Skoda Octavia 2007 Review - International

Not so much
>> Badge will take some learning
>> vRS ride won't suit every one
>> We'll have to wait for Scout

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
>> Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 3.5/5.0
>> Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.0/5.0
>> Safety: 4.0/5.0
>> Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
>> X-factor: 4.0/5.0

OVERVIEW
Skoda will build more than 600,000 cars this year and upwards of half will be Octavias. No surprise if you're an avid Tour de France follower, I'm sure!

Sporting classics aside, logic suggests that when the brand settles into its new market Down Under into 2008 and beyond, the multi-faceted medium-sized model in its Limousine (sedan -- it'll be called just Octavia locally) and Combi (wagon) variants will occupy an equally important position in the VW-owned marque's local statistics.

The Carsales Network was part of a small group of Australian media that was given the opportunity to drive the Octavia in Skoda's hometown, Prague. And while our time in the Octavia and its Roomster stablemate was short, the trip delivered a snapshot of this volume model and a valuable insight into the company's future.

There's no doubt the maker is serious about growing its international market. It plans to build a million cars a year by 2009/10. The success of Octavia in new markets like Australia will be key to this aim.

Meantime, we're about to get another entrant into the medium car segment. Expected to take on the likes of Mazda and Honda, as well as its VW cousins, the Octavia promises to deliver Skoda's 'Simply Clever' design mantra into an increasingly crowded market.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
Octavia's total volume is in no small part due to the extensive model range Skoda offers in markets like Germany and the UK.

Here, at launch, the range won't be quite as large, though it will comprise sedan, wagon and 4x4 wagon variants. The latter should not be confused with the high-ride Octavia Scout released earlier this year in Europe. A Subaru Outback or Volvo XC70 style all-road wagon, the Scout will likely join the local Skoda line-up in 2008 (more here).

The Octavia sedan and wagons will be offered in both petrol and turbodiesel versions with the 4x4's TDI-only. At this point in time, Skoda Australia is still refining the final local market specification. Prices too are still to be announced but expect the range to start in the 20s and roll through to a range-topping vRS priced in the low to mid-40s.

Skoda typically offers three trim levels plus a special specification for its go-fast vRS models. Base model in the sedan and wagon is Classic, with Ambiente and Elegance consecutively stepping-up in specification.

A top-of-the-range Laurin & Klement version is offered on some models but is unlikely to make it Down Under. The L&K badge pays homage to the founders of the Skoda brand.

The 4x4 wagon's base grade is called 4x4 with the alternate grade Elegance.

In terms of European markets, the mid-spec Ambiente includes features like power mirrors, onboard computer and remote central locking with the Elegance adding climate control air, power windows, fog lamps, alloy wheels and the like. Space -- and the fact we'd be guessing -- precludes us from formally detailing what's in and what's out at this time. Skoda Australia has, however, consistently referred to the fact it will offer a relatively high level of specification at a cost effective sticker price.

The local release of the cars is now expected to take place prior to the brand's formal unveil at Sydney Motor Show so watch this space.

We can confirm that safety equipment will be a high priority. See 'Safety' below.

MECHANICAL
The modern Octavia launched in 1996 and was closely related to the Golf IV and its Bora sedan equivalent (In fact, Octavia is a resurrection of a classic Skoda model name circa 1959-71). Skoda confusingly -- given Audi's close relationship -- called the platform A4. The A4-platform Octavia is still built for some markets and is known as the Octavia Tour. It's not coming Down Under.

The one we're getting is the latest Octavia which was released in 2004 and is therefore based on the Golf V platform and Jetta. In Skoda parlance it's built on the company's A5 platform. The same platform also underpins the latest Audi A3. Confused?

Key dimensions are close to the VeeDub models. Wheelbase is all but identical at 2577mm and the Octavia's front and rear track measurements differ from the Golf by scant millimetres. Overall length at 4579mm is 25mm longer than the booted Jetta.

As Skoda develops future models there's likely to be less platform sharing and more use made of VW Group's modular assets. As such, the next-generation Octavia might, for example, share a Golf VI front end with a Passat III rear end but get its own front bulkhead and intermediate modules.

Skoda's Roomster (more here) is the first vehicle in the VW Group to adopt this new modular approach.

For the moment, Octavia shares the conventional front-wheel drive/Macpherson strut front suspension/powertrain and electro-mechanical power steering of its Golf cousin. At the rear there's a multilink set-up that's also shared with the VWs. Brakes are four-wheel discs; the front vented units.

In addition to the front-wheel drive versions, a 4MOTION-equipped all-wheel drive wagon will be offered. This uses an electronically-controlled Haldex clutch to channel drive to the rear upon sensing wheel-slip. The system is intended to help in low-traction conditions. Skoda says it is not an 'R-style' performance all-wheel drive.

All of the Octavia's powertrains offerings will be familiar to VW Group watchers.

The base petrol engine is a 1.8TFSI powerplant that produces 118kW. Next up is the naturally-aspirated 110kW/200Nm 2.0-litre direct-injection engine (FSI). For the vRS model, a version of the 147kW/280Nm 2.0TFSI engine that graces the Golf GTI and certain Audi models is featured.

Initially only the 2.0FSI will have the option of auto. Both the 1.8 and the vRS engines are paired with conventional six-speeder manual boxes.

Skoda will offer the option of DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) on some petrol models down the track. One of the VW Group's prime technological assets, the electronically-controlled sequential manual gearbox offers an auto mode and is state of the art.

In terms of turbodiesel variants both 77kW/250Nm 1.9 and 103kW/320Nm 2.0-litre TDI engines will be offered, each matched, in front-wheel drive models, to a choice of manual or DSG gearboxes. The TDI Octavia 4x4 wagons are six-speed manual only to kick off.

A high-performance turbodiesel with 125kW is mooted for a future vRS variant. VW's TSI technology is also coming to Skoda models (see below).

PACKAGING
As noted above, Skoda will debut both 'sedan' and wagon variants of the Octavia.

'Limousine' in the factory's parlance, the sedan features a three-box silhouette, but in fact is a five-door liftback that's cleverly camouflaged. Indeed, the layout of the car is such that it matches the wagon in load length potential.

The rear seat is a 60:40 split-fold and the cushion tumbles to deliver a near-flat area that's close to 1.8m in length. In addition to the conventional load area there's a shallow but full-width concealed bin under a hinged hatch. The full-size spare wheel that is part of Skoda's central European 'practical' outlook is located under that.

Even the blind-style luggage cover that's standard on the wagon is 'clever'. When locked in situ it features a one-touch release that will be a boon if you're heading back to the car with your arms full. Assuming you're able to open the main hatch, that is...

Incidental storage opportunities abound inside the Octavia's cabin – it's as if the effort normally expended on powertrain development (not required thanks to VW) has been used to make the interior even more practical.

There are all the usual cubbies plus underseat storage and centre console bins that are generously sized. We especially liked touches like the 'pockets' on the front corners of the front seats. Perfect for a mobile, toll change and the like.

There's clearly VW influence about the dash and instrument panel, but the layout is sufficiently different to give the Octavia its own identity. Skoda has softened the Jetta/Golf interior and added some welcome curves. Items like the centre console look better integrated.

SAFETY
Octavia gets a four star Euro NCAP rating (more here) and in Australian trim will come with the full complement of active and passive safety systems.

ESP with traction control will be standard on all Skodas as will ABS. Twin front airbags, side and curtain bags will also be standard. In this respect, Skoda will match its VW counterparts.

Final specifications are to be confirmed but other safety features will include: lap-sash belts in all positions and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

COMPETITORS
Pitched as a 'value' brand in key European markets, Skoda models are typically priced between 5 and 10 per cent below their Volkswagen-badged equivalents. Our guess is the gap may be even wider Down Under -- especially once prices are adjusted to compare spec with spec.

That means that rather than robbing Hans-Petter to pay Paulus, Skoda's gunning for the likes of the Japanese brands. In model specifics, Octavia will target Mazda6, Honda's Accord Euro and the yet-to-be-released, Ford Mondeo, among others.

Don't be surprised if buyers come from outside that range either. The Octavia has some of the same qualities that attract buyers to offbeat brands like Saab, as well as the French marques.

A full competitive analysis will have to wait until local prices and specifications are cemented. The upshot of our initial drive of the Octavia is that, like the Roomster, we think it will quickly win fans, and customers, Down Under.

And the news is largely good.

Our drive sample comprised a 125kW TDI vRS sedan (expected to be a 2008 range addition), a naturally-aspirated 2.0FSI wagon and one car we weren't actually supposed to drive -- a 1.4 TSI-engined wagon (it was a ripper -- for more info about the TSI engine see our Golf GT review more here). All three Octavias were manuals.

Though the vRS had the best manners, with VW GTI-style sharp turn-in and substantial levels of natural grip, it also had a somewhat firm ride. On broken surfaces the low-profile rubber (17-inch is standard, and 18s optional) let itself be heard and felt, but the overall ride/handling balance will suit those of a sporting bent.

Boy (and girl) racers will also enjoy the thicker-rimmed steering wheel as well as the firmer, better bolstered front seats. If you're think Golf GTI but need more space, this could be the car for you.

The wagons offered a similar, if more sedate, and more supple drive experience. Steering response was sharper than the average ASEAN front-wheel drive family-box and on conventional rubber progress was quiet. There's none of the 'boom' or resonance you can sometimes experience in a two-box body shape and both wind and road noise was well damped.

After the super midrange of the powered-up turbodiesel vRS, the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre felt far from a firecracker, but progress was solid. In isolation or alongside typical rivals, it will hold its own.

What was noticeable was the refinement of the petrol engine. As good as the diesels are, in terms of serenity, the super-smooth petrol takes the cake.

All the cars we drove were commendably free of rattles and squeaks. No complaints about the build quality nor surfacing either.

And therein lies a big part of the attraction of the Skoda nameplate.

Call it snobbery if you will, but nobody does car interiors like the Germans -- and among the best of those, we'd argue, are the handiwork of VW. The Octavia's attraction is that it not only gives access to this (and some of the best powertrain options) but it does so with a timbre that's a touch less Teutonic -- and for less money.

Sounds like a recipe for success to us...

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