Skoda Octavia (2013-2020) Review

The Skoda Octavia is one of those cars that proves something that is great value doesn't have to feel cheap. As a practical family vehicle, its incredibly spacious cabin and truly massive boot are unrivalled at this price point.

Of course, for dog owners, country types and caravaners, the Octavia Estate will be even more tempting, especially since it comes with the option of four-wheel drive. The hatch is cheaper and nearly as big though. Perhaps it goes without saying, but this is a very sensible car. In most trims it eschews styling flair or driving excitement in favour of reasonable comfort and impressive space, but it won't turn heads or make you grin.

As a do-it-all family car it's hard to beat, but some drivers will struggle with its sheer size. It feels slimmer in city traffic than a Ford Mondeo, but is nearly as long, and most family hatches are easy to drive and park. If you need more space, you can't go wrong with the Skoda Octavia Estate.

Luckily for used buyers, there are no bad engine options for the Skoda Octavia. The older 1.4-litre TSI petrol is just as smooth and even nippier than the new 1.5-litre motor, just not quite as efficient on fuel. The newer models feature clever fuel-saving tech, and this frugal nature is part of why it's our favourite from the current line-up. 

It has excellent performance and hushed refinement, but is still capable of returning 50mpg. If you covered less than 10,000 miles a year, we wouldn't hesitate in recommending the 1.5-litre model. It's available with a manual or automatic and in our preferred SE trim, which we think offers the strongest value.

If you regularly take long trips or want to use the car for towing, the 2.0-litre TDI diesel will be a better bet. It can achieve mid-fifties fuel economy and is quieter than the agricultural 1.6-litre model. Still, if you're not too sensitive to a higher price, an Octavia SE L (or used Laurin & Klement) adds luxury for a little extra cash.

The Skoda Octavia sits on the cusp between classes. It's priced like a normal family hatch, but has the space and carrying capacity of an executive car from the rank above, such as the Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia.

With the introduction of the Skoda Scala, the brand has now resolved that problem, moving the Skoda Octavia upmarket. If you're in the market for a car with the latter's best qualities wrapped up in a smaller package, that could be it.

In terms of its closest rivals on price, this generation of Octavia competes in a category that encompasses everything from big hitters like the the Ford Focus, to the Volkswagen Golf, the great value Kia Ceed, impressive Hyundai i30 and the Peugeot 308.

For its practicality, reliability and running costs, the slightly pricier Honda Civic will be of interest, while some cheaper versions of the Vauxhall Astra have comparable rear space and more equipment for the same price.

Finally, if you are a company car driver keen to cut your monthly tax bill, the hybrid Toyota Corolla is among the cheapest options, before you dive into the confusing (and expensive) world of plug-in hybrids and electric cars.

Given its affordable starting price, you could be forgiven for thinking the Skoda Octavia would be a workmanlike affair inside, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn it’s quite the opposite. A smart design, paired with a decent selection of dash materials that are (mostly) soft and tactile, create an attractive driving environment.

Drop some coins or your phone between the seats and an exploratory rummage will reveal some hard and scratchy surfaces lower down around the doors, but where it counts, the Skoda feels robust and solidly built. The buttons and dials have a reassuringly precise action, although the optional DSG shift paddles are flimsy.

Entry-level cars look quite drab, with a button-free steering wheel and lots of blanking plates on the centre console where features would be on top-spec cars, but Octavia SE trim and above feature silver dash inserts and chrome door handles that brighten things up, while Octavia SE L models include suede-like Alcantara upholstery.

Go for the Skoda Octavia Sportline trim for thickly-bolstered front seats with integrated headrests, racy red stitching, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, but these sporty flourishes feel at odds with the Octavia's sensible character. Still, the media display is slickly integrated, moving its cabin further upmarket. At this price, it's exceptional.

No matter what the age or trim level of your Octavia, it will have a touchscreen. In older cars this will be fairly modest, a low-res affair with chunky physical shortcut keys on each side, but it's more than some rivals get.

Even the Octavia S model has eight speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, and DAB radio, but the post-facelift car brings everything bang-up to date. It has a snazzy 8.0-inch glass panel, touch-sensitive buttons, and clear graphics. The latest software has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, giving unfettered access to your apps.

This setup is among the most intuitive touch-based systems we've used in any family car. The main menus takes no time to fathom, and its on-screen icons are oversized, making them much easier to read and press. Pick up the Octavia SE Drive specification, and you'll add a built-in navigation system, but the SE does fine without it.

That's not the last word in modernity from Skoda. A swish 9.2-inch display is optional on all trims, with 3D mapping, and gesture controls. The latter is a bit of a gimmick though, and while this screen looks fantastic, it's not as smartly designed as the cheaper unit, since the main controls are on the wrong side for the driver.

Two options worth mentioning are the Virtual Cockpit digital instruments (giving you a configurable screen in place of conventional dials) and the upgraded Canton sound system, with ten speakers and 570W of power.

This is where the Skoda Octavia's star shines its brightest. No other family car has the limousine-like rear space or estate-sized luggage capacity that it can provide and even the heaviest packers will struggle to fill this boot.

The loading bay is over a metre long and wide, even with the seats in place, and you can squeeze 590 litres of stuff inside without folding or sliding anything out of the way. For reference, Ford's Focus holds just 341 litres.

It's not the cleverest boot in the class though. There's a slight loading lip to negotiate, and no variable height floor like you get in the estate, so when you fold the 60/40 split-seats they leave a big hump in the load bay. Still, we're inclined to overlook these foibles considering its sheer volume, with a vast 1580-litre full capacity.

Remember, this isn't an estate car, but you could reasonably move into a small flat with an Octavia hatch as your only removal vehicle. Passenger space is class-leading too, especially legroom. Harlem Globetrotters would be content here, and it has room for five, but whoever's in the middle has to straddle a raised hump in the floor.

Parents will find a pair of ISOFIX mounting anchors in each of the outer chairs for fitting a child seat securely. The plastic covers will get lost easily, but there's so much room to work in that the whole process is no chore.  

In the front, storage is more generous, with a tray in front of the gear selector, wide door bins, and an ample glovebox that'll have you covered whether you're a mitten wearer or partial to a pair of driving string backs.

Some cars have extra oddment stowage under a wide central armrest, and there are trays under the seats.

Skoda is part of the Volkswagen Group, so its engine range is broad, and has evolved as Volkswagen has introduced fuel saving technologies and transmission types, but the core of the range is four-cylinder petrol and diesels.

When it was first launched you could get the Skoda Octavia with 1.2-litre, 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre TSI petrols, or a 1.6 and 2.0 TDI diesel. Power outputs ranged from 110PS to 180PS but all hatchback models are front-wheel drive only.

There are no bad engines from the old range, with each one of those delivering varying degrees of brisk performance or parsimonious economy. In the case of the 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TDI, a rather pleasing mix of both.

In the intervening years there have been oddities such as the rapid-but-thirsty 2.0-litre 190PS petrol reserved for the posh Laurin & Klement model, but the diesels have remained largely untouched. However with lots of buyers shunning the black pump in favour of petrol, that side of the line-up has undergone sizeable changes.

On latter models the range starts with an eager, peppy 1.0-litre unit with three cylinders and a turbocharger. It goes very well considering its size, but can struggle with a fully loaded car.

Our pick is the 1.5 TSI. It doesn't feel as free-revving as the old 1.4-litre (blame emissions regulations) but shuts down half its cylinders to save fuel, a trick that mean it's as frugal as the titchy 1.0 TSI. However if you're covering high mileages it's hard to ignore the effortless torque of the bigger 2.0-litre diesel.

Unlike the latter, it's available with a choice of gearboxes too. The standard six-speed manual is a tad notchy but otherwise pleasant to use, while the seven-speed 'DSG' twin-clutch auto shifts ratios near seamlessly. There's only a small efficiency penalty to pay for choosing the auto, and it doesn't blunt performance either.

Driving the Skoda Octavia for hours on end shouldn't fill you with any sense of trepidation. It's an accomplished motorway cruiser, which is where its engines (especially the diesel models) are their most mild-mannered.

The six-speed manual gearbox has tall ratios, keeping the revs low even when you find yourself passing other traffic in the outside line, and the optional dual-clutch auto's only vice is its jerkiness at parking speeds.

True, the Skoda doesn't suppress wind noise quite as well as the class best, with a noticeable flutter from the area around the wing mirrors, but it always remains below the threshold of becoming intrusive or wearisome.

Around town, the diesel models are a little more vocal than their petrol counterparts. The 2.0-litre grumbles a bit when pushed, and it's not as well isolated from cabin as the same unit in the latest Volkswagen Golf or SEAT Leon.

Both petrols are quieter at all speeds, but you'll hear a characteristic thrum from the 1.0-litre three-cylinder if you work it hard (which given its modest output will be quite often) that's missing from the effortless 1.5 TSI.

One thing that might surprise you is the suspension noise. It's the one area that exposes some cost-cutting in the Skoda Octavia, as a lack of insulation means you can hear it clonking away over big ruts and speed humps.

Back when it was launched in 2013 the Skoda Octavia was one of the safest family cars in the class. All models get seven standard airbags, and nine if you paid for the optional side impact protection for rear seat passengers.

Step up to Octavia SE trim and this kit list includes a fatigue sensor to tell you when to take a break on a long drives, by monitoring your steering inputs it can tell when it's time for a coffee stop. Other useful features include the post-collision braking system, which stops you rebounding into a secondary impact, minimising the damage.

It scored highly in official Euro NCAP crash tests, sweeping all four individual categories with top marks. Still, it is now an older model, and many of its most impressive safety features are optional, instead of standard fit.

For example, Front Assist, (Skoda's name for its auto-emergency braking system) is only on the spec sheet of the posh SE L model. It's vital for preventing shunts in chaotic city traffic, as it can scan the road, watching out for potential obstacles. If it senses one, it'll dab the brakes, engaging them fully if the driver fails to react.

A reversing camera was also optional across the range, but at least SE models come with rear parking sensors to help avoid dings and scrapes in the supermarket car park. Most rivals have more driving aids as standard, but as is common in modern vehicles, you had to pay extra to the dealer to get a spare wheel in the boot.

The Skoda Octavia scored a solid 9.14 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, but to be honest we'd expect to see an even higher score - the Octavia should be a very reliable companion.

As a brand Skoda did even better, placing 6th out of 30 manufacturers and cementing its reputation as one of the more reliable brands. That it finishes ahead of its Volkswagen and SEAT stablemates says a lot.

Unlike some of its other running costs, insuring your Octavia will be a tad pricier than you might expect. It's not drastic, but on average it sits one or two groups higher than its family car rivals, compared spec-for-spec.

If you have a chequered licence, recently lost your precious no-claims bonus, or are looking to cut costs then the 1.0 TSI petrol (Group 12) or 1.6 TDI diesel (Group 13) in S or SE trim will be the most affordable options.

Getting cover for our favourite 1.5-litre petrol will require deeper pockets. It's right up in Group 20 with SE Drive trim, however dig deeper and get the SE L instead, and it drops down two brackets, thanks to its extra safety gear.

Buy a Skoda Octavia registered before April 2017 and it falls under the older road tax regime, which was variable and based on how much CO2 your engine emits under the old NEDC tests. Almost the entire range from this period slips under the 120g/km barrier, meaning they'll cost you less than £30 a year, with many tax exempt. If you can find a 1.6 TDI CR Greenline 110PS you won't pay anything at all.

Cars registered after that cutoff date have to pay a standardised flat-rate of £165 that is applied to all petrol and diesel cars, so will be pricier to keep on the road, at least no Octavia qualifies for the top 'Premium' rate.

Skodas - especially the Octavia - offer great value for money, but what it gives with one hand, it takes away with the other one. So while every single model has all the essentials, you will be paying extra for luxuries.

There are five different trims; starting in the no-frills Skoda Octavia S, going up through SE, SE Drive, SE L, and Sportline.

The latter replaced the older Skoda Octavia Laurin & Klement luxury model with a sportier specification inspired by the vRS.

All models have all the basics covered, with air-conditioning, electric windows, auto lights and wipers and a smart 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, DAB and Bluetooth included. 

Pay a little more for the Skoda Octavia SE (as we would suggest doing) and you get useful extras like cruise control, a set of rear parking sensors, selectable driving modes, climate control, and a handy hidden umbrella under the seat.

Skoda Octavia SE Drive models add sat-nav, and a year’s subscription to online services, and on-board Wi-Fi to that kit list, while the Skoda Octavia SE L feels a bit more luxurious, with suede and leather seats, all-round parking aids, and full LED headlights. Skoda Octavia Sportline does what it says on the tin; giving you sportier styling cues inside and out.