paint  $630, leather with heated front seats (N/A Ambiente) $2830, bi-xenon headlights $1730, electric glass sunroof  $1730, parking sensors, front and rear $990 ($490 for the Octavia RS), electric driver's seat with memory (N/A Ambiente) $1370, alarm system $540, satellite navigation $2890, Pegasus alloy wheels with sports suspension 7Jx17-inch $2690 (Ambiente) $1840 (Elegance).

Standard features of the Ambiente grade are Electronic Stability Program (ESP), remote central locking, climate control, 15-inch alloy wheels with 195/65 tyres, electric windows, MP3-compatible CD audio system, multi-function leather-bound steering wheel and trip computer.

Over and above the Ambiente specification, the Elegance grade is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels, six-disc CD audio system with MP3 compatibility, low-light sensing headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, electro-chromatic rear-vision mirror and 'Climatronic' climate control.

For the Octavia RS, the level of trim is based on the Elegance grade, but fitted with the turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSI engine and with the following extras: 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/40 tyres, sports-calibrated suspension, sports seats, sports instrumentation and alarm system. Unlike the other models in the Octavia range, the RS grade comes with a space-saver spare tyre.

The 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel fitted to the entry-level Octavia Ambiente produces 77kW of power at 4000rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1900rpm. It drives through a standard five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed DSG gearbox.

As a further option, the Ambiente in the wagon body style, can also be specified with a full-time all-wheel drive system and five-speed manual transmission.

Moving up to the Octavia Elegance, which can be purchased with any one of the following combinations: a 1.8-litre turbo direct injection petrol four (1.8 TFSI) and a six-speed manual transmission; a 2.0-litre 'atmo' direction-injection four (2.0 FSI) driving through a six-speed epicyclic (ie: not a DSG) automatic; or a 2.0-litre turbodiesel (2.0 TDI) with the options of six-speed manual or six-speed DSG. The 2.0 TDI with the all-wheel drive wagon is coupled to a six-speed manual.

Power and torque figures for these engines are:
1.8 TFSI: 118kW between 5000 and 6200rpm, 250Nm of torque between 1500 and 4200rpm.
2.0 FSI: 110kW at 6000rpm and 200Nm at 3500rpm.
2.0 TDI: 103kW at 4000rpm, 320Nm between 1750 and 2500rpm.

Topping the range, the Octavia RS is fitted with the 2.0-litre turbo FSI engine from the Golf GTI driving through a six-speed manual transmission. Peak power for this engine is 147kW, developed between 5100 and 5700rpm. Torque is measured at 280Nm between 1800 and 5000rpm.

In addition to the elongated rear overhang, the Octavia delivers more volume by virtue of the high boot lid, which is a tailgate in fact. The hatch can put way 1420 litres of luggage -- with the seats folded flat -- and the wagon improves on that figure by an additional 200 litres (1620).

Front seat headroom for the Octavia is outclassed by both the Ford Focus and Holden Astra. Not altogether surprisingly, the Octavia is ahead of both in front seat legroom, but takes a back seat to the Ford and the Holden for seat legroom -- in the back seat. All the same, the difference is only 25mm between the Skoda and the Ford.

So the Octavia is a case of swings and roundabouts where interior space is concerned.

It's more efficiently packaged than the Subaru Liberty Skoda hopes consumers will cross-shop, but cheaper small cars do offer some advantages over the Octavia. It all boils down to the sort of buyer you might be? Do you carry more passengers or more stuff?

Standard traction control, ABS and stability control for all model variants will help Octavia owners to avoid collisions in the first place, but in the event of smiting something solid, the Octavia will protect the occupants with a full battery of airbags (including side curtain bags), three-point (lap/sash) seatbelts for all positions, pre-tensioners for the four outboard seats and a fuel supply cut-off.

The Octavia was assessed back in 2004 under the Euro NCAP crash testing regime as a four-star car. With current specifications, the Skoda says Octavia would have scored five stars for safety, but the 2004-spec car lacked the head airbags and seatbelt warning reminders necessary for a five-star rating.

As against the Subaru, the Octavia Ambiente wagon with all-wheel drive will cost $35,490 and offer an economical but torquey diesel engine and enormous boot space. Hard to argue against that...

Skoda cites better fuel efficiency and cleaner running from the admittedly smaller engines, but for power and torque, the Octavia models remain competitive with the two Japanese mid-sized cars. Part of that, of course, stems from the Octavia Ambiente's standard turbodiesel engine already mentioned, providing a significant advantage in the area of engine output and fuel efficiency.

If you were to compare the Octavia with small car competitors, it would come hard up against the Ford Focus TDCi, Holden Astra CDTi and Mazda3 Diesel. Then, if you actually prefer petrol engines to diesels, you might compare the Octavia with Mitsubishi Lancer VR sedan, Subaru Impreza R, Suzuki SX4 S and Toyota Corolla Levin ZR. With the exception of the Mazda diesel, all of these cars undercut the Octavia in price.

All three diesel models mentioned produce more power and torque. All the petrol models mentioned produce more power, but less torque than the Octavia Ambiente.

Where the Octavia scores a direct hit is in fuel consumption (a combined cycle ADR81/01 figure of 4.9lt/100km) and CO2 emissions – just 130g/km. The fuel efficiency bests all the competitors mentioned, diesel or petrol.

Although the Octavia is longer than all the small car competitors (albeit by just 2mm over the Lancer with its sedan body rear overhang), the Octavia is built on a shorter wheelbase than any of them barring the Suzuki.

So that's where the length has gone -- into the boot. Which is fine, if you want to carry around kitchen sinks.

There's the same Volkswagen/Audi-style instrument layout and the nice combination of ergonomic functionality with practical comfort and convenience features. Indeed, the cabin of the Octavia is quite a pleasant place to reside. Attractive design includes (in the Elegance grade) a combination of mock carbon-fibre and chrome with woven fabric inserts and leather for the steering wheel rim and handbrake lever.

There are useful features such as the extra lidded compartment above the centre fascia and the hold-down clips in the glovebox lid to keep receipts and notes tidy.

To drive the Octavia is to put those features in the proper perspective. This is a middling luxury car with some sporting aspirations, as you would expect from a brand that is up against premium Japanese and European competitors.

Handling is adept and neutral, for example. Thrown into a corner, the Octavia never feels like understeering and it's lively enough to produce that occasional moment of 'almost-oversteer' as the ESP sorts out the handling further.

The 2.0 FSI is refined and free-spinning, but if you can do without that ultimate refinement, the Octavia Elegance turbodiesel provided higher levels of performance. The diesel proved a bit noisier than the current norm for diesels at idle, however.

The DSG box works like an auto and drivers will be hard-pressed to pick it as not being epicyclic or continuously variable, unless they think to listen for the 'steps' as the car accelerates. There's none of that 'slipping clutch' drone with the DSG box.

With six forward speeds, the DSG seemed to suffer from gaps between some of the lower gears, nonetheless. This was particularly prevalent with the diesel, which isn't a high revving engine anyway.

There were a few minor aspects which go on the debit side of the ledger for the Octavia. Some families will miss having cupholders servicing the rear seat. The lumbar adjustment may not suit all drivers and the tailgate, which is quite a large unit, requires a hefty slam to close properly. One driver on the media launch complained that the rubber handgrip used to haul the tailgate down was hard on the wrist.

For every 'con', there's usually at least one 'pro', so we would counter the items mentioned above by praising the Octavia for the bottleholders in the door bins and the very good build quality.

In summing up the Octavia, it's a fairly conservative car -- especially standing alongside the Roomster -- but the conservative nature masks some of the Octavia's more interesting and useful design features.

We can't speak to how Skoda as a brand will be perceived in years to come, but if the Octavia is any indication, it will be seen as sensible, solid and offering a reasonable combination of value and dynamic ability.