PITCHING UP AN OCTAVE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Skoda's fourth generation Octavia has been usefully updated. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 90

The fourth generation version of Skoda's Octavia gets a light refresh as part of this Czech model's mid-term update. Once, this car was the least sophisticated of all the Volkswagen Group's family hatchback products. Not any more - thanks to mild hybrid electrified engine tech and cutting-edge media cabin provision. This car's still bigger and better value than most of its rivals, pretty much a Passat-sized medium range model for the price of a Golf-sized one. And it's clever enough, once again, to change the way you think about Skoda.

Backgroundword count: 222

You can trace the Skoda success story of the last few decades back to the original launch of one model: this one - the Octavia. Right from its very first appearance in 1996, this has been a car that's always super-sized its value proposition, offering more space than the class norm. For first and second generation versions, that class saw competition amongst Focus and Astra-class family hatches. The MK3 model of 2012 took a step up in the world, virtually big enough to compete with Mondeos and Insignias in the larger medium range segment and this fourth generation version, originally launched in 2019, has continued to offer that kind of proposition. In this updated form, launched in mid-2024, the MK4 Octavia has become more sophisticated than ever before - and cleverer too, as it has to be to distance itself from the simpler, but not much smaller Scala model that sits below it in the range. The Scala is the car to choose for Skoda motoring as it used to be, light on frills and cutting-edge technology but solid, reliable, value-laden and built to last. This improved Octavia, in contrast, is more a signpost to a direction the Czech brand wants to go in the future: one that shares the very latest technology with more luxurious brands in the Volkswagen Group stable.

Driving Experienceword count: 347

The subtleness of this car's mid-term update is equally evident by the minimal changes made to the engine range. As before, the core of the line-up is made up of turbocharged four cylinder 1.5-litre TSI petrol or 2.0 TDI diesel engines, each with either 116PS or 150PS options. If you prefer petrol, Skoda would ideally like you to have your Octavia with the brand's e-TEC mHEV mild hybrid electrification, which requires use of DSG auto transmission. That's what we're trying here. If you still want a petrol manual, an un-electrified 1.5-litre 150PS green pump-fuelled powertrain's still available. When it comes to the 2.0-litre TDI diesel, well it's a straight choice between the 116PS version with manual transmission; or the 2.0 TDI 150PS drivetrain, which has to be had with the DSG auto. As for other Octavia engine options, well the previous entry-level 1.0-litre petrol engine is no longer offered and, from the launch of this updated model, there was no sign of the iV PHEV petrol drivetrain either, though we'd bet on seeing that before the end of this car's life cycle. Another engine deleted as part of this model update was the uprated version of the 2.0 TDI diesel previously used by a version of the sporty vRS. vRS customers do now though, get an upgraded version of the 2.0-litre TSI petrol unit - now with power boosted to 265PS, along with a sports exhaust that produces a more characterful sound. As previously, the vRS is the only Octavia variant that gets the more advanced multi-link rear suspension system we referenced earlier and sits 15mm lower than the standard model on firmer sports suspension. Whatever flavour of Octavia you happen to prefer, it'll come with plenty of drive assist technology, including a standard Adaptive Cruise Control system that uses the car's front camera system, GPS data and a host of sensors to drive the car predictively. So when 'ACC' is set, the car knows in advance about bends, roundabouts and upcoming traffic flow, plus this Skoda will adapt itself to speed limits as you enter them.

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