We may be falling in love with SUVs but the fact is that sedans are still relevant and would always be in terms of the classic shape that a sedan has. For Skoda, the Octavia is a special car and also the first car which launched the brand in India many years back.
For many, 'Skoda' means 'Octavia' automatically. Last year, Skoda launched the all-new Octavia in India and we tested it sometime back to see how good it really is. First of all the Octavia is now a proper luxury car and has gone premium in a big way- so much so that I confused it for the Superb. The new Octavia looks fantastic but is also longer, wider and a lot more premium now. It has a length of 4,689 mm- which explains why it has gotten so big along with a sedan shape- being less of a notchback in appearance now.
The front is also new with a huge grille with a lot of chrome and slim LED headlamps while the sharp 17inch alloys and crisp lines on the side have a plush look. It feels expensive so much so that it looks right pulling up next to other luxury cars at a famous heritage hotel.
Like any Skoda it feels well built and solid but the interior is what impressed me more. The lay-out is very minimalistic and clean with minimal controls. Compared to the previous gen Octavia, it is a huge jump in terms of quality or the materials being used.
The two spoke steering wheel looks unique while the center space is free without a gear knob as the Octavia has a small toggle switch for selecting gears- thanks to its shift-by-wire technology- something seen on the new Porsche 911!
The digital instrument cluster is simple and easy to read while the touchscreen controls all of the functions. The touch response is slick but I would have liked a few more physical controls though. The touch slider function needs some time to get used but once you do- it is relatively easy to use on the go. Of course, you get a lot of equipment being a premium sedan including the Laurin & Klement having a 12 speaker Canton audio system, a two zone climate control, four USB-C ports, roller sun blinds, ambient lighting, wireless smartphone connectivity, leather seats etc. That said, there is no sunroof!
Compared to the previous-gen Octavia, space is much more and the seats themselves are more comfortable. There is a good amount of legroom/headroom on offer which will please chauffeur-driven owners. Luggage space is huge- 600 liters and 1,555 liters luggage space after folding down the rear seats. The electrically-controlled 5th door opens and closes at the touch of the button on the remote control.
The door is also equipped with a Virtual Pedal enabling contact-free access. There are also eight airbags, iBuzz Fatigue Alert and AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) plus a tyre pressure monitoring system and the MySKODA Connect app.
Onto the driving bit and here the Octavia is now available with a turbo petrol- no diesel! The engine is a 2.0l turbo petrol with 190PS and 320Nm. The standard gearbox is a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. The Octavia starts off as a smooth luxury car. The light steering makes it easier to go around tight Mumbai roads but the ground clearance plus the very good ride quality are further pointers to the Octavia now growing up.
It cleared all speed breakers or the nasty potholes with ease. In the city you will like the way the Octavia drives and it is also a gentle cruiser. Mumbai does not have many empty roads but a few instances did give me an opportunity to see also how quick the Octavia is. Put your foot down and the acceleration is linear but the Octavia feels much faster and has a more polished feel. It is very quick of course, no doubt. The mileage showed 10kmpl in the city which is also decent for a large car with such a big engine, considering we were not exactly driving with economy in mind.
The new Octavia is a lot more premium and a serious luxury car now. That also reflects in its price-tag which starts from Rs 26 lakh and goes till 29.29 lakh for the Laurin and Klement version as tested here. That is a lot of money but the new Octavia is a lot of car too. It is a full blown luxury sedan for a lot less money now and feels like it.
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