Upwardly mobile Skoda Octavia adds AEB

Skoda is pushing upmarket in Australia, announcing more equipment, a price rise and range restructure for its most popular model, the Octavia medium passenger car.

The range now starts $500 higher at manufacture list price of $22,990 for the six-speed manual Octavia 110 TSI Ambition sedan (liftback or hatch really), but added to the package is a claimed $4270 worth of gear, headlined by adaptive cruise control with autonomous emergency braking and Front Assist.

“You will find there are a lot more expensive cars where it [adaptive cruise] is not standard and many more expensive cars where you can’t even option it,” said Skoda Australia director Michael Irmer.

“Skoda is not about cheap, Skoda is about delivering more car for your money,” Irmer added.

“It is not about being less expensive.”

The safety technology is integral to equipment updates for the rest of the Octavia lineup; the Style, the high-rise Scout wagon and the top-spec RS.

Underlining that commitment, the top-selling Scout model, the 135TDI, has been dropped from the range until it becomes available with the same features. Timing of a return is as yet unknown.

A reversing camera with rear parking sensors, upgraded audio with 6.5-inch touch screen, eight speakers (up from four) and Smartlink connectivity (which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) are also part of the upgraded Ambition package. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels replace the old steel wheels and hub caps, while an armrest is also now standard.

The wagon version of the Octavia Ambition is now $1700 (up $200) more expensive at $26,690, while a seven-speed dual clutch DSG gearbox adds $2300 to either body shape. There are no changes to the turbo-petrol 1.4-litre engine’s outputs at 110kW and 250Nm.

The Ambitions’ specification level is now higher than the old Ambition Plus, which has been deleted from the line-up. A new $3400 Sports Pack which includes dress-up parts and 18-inch alloys has also been added for Ambition buyers, alongside the existing $3200 Tech Pack.

Details of additions to all models are at the bottom of this story, as well as the new MLPs, which rise by as little as $200 and as much as $700.

The realignment follows on from the recent launch of the Superb large car, which has dropped entry-level models to concentrates on higher output engines and equipment levels and has a $39,990 starting price. Next year’s seven-seat SUV, the Kodiaq, is expected to follow a similar philosophy of pushing upmarket.

Irmer explained Skoda’s prestige push was driven by learnings gleaned from Octavia buying habits, which showed customers were looking higher in the range and not interested in the bargain basement.

“When we looked at Octavia we saw the single most sold model of Octavia – which is also the single most sold Skoda in Australia – is just shy of $50,000. It is an RS wagon with 18-inch black pack fitted,” he said.

“Customers are really hungry for fully specified vehicles, particularly on Superb but also the Octavia ... The entry-level Octavia we barely ever sold.”

Skoda will continue to flow other new models into the market this year, with the latest Fabia Monte Carlo hatch and wagon, Octavia 230 RS hatch and wagon and 110 TSI all-wheel drive Yeti compact SUV all due in the last quarter.

The RS is clearly the car that will get enthusiasts interested, although customer interest may be limited because it will offer a six-speed manual gearbox only.

Skoda is coming off a record year in 2015, selling 4750 vehicles. To the end of May 2016 it is running lineball on sales year-on-year with the Octavia 10.3 per cent down. The current generation Octavia launched in Australia in December 2013.

“We haven’t yet unfolded the true potential of the brand here in Australia,” Irmer admitted.

“That will not happen on one month or one year, but as long as we keep increasing we are on the right track.”

Octavia updates details
Ambition: 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, rear view camera, adaptive cruise control, 6.5-inch touchscreen, Smartlink connectivity, front centre armrest, eight speakers (up from four).
Style: Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, Front assist with City Emergency Brake, Adaptive Cruise Control, sports steering wheel, rear LED lights, black frosted front fog lights, rear seatbelt reminders.
Scout: Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, Front assist with City Emergency Brake, front parking sensors, Adaptive Cruise Control, Smartlink connectivity, rear LED lights, rear seatbelt reminders.
RS: Front assist with City Emergency Brake.

Skoda Octavia MLP pricing: New/Old Diff/Claimed value add

Sedan
Ambition 110 TSI 6-sp man $22,990/$22,490 +$500/$4270
Ambition 110 TSI 7-sp DSG $25,290/$24,790 +$500/$4270

Style 110 TSI 7-sp DSG $33,790/$33,590 +$200/$3160
Style 110 TDI 6-sp DSG $36,890/$36,690 +$200/$3160

RS 162TSI 6-sp man $37,890/$37,590 +$300/$1040
RS 162TSI 6-sp DSG $40,190/$39,890 +$300/$1040
RS 135TDI 6-sp DSG $41,290/$40,990 +$300/$1040

Wagon
Ambition 110 TSI 6-sp man $24,690/$23,990 +$700/$4270
Ambition 110 TSI 7-sp DSG $26,990/$26,290 +$700/$4270

Style 110 TSI 7-sp DSG $35,490/$35,090 +$400/$3160
Style 110 TDI 6-sp DSG $38,590/$38,190 +$400/$3160

Scout
110TDI 6-sp man $33,290/$32,990 +$300/$3410
132TSI 6-sp DSG $38,990/$38,590 +$300/$3410

RS 162TSI 6-sp man $39,590/$39,090 +$500/$1040
RS 162TSI 6-sp DSG $41,890/$41,390 +$500/$1040
RS 135TDI 6-sp DSG $42,990/$42,490 +$500/$1040