Skoda Octavia review (27/11/2013)
First up we were disappointed by the Rapid which was initially endowed with the sort of ride quality we might have expected from a car made by the company before the Iron Curtain came down, although I’m assured these problems have now been addressed. Secondly, we were a little shocked by our initial experience of the new Octavia, the car upon which Skoda’s strong latter-day foundations have been built, which displayed inconsistencies on the handling front. Again, initial problems were quickly addressed.
But what was unusual, I felt, was that Skoda had taken its eye off the ball — however briefly — or been allowed to do so by its Volkswagen masters.
However, our second experience of the new car came about recently when we were let loose in the new Octavia Combi load-lugger, albeit in RS trim with the same two litre TDI engine that was first seen in the excellent new Golf GTD. I am delighted to report that any fears about chinks in the company’s armour have been firmly allayed.
Built on the new MQB platform, it shares with such as the Golf, the Seat Leon and Audi A3, the Skoda characteristically squeezes more out of the package than any of those sibling rivals. It also embarrasses the hell out of pretty much every other competitor it has in terms of the dimensions on offer both for passenger comfort and load space. And, for a price considerably shy of 35k it also offers a specification package and performance levels that would bewilder most opponents’ salesmen.
But that’s only half the story because this Octavia really offers so much more than comfort, kit and
pizzazz. The car also delivers genuine style and enough on-road delights to offer even the most demanding driver a very satisfactory deal.
I expected the RS Combi to be a better sorted machine than any of the lesser models anyway and was eager to see for myself if Skoda had improved on what was already an established class leader. I was not disappointed.
I wrote recently about how the Golf GTi had matured into being a sports car with everyday practicality and now, having the Octavia RS, I would have to say that you’re getting more of the same here, except with the Skoda everything is very much on a seriously grown-up scale — especially with regard to performance and dimensions.
Drive around in this thing keeping the revs to a minimum and you could easily think it was no more than an adequately engined load lugger. Get on the loud pedal, however, and start working it a bit and you’re reminded about the old story about the wild animal and the stick. Poke and prod it enough and you see there’s a Jekyll and Hyde vibe abroad here.
The naked facts tell is that there is 135kW on tap — 184bhp — from the four cylinder turbo engine and this in turn translates into a top speed of 230kph and a 0-100kph capability of 8.2 seconds all that and it will also return a consumption figure of 4.6 l/100km (near to 61mpg). Such performance figures in themselves — particularly the 0-100kph time — might not stand your hair on end, but the thing I loved about this engine was simply that it keeps on giving.
Mix that in with a chassis which is considerably more sorted than the initial versions of the regular Octavia were and you have a package which will satisfy a vast number of people, all of whom want different things from their car. Utilising the XDS+ system which brakes the inside wheels when fast cornering is being attempted, the Skoda is very unlikely to bite you back if you prod it too much with the aforementioned stick.
Rather, it will display commendable levels of adhesion and an admirable level of poise even when you feel you might be putting it beyond its comfort zone.
And when you consider that the majority of the customers for this particular car will be family-oriented, the thing still makes sense. When the kids are in it you can tootle around the place at a moderate and undemanding pace; but, when you need to turn the wick up — be it either for long motorway cruises or a short cross-country bash — you still know you have plenty of car for the job in hand.
Even if you don’t have kids and you want to bring all your mates surfing, you can be assured of fitting four adults in comfort (the rear legroom is particularly impressive) and all their kit with no difficulties. The 610 litre boot is massive and doubles in size if you need to ditch the passengers.
I’m back in love with Skoda again and delighted that my recent fears about the brand have turned out to be nothing more than a blip in the greater scheme of things.
33,745 (excl. delivery).
a truly excellent
development of the VW Group two litre turbodiesel engine which provides gusto and economy in equal measure.
pretty much has to be seen to be believed. Thoroughly comprehensive.
Skoda had me worried they’d lost the plot there for a while, but this Octavia Combi RS restored my view of the company as a growing force on the European stage.
****
