Every brand has its foundational and iconic models, which can be associated with the entire brand. For the Czech brand ŠKODA, the OCTAVIA can be considered one of these models. For over twenty years, it has been one of the driving forces of ŠKODA sales not only in Russia, but also around the world. “Yuzhny Avtomobil” took this truly iconic Czech car for a test drive.
Exterior
The model we are testing is the third restyled generation of the OCTAVIA. The third generation of the car was introduced in 2012, and in 2017 the model was restyled, receiving an aggressive look in the form of four headlights. Incidentally, Jozef Kaban also worked on the OCTAVIA’s appearance, but as the brand’s chief designer, he also designed the ŠKODA KODIAQ SUV. With just a few touches to the portrait, he created a car that instantly catches the eye. The car immediately attracts attention precisely because of its “four eyes.” And the question of appearance is a matter of personal preference; there are both supporters and detractors of the OCTAVIA’s appearance. Now it looks at the world with its predatory four eyes, and it will no longer be confused with the younger RAPID.
A lacquered radiator grille with more voluminous crossbars adds integrity to the new front end. By dividing the headlights in half, the designers managed to visually enlarge the grille. Even in the basic configuration, the headlights received LED parking lights, and in the top-end configurations, the optics will be all-LED and without xenon. The rear lights are also LED, with a horseshoe-shaped pattern.
In addition, our car has a couple more stylistic touches in the form of black wheels, mirror housings, and the same roof. White and black look sporty and impressive. Speaking of the OCTAVIA’s exterior, it certainly can’t be called boring, and the car attracts the attention of others.
Interior
The main feature in the cabin is the cool radio. The buyer is offered a choice of four different multimedia systems: Swing, Bolero, Amundsen, and Columbus. The last two have built-in navigation, and all but Swing are equipped with touch buttons. Moreover, the system controls are so convenient that it feels like you are looking at the screen of a tablet or smartphone. All multimedia systems, except Swing, can connect to iOS and Android smartphones. The rearview camera feed is also displayed on the multimedia system screen.
In the OCTAVIA, everything is designed to ensure your comfort from the moment you step into the car. For example, a heated steering wheel will contribute to this in winter. The overall interior architecture, seats, instrument panel, and multifunction steering wheel all boast precisely calibrated ergonomics. Now, the top-end versions of the car have active cruise control, lane keeping assist, BlindSpotDetect, Front Assist, and RearTrafficAlert.
Let’s Go
The car we tested was the top-end version with a 1.8 TSI engine and a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. The engine has proven itself over time and has never caused any problems for its owners. The top-end engine produces 180 horsepower, making our OCTAVIA a pleasure to drive dynamically. Visibility in city traffic is good, and the relatively compact dimensions make maneuvering a pleasure. On the roads around Rostov, where tight turns are occasionally encountered, the car delivers maximum enjoyment.
The OCTAVIA’s suspension is well-balanced. It’s not stiff, and there’s no slouching either. The engineers managed to tune the suspension so that the car feels moderately composed and doesn’t bob on asphalt undulations. As for handling, the new OCTAVIA takes corners readily and without a hint of roll. Currently, only front-wheel drive versions are available on the Russian market, although all-wheel drive versions were previously available. All-wheel drive versions were imported from the Czech Republic, and they were too expensive for Russian consumers. Currently, we only have Russian-assembled OCTAVIAs with front-wheel drive available.
The base OCTAVIA comes with a 1.6-liter 110-liter engine and a manual transmission, but for a better middle ground, consider the 1.4 TSI turbocharged engine paired with a DSG automatic. This engine and transmission combination can be found in many Volkswagen Group vehicles. Even the largest ŠKODA model, the KODIAQ, features this engine. The 150-horsepower 1.4-liter engine is sufficient for an SUV, and the lighter OCTAVIA liftback is more than adequate.
At the same time, the smaller engine will allow for more fuel-efficient driving. That said, there’s no need to be afraid of the DSG transmission, which, by the way, has been recently refined, and the number of complaints from owners has dropped to a minimum. The DSG traditionally has three operating modes: normal (D), sport (S), and manual (M). In my opinion, manual mode isn’t particularly necessary; the transmission accurately selects the right gear when needed. Manual control is also possible using the steering wheel paddle shifters, but that’s for those who enjoy aggressive driving. Overall, the car leaves a pleasant impression from driving; you can drive it both leisurely and quite dynamically.
