PITCHING UP AN OCTAVE(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word 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.

Background word 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 Experience word count: 308

The subtleness of this car's mid-term is equally evident by the minimal changes made to the engine range. As before, the core of the range is made up of 1.5-litre TSI petrol or 2.0 TDI diesel engines, each with either 116PS or 150PS options. As previously, if you pay extra for the petrol unit with a DSG 7-speed automatic, you get the brand's mHEV mild hybrid tech thrown in. The diesel, which remains unelectrified, comes in lower-powered form with a manual gearbox and in higher-powered guise with the DSG auto. So far, there's no PHEV drivetrain available, but we expect one before the end of this car's life cycle. The previous entry-level 1.0-litre petrol engine is no longer offered. Nor is the uprated 2.0-litre diesel in the vRS, though vRS customers do now 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 sits 15mm lower than the standard model on firmer sports suspension. It can't now be had with AWD though. Actually, AWD (once an Octavia calling card) is generally noticeable by its absence, though you can talk to your dealer about an AWD 2.0 TSI petrol variant with 204PS. As before, all Octavias use the Volkswagen Group's MQB platform - the evolved version of it engineered for the current MK8 Volkswagen Golf. 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.