Every brand has an iconic model. For Skoda, the Octavia is its signature model. It’s the first thing that comes to mind when the Czech brand is mentioned. Over three generations, the Octavia has established itself in the minds of buyers as a solid car. This year, the third generation was updated. Yuzhny Avtomobil traveled to Gelendzhik to find out how the Octavia has changed after a major restyling.
He who has four eyes looks like…
Yes, everyone has already said a million times that the face of the restyled Skoda Octavia began to resemble a Mercedes-Benz W212. Some even found a resemblance to the 2005 Lexus GS. But I want to tell you that just because the headlights turned out to be double squares and the wheels round, that’s no reason to say that Josef Kaban, who left the Czech brand, plagiarized before his departure.
With 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 everyone’s business; there will be both supporters and opponents of the Octavia’s new look. The ratio is approximately 50/50 – that’s how subscribers of our social media groups voted regarding the restyling.
Nevertheless, the restyled Octavia has made waves precisely because of its appearance. It was discussed, anticipated, and talked about a lot. Now she looks at the world with her predatory four eyes, and will no longer be confused with the younger Rapid.
I’d also like to note that the car looks much more impressive in person than in photos. So before judging its appearance, see the restyled Octavia in person. The lacquered radiator grille with more voluminous crossbars adds integrity to the new face. By dividing the headlights in half, the designers managed to visually enlarge the grille.
Where are you, armchair designers, criticizing the appearance of the new Octavia? Doesn’t the plastic panel on the radiator grille, which hides the active cruise control radar, remind you of a similar solution from Mercedes-Benz? It’s the “four-eyed” optics that are getting on your nerves. Stop comparing already.
In my opinion, the restyling is a success, and there’s no arguing with that, but let the critics of the headlights stick to their guns. After all, starting with the first generation, everyone criticized the Octavia for its dull appearance, and when the car’s front end became more aggressive thanks to a single, radical change to the headlights, everyone took it as a personal insult. Everything is great, gentlemen, the headlights are just what we needed.
Furthermore, even the base trim now features LED parking lights, while the top-of-the-line trims will feature all-LED headlights and no xenon. The taillights are also LED, with a distinctive horseshoe-shaped pattern. However, the new optics distract from the other changes in the exterior, and they are there.
Now the rear track is wider and the wheels are not recessed into the rear arches so much, which, you must admit, also looks better. In length, the liftback has become 11 mm longer, and the station wagon has gained 8 mm.
If you doubt that the restyling was a success, then here is a strong argument for you. In the station wagon body, the new Octavia received the prestigious Red Dot Award for design.
Technical point
If we talk about the technical changes of the restyled Octavia, now even the liftbacks have all-wheel drive, which is available mainly in the top-end trim levels. Combined with the top-of-the-line 1.8 TSI engine producing 180 horsepower, a DSG transmission, all-wheel drive, and independent suspension, it’s a truly excellent choice. This is precisely the car we chose for our test.
On the roads around Gelendzhik, where long curves are occasionally encountered, the car delivers maximum enjoyment. The suspension is certainly 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 uneven asphalt. As for handling on the mountainous sections of the Krasnodar Territory, the new Octavia takes corners readily and without a hint of roll. This applies to both front- and all-wheel drive models. Incidentally, if you decide to buy the all-wheel drive version, it will be Czech-built. Only front-wheel drive liftbacks are assembled in Russia.
However, the car with the 1.4 TSI engine with 150 horsepower feels inferior to the versions with the top-end engine, but not by much. The fact is that the versions with lower engines have a beam suspension instead of an independent multi-link suspension, and this already affects the driving experience.
However, it is the versions with 1.4 TSI engines that will be in greatest demand. In my subjective opinion, you won’t notice a big difference between the 1.4 TSI and 1.8 TSI engines; it only becomes noticeable when you plan to overtake two cars in a single maneuver on the highway. In this case, the Octavia with the top-end engine accelerates faster.
The engines are paired with a DSG robotic transmission, which, by the way, has recently been improved, and the number of complaints from owners has decreased to a minimum.
The DSG traditionally has three operating modes: normal (D), sport (S), and manual (M). In my opinion, manual mode is not particularly necessary; the transmission accurately selects the right gear when needed.
However, there is also the lowest-end engine – a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter with 110 horsepower, assembled in Kaluga. The MPI engine has been installed in Volkswagen Group vehicles with minor upgrades for several years and has proven itself to be an unpretentious and durable unit. Therefore, for those who don’t care about performance but prioritize practicality, this car will be just right.
Interior
Interior changes are minimal. The main feature is the cool radios. Buyers can choose from four different multimedia systems: Swing, Bolero, Amundsen, and Columbus. The last two have built-in navigation, and all but the Swing are equipped with touch-sensitive buttons. Moreover, the system controls are so convenient that it feels like you’re using a tablet or smartphone.
All multimedia systems except the Swing can connect to iOS and Android smartphones. The Octavia also features active cruise control, a distance control system, a rear cross traffic alert system, blind spot monitoring, and even Lane Assist.
Another new feature is the ability to customize the interior lighting. However, this is more of a fun feature than a practical solution. The new Octavia does not feature an electronic instrument cluster. Higher trim levels include heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Top-of-the-line trim levels feature electrically adjustable seats and memory for three drivers.
For those who know how to count their money
Bringing the Octavia Combi to Russia is a bold decision. For comparison, the liftback’s trunk capacity is 568 liters, while the station wagon’s is 20 liters larger. Station wagons aren’t assembled in Russia; they’re imported directly from the Czech Republic, so the price is significantly higher. Furthermore, station wagon sales in Russia have always been low. Currently, only one out of ten Octavia Combi sold is a station wagon. However, Skoda hasn’t given up on selling station wagons in Russia. Currently, our market offers not only the Octavia Combi, but also the more expensive and prestigious Superb Combi. The base Octavia station wagon starts at 1,207,000 rubles, compared to 940,000 rubles for the entry-level liftback. And that’s for the version with the weakest engine and manual transmission. Top-of-the-line Combi versions cost over two million rubles. The minimum price for the off-road Skoda Octavia Scout starts at 1,962,000 rubles.
For Russian consumers, the most popular car will be the liftback with a 1.4 TSI engine and DSG transmission in the Ambition trim level – the price of this car starts at 1,154,000 rubles. The base Octavia, however, will cost up to a million rubles and will feature front-wheel drive and a 1.6 TSI engine. It won’t even have air conditioning. It will be assembled in Russia, but even this version will find buyers. After all, Russian consumers are so wired that they count every penny. And the practical Octavia has made a name for itself not only in Europe but also in our country. It is no wonder that Octavia has sold over 5 million units worldwide and has earned the status of “the heart of the Skoda brand.”
