The up to date and facelifted Skoda Octavia vary brings modifications to the favored mid-sized automobile’s lineup, together with the brand new budget-friendly Choose entry variant examined right here.
Skoda has hit a run of type in latest instances, with new Choose entry-level grades added to its mannequin lineup.
In each occasion, the Choose trim line nearly hits the goal spot on – and it’s the identical case for the brand new Octavia Choose variants of the facelifted mid-sized household automobile.
There’s nonetheless a liftback sedan and a dearer wagon, however this turbocharged and easy-to-drive base grade brings some massive revisions to its exterior and inside finishes and options.
Nonetheless, there are nonetheless some components which can be lacking, so it could be price ready for the higher-grade variants… until you’re after a discount.
How does the Skoda Octavia evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Skoda Octavia towards equally sized automobiles.
Skoda
Octavia
Skoda revealed the midlife facelift for the fourth-generation Octavia again in February 2024, and the brand new base-spec Choose variant is the primary to reach.
| Mannequin | Drive-away worth |
|---|---|
| 2025 Skoda Octavia Choose LIftback | $41,490 |
| 2025 Skoda Octavia Choose Wagon | $43,990 |
In essence, it replaces the earlier Type, and it has assertive pricing to attraction to consumers searching for a European automobile with a Japanese price ticket.
The higher-specced and higher-priced Sportline and the flagship RS efficiency grades are on account of arrive within the first quarter of 2025.
To see how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
The inside of the Skoda Octavia Choose doesn’t really feel as low-cost because the asking worth. Actually, it feels about $10,000 dearer.
That’s due to the usage of fascinating (not gaudy) cabin supplies, trendy finishes, digital screens for the motive force and a brand new 13.0-inch touchscreen media system in the course of the sprint.
All of it comes collectively fantastically, and it’s a terrific feeling place. It has a ‘premium airport lounge’ kinda vibe, with a mixture of greys and copper tones, and truthfully, the pebbled wanting end on the dashboard may be very cool.
Now, again to the tech – the brand new 13.0-inch infotainment display is a large change from the outgoing mannequin, and it’s a fairly completely different factor to work together with. I can say that with unparalleled confidence, as I had a long-term Octavia for six months, and it was a little bit of a problem-plagued expertise.
This new system isn’t excellent both. I had some points with my wi-fi CarPlay connection failing (and even disconnecting) whereas driving by means of toll gates, and whereas I respect the concept of it being extra streamlined and having extra issues on the display than in button type, I want there have been buttons…
Anyway, fortunately the controls are fairly agreeable, and there’s a small group of buttons to help you shortly bounce into, say, the local weather menu to regulate the airflow or activate the recirc, however there are additionally entrance and rear demister buttons.
The underside part of the display has a set local weather adjustment bar, and there are a number of methods to make use of the menus on the display, together with a drop-down menu which you’ll configure to have some favourites in play.
There’s additionally the Laura voice management system (which I didn’t use) and a built-in sat-nav unit, to not point out heaps of features and changes doable by means of the display. And after every week of driving, I used to be used to all of it.
The motive force’s data display can also be comparatively easy to get to phrases with, and you’ll see journey data and extra up there, in addition to regulate issues like lane-keeping utilizing the steering wheel buttons.
As you’d anticipate, the Skoda smarts are evident – there are lined bottle holders within the doorways (all 4), and a set of cupholders between the entrance seats is mirrored by a flip-down armrest with cupholders within the second row.
Free merchandise storage is nice, too, and sure, there’s an umbrella and a bit garbage bin within the driver’s door – sensible.
The rear seat is definitely accommodating sufficient for adults (three of me, perish the thought, might sit side-by-side), although there’s a transmission tunnel intrusion which will restrict foot room to a level for those who’re using three-across.
For folks, there are ISOFIX youngster seat anchor factors within the window seats and three top-tethers as effectively, and you’ll match a baby seat in dealing with both ahead or rearward with house to spare.
There are rear USB-C ports for charging, directional air vents, and a set of map pockets too. Boot house is superb as effectively.
The Octavia is tremendous sensible both in liftback (600 litres cargo capability) or wagon (640 litres), and the distinction is just minor on paper due to the measurement being to the tops of rear seatbacks. There’s a extra usable house if it’s good to load all the way in which to the ceiling within the wagon.
Sensible stuff within the boot contains netting, a lot of tie-down factors, a number of purchasing bag hooks for the weekly grocery run, and a reversible ground mat within the again that’s rubberised on one facet (nice for swimmers or muddy bikes) and carpeted on the opposite.
There’s a space-saver spare wheel within the boot ground effectively, too.
| Dimensions | Skoda Octavia Wagon |
|---|---|
| Size | 4689mm |
| Width | 1829mm |
| Top | 1468mm |
| Wheelbase | 2686mm |
| Cargo capability | 640 litres – seats up 1700 litres – seats down |
To see how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
The prevailing Octavia’s base powertrain has carried over to this new-look mannequin, with no modifications made.
| Specs | Skoda Octavia Choose |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.4L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Energy | 110kW |
| Torque | 250Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Drive kind | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1465kg – tare |
| Gas financial system (claimed) | 6.1-6.2L/100km |
| Gas financial system (as examined) | 7.6L/100km |
| Gas tank capability | 45 litres |
| Gas requirement | 95 octane premium unleaded |
| Emissions normal | Euro 6 |
To see how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
As talked about, we shared this automobile fairly a bit as a household unit this week, and boy did it make a constructive impression.
My associate mentioned it was one of many easiest vehicles to drive in latest reminiscence, as a result of there was much less faffing round at intersections than in different Skodas, due to the standard auto transmission, and he or she described it as being “zippier than you’d suppose”, and “very easy to drive”.
My job could be underneath risk, as a result of she principally nailed it. It’s a beautifully easy fashionable motor automobile, and that offers this handy mid-sizer very broad attraction.
The 1.4-litre turbo-petrol 4 is zesty sufficient in its responses, with an keen reactiveness from standstill due to the very fact it makes use of a standard torque-converter auto, quite than a dual-clutch auto.
There’s no hesitation in consequence, and it actually does really feel a bit extra urban-friendly due to that. What it means is which you could bounce into that hole in visitors with extra surety than in a DSG-equipped mannequin of yore.
And so seamless is the powertrain that I didn’t discover the idle cease/begin system interrupting the drive – a lot in order that I queried if the automobile has it or not. However based on Skoda Australia, it does. It is a automobile that simply, effectively, works.
However there’s a little bit of a draw back: the eight-speed Aisin auto on this automobile is a contact much less refined and never as intuitive at greater tempo, that means you’ll be able to really feel (and listen to) the transmission attempting to find the appropriate gear at instances.
There are paddle-shifters if you wish to take issues into your individual fingers, however it’s nonetheless not as snappy an expertise as in a DSG mannequin.
However the chassis will please all people, with steering that’s candy and straightforward to guage, providing terrific turnability at decrease speeds and nice confidence on the freeway or in twisty conditions.
You may hear the suspension working at instances, however it actually does deal with lumps and bumps within the highway floor commendably, with a surefooted feeling that some others can’t match.
It glides over smaller unpleasantries, and whereas sharp edges might be seen, it’s a really effectively managed trip and doesn’t exhibit an excessive amount of physique roll.
Simply be aware that for those who spend a number of time on coarse-chip roads, chances are you’ll discover the tyre roar to be a tad overbearing at instances.
There may be some superior security tech which may get in your nerves to a level, just like the lively lane-keeping tech, however it’s simple to modify off (although you could do it every time you drive it).
The most important bugbear, although, was having to make use of the important thing to get again within the automobile each time, which was a ache with a 3.5-year-old who can’t fairly get her personal manner into her youngster seat.
To see how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
Simply the bottom Choose has been detailed up to now for Australia – Sportline and RS variations are coming quickly.
Octavia Choose tools highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Area-saver spare wheel
- LED headlights
- LED fog lights with cornering perform
- LED tail lights
- LED puddle lights
- Dynamic indicators
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Privateness glass
- Chrome window body surrounds
- Silver roof rails (wagon solely)
- Cloth upholstery
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Paddle shifters
- Rear door window sunshades
- Shift-by-wire gear selector
- Electrical park brake
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- 10.25-inch ‘Digital’ Cockpit digital instrument cluster
- 13.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Two USB-C ports
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 8-speaker sound system
- Wi-fi telephone charger with air flow
- Twin-zone local weather management
- LED ambient inside lighting
- Push-button begin
- Driver’s door umbrella and built-in holder
- Pill holders for rear-seat occupants
What’s lacking? You don’t get proximity unlocking, which is a Godsend for fogeys who all the time have their fingers full, and troublesome to go with out whenever you’ve gotten used to it.
It means it’s good to use the important thing fob to unlock and lock the automobile, like some Nineties pleb. There’s additionally no electrical tailgate, however that’s not as massive of a difficulty, for my part.
To see how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
The Skoda Octavia obtained a five-star ANCAP security ranking in 2021, primarily based on testing performed by Euro NCAP in 2019.
| Class | Skoda Octavia |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 92 per cent |
| Baby occupant safety | 87 per cent |
| Susceptible highway person safety | 73 per cent |
| Security help | 79 per cent |
Commonplace security tools contains:
- 8 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection entrance and rear
- Bicycle owner detection
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise management with cease and go (beforehand adaptive solely)
- Journey Help (NEW)
- Lane hold help
- Lane centring help (NEW)
- Emergency help (NEW)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Exit warning system
- Driver fatigue monitoring
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Reversing digicam
- Tyre strain monitoring
Many of those new options had been beforehand reserved for cost-option packs on the pre-facelift Octavia.
To see how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
Skoda is the one European model to supply a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia, and it deserves kudos for backing its merchandise for thus lengthy.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Skoda Octavia Choose |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 12 months, then service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | As much as 7 years or 105,000 kilometres |
| Whole capped-price service price | $3650 – 7 years |
There may be additionally roadside help whenever you keep your automobile with a Skoda vendor, providing additional peace of thoughts and saving you about $100 a 12 months.
And one different consideration for potential consumers – for those who finance by means of Skoda you’ll be able to lock in a Assured Future Worth for the automobile prematurely, that means you’ll know what the automobile will likely be price quite than rolling the cube on resale.
To see how the Skoda Octavia traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
For those who simply need a terrific household wagon with an extended guarantee and habitable tech, the Skoda Octavia Choose actually is a walk-up begin.
Put it on the high of your purchasing record if price range is your predominant consideration, as a result of there’s nothing higher for the cash.
But when it was me, I’d watch for the Sportline which guarantees a number of extra of these options I’d like, and it isn’t more likely to be a complete heap dearer, both.
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