But how? How did they manage to put a 1.0 litre 115hp DSG engine into a saloon sized car (it’s called a hatchback though), make it go and make it go well? It’s light and nimble and lithe. It only trembles when you really really push it. This Octavia is a feat of engineering in that it has more space than you could (nearly) know what to do with. There are currently nine different versions of the Octavia available to buy.
At €190 to tax, starting at €26,950 in Style guise, this sedate 1 litre hidden gem shouldn’t be overlooked just because it doesn’t have a 1.6 or bigger engine. It doesn’t need it if your daily commute isn’t anything more than the city slog, even then, it pulls its weight on the motorway without stirring any concerns from the driver. It’s relaxed and easy going manner leaves the driver at the end of the day with plenty of energy to spend on more productive tasks. There’s nothing worse than getting out of a car after the rush hour slog home to feel utterly depleted of all energy and wanting nothing more than to sit on the couch for the rest of the evening. What a waste. The Octavia takes the brunt of the commute from Hell and translates it into something more worthy of your time.
The ‘Style’ comes specced with bluetooth, air-con etc The split-folding rear seats only go 60/40 but I managed to fit an adult bike in it’s entirety into the boot, no wheel release required. The space in every Skoda is maximised to the hilt. I don’t really know why people buy the estate versions, unless they’re carrying shipping container quantities of goods to the Panama canal, I can’t see how the space in every other Skoda out there isn’t enough. Why do you think it’s the Taxi driver’s car of choice? Space, economy, space, reliability and more space.
The sports steering wheel isn’t all that sporty and if I’m honest I’m yet to warm to the feel of the plastics used in Skoda cabins. Even if they just upped the game on the parts of the steering wheel that are touched the most, it would make a drastic improvement. Then maybe I wouldn’t start to niggle at the tough, durable, plasticky feel to the cabin textiles. The floor mats and the seats have a great style to them and scream DURABLE. I’ve never gotten into a Skoda and intuitively worked with the selectors on the steering wheel. There is no sense behind this, if you look at them, they’re simply laid out. But I don’t want to look at them, I want to look at the road and I want my fingers to intuitively know where to go to change the station not the volume and vice versa. The foldable mirrors sound a bit pained when closing but it’s one way of knowing for sure that you’ve locked the car.
It also has those auto-dimming rear view mirrors. Which to my mind don’t produce the desired effect half as well as their analogue counterpart. This Octavia also has in car Wi-Fi, I’m not sold on this addition either. What real use is it to the general consumer who has a 4G Smartphone in safely tucked away in the glove box. You should consider the Octavia if you haven’t already. And you should seriously consider the 1.0 as it all comes together so nicely. You could be that annoying person getting home at 7 o’clock and smiling at the neighbours, not because you’ve had an amazing day at work but because the cripplingly bad road design and drivers on the way home didn’t break your soul while driving the Octavia. Oh no, not you.
Special mention : The 1.0 litre engine that pulls like a dog.
Needs work : The touch of the plastics that you engage with on the dash shouldn’t feel the same as the floor mats.
Specs:
| Max Power 115hp | Petrol |
| 0-100 kph in 9.9s | Road Tax €190.00 |
| Price (Style) €26,950 | Claimed economy 4.7 Litres per 100km |
| Boot Capacity 590/1580 litres | DSG gearbox |