Irish motorists have bought more than 40,600 since it was first launched in 1998
The New Skoda Octavia has lightened its load in style; we drive the range topping version featuring more power and lower running costs
What is it? The brand new Octavia has just arrived in Ireland and it is even more spacious than before. Bigger than the Ford Focus but smaller than the Mondeo the new Octavia is longer, wider and far more stylish both inside and out.
First impressions of the new Skoda Octavia: With slick, clean lines the new model is bigger and classier than the previous model but crucially its lighter which means better fuel economy and lower emissions.
What about the interior? Climb inside and it’s very much a VW, the interior is reassuringly cleanly and simply styled and everything from the controls to the buttons and knobs are all easy to use. But it is space that really sets the Octavia apart from rivals and as expected driver and passenger space is vast. The boot measures a whopping 590 litres which is larger than the Ford Mondeo, VW’s Passat and the Toyota Avensis.
And on the road? At the launch we had the opportunity to drive the range topping 2.0 litre diesel with 150 bhp. For a car of its size it is agile and easy to manoeuvre. The steering is light with good feedback. On the open road the Octavia cruises happily, delivers reasonable power and a surprising amount of refinement.
Best in class is the boot volume at 590 litres
How Much? The new Octavia is offered with both manual and automatic transmission options and five engine alternatives with prices from €18,995. All engines come with Stop Start technology that significantly increases overall fuel economy.
How Safe? Skoda engineers have added a host of cutting-edge safety systems for the new Octavia including multi-collision automatic braking, city emergency braking and up to nine airbags.
What about my options: The new Octavia comes in three specification levels, Active, Ambition and Elegance, and there is a high level of standard safety and comfort equipment. Prices for the petrol Octavia start at €18,995 and €22,195 for the diesel range.
3 words to describe the Skoda Octavia; Refined; Capacious; Economical
| Engine range from launch | Fuel Economy (l/100km) | CO2 Emissions (g/km) | Annual Road Tax | Active | Ambition | Elegance |
| 1.2 TSI (86bhp) | 5.2 (54mpg) | 121 | €200 | €18,995 | €21,545 | €23,095 |
| 1.6 TDI(105bhp) | 3.8 (74mpg) | 99 | €180 | €22,195 | €24,545 | €26,095 |
| 2.0 TDI(150bhp) | 4.1 (69mpg) | 107 | €190 | €24,095 | €26,445 | €27,995 |
For more information check out skoda.ie or the Skoda Facebook page
