Skoda Octavia (2020 - 2024)

The Skoda Octavia has long been considered one of the finest, affordable cars on our roads. And despite prices increasing and it not standing out as quite the fabulous bargain it once was anymore, there is still plenty of appeal to tempt buyers.

It is available in hatchback or estate body styles and customers can choose from three generously-equipped trim levels called SE, SE L and vRS. There is also a value-packed Octavia SE Technology version that is aimed at the business sector.

While there is nothing particularly extravagant about the Octavia, that is the Skoda way. It simply delivers on all fronts from performance, entertainment, technology, safety and fuel efficiency. And if you do crave a little wow factor, the vRS version brings some added exhilaration to the handling and driving dynamics.

The Octavia is now in its fourth generation and is the company’s biggest-selling model and, after a week behind the wheel, it’s understandable why it has proved so popular over the years. It simply does everything really well with the minimum amount of fuss along the way.

We opted for the 1.5-litre TSI model in hatchback guise and in SE L trim.

The Skoda Octavia is a neatly designed five-door family car that looks striking when approached from any angle. Eye-catching features include a black grille with chrome surround that is flanked either side by sweeping light clusters. There is privacy glass, a rear spoiler, LED front and rear lights with daytime running lights, chrome roof rails and stunning 17-inch alloys that were upgraded on our test car and really looked the part.

Moving inside, the interior is modern, upmarket and very spacious. The microsuede upholstered seats are beautifully designed and feature power adjustment, along with heating settings for added comfort.

The main focal point is a 10-inch touchscreen navigation system which offers access to the many on-board features. These include full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker sound system with DAB radio, Bluetooth and a reversing camera.

There is a clear 10.25-inch virtual cockpit display where all the vital driving stats can be viewed and there are five USB Type C ports throughout the cabin.

Everything works really well and the touchscreen was simple to operate on the fly, although we would have preferred physical controls for the climate settings rather than having to use the screen. That said; there are some quick keys which do speed up the process a little. 

Powering our Skoda Octavia was a 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine matched to a six-speed manual gearbox. With 150PS on tap, it can power from 0-62mph in a respectable 8.5 seconds and maxes out at 138mph.

Our test car featured a six-speed, manual gearbox, which is quite a rarity these days with so many models equipped with auto transmissions. But the advantage is extra driver engagement thanks to being in full control of the gear switching.

The Octavia is beautifully balanced when firing down twisting country lanes and the grip also impresses. It’s a confident motorway cruiser, although you do notice a little wind noise at 70mph. 

There are drive modes called Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual that change the dynamics of the car considerably, but if you drive in Eco for a while, the petrol gauge barely moves. In fact, after 200 miles, it had not even dropped to three-quarters of a tank.

With powered seats and plenty of manual steering wheel adjustment, finding the ideal driving position is a simple process. And the all-round visibility is good too which makes life easier in busier town centres with pedestrians and cyclists darting out from all angles.

In addition, the suspension system does a worthy job of smoothing out the rougher road surfaces. Our only gripe was the wind and engine noise at higher speeds.

An area where the Octavia really excels is practicality. It’s deceptively spacious inside the cabin and, even with tall adults up front and their seats pushed well back, there is still enough room for another couple of adults to sit comfortably behind them. Add a middle passenger and they will have to straddle a large hump, but the space is perfect for three youngsters on longer journeys.

The Octavia Hatchback stretches 4,689mm in length, 1,994mm across (including mirrors) and is 1,470mm tall. This results in a generously-sized boot that can swallow 600 litres of goodies, increasing to 1,555 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

And another plus point is the square opening which makes loading heavy or awkwardly-shaped items that much easier.

If you are looking for a little extra storage space, the Octavia Estate has a boot capacity ranging from 640 to 1,700 litres.

There are plenty of storage compartments throughout the cabin too and these include a glovebox, central bin, door pockets, front and rear cup holders, a deep tray, seat back pockets and an overhead sunglasses compartment.

And the trademark Skoda umbrella can be found tucked neatly in the door so you’ll never be caught out by an unexpected downpour.

The Skoda Octavia hatchback line-up costs from £24,540 for the entry level SE specification, powered by a 1.0 TSI engine. The range-topping Octavia vRS with 2.0 TDI powertrain and DSG transmission with 4x4 costs £37,950, while the SE Technology range designed specifically for business drivers is priced from £24,820.

The Octavia Estate starts from £25,520 and increases to £39,180 with the SE Technology model costing from £25,800.

Our test car, the Octavia Hatchback SE L, was priced at £28,680, but options such as Moon White metallic paint, 17-inch Pulsar Aero Black alloys, an LED interior light pack, integrated tow bar with adaptor, a temporary space saver spare wheel and blind spot detection saw the final price creep up to £32,430.

According to official figures under WLTP testing, the vehicle could deliver a combined 49.0-52.8mpg with carbon emissions of 121-130g/km.

This carbon output would result in a first-year road tax bill of £210, dropping to the standard fee of £180 after 12 months.

The test model has a Benefit in Kind tax rating of 29 per cent and sits in insurance group 19.

Throughout its four generations, the Skoda Octavia has always been a highly recommended car. It’s well priced, looks great, drives beautifully and is practical with room for all the family and their luggage.

It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. Year on year customers return to this vehicle and that’s why the sales figures across Europe are so high.

And when you also take into consideration the wealth of safety features, along with the wide choice of powertrains and trim levels, there is an Octavia to suit all requirements.