The Skoda Octavia model has always been very popular in Ukraine due to the successful combination of a large number of advantages and an adequate price. Modern design, practical body, good interior space, a wide range of versions, modern equipment – this recipe has been updated, but not changed dramatically. And so it is now: Skoda Octavia was updated under the slogan of small improvements to the design and interior. But, as it turned out, not only this…
We start traditionally: what has changed from the outside?
Updating the Skoda Octavia is the case when you need to achieve noticeable differences with minimal effort (and cost). And we’ve known how to do it for a long time: new headlights with small fangs, a modified front bumper, and headlights with divided dotted stripes. By the way: the more expensive the chosen version, the more differences there are. I’m talking about the matrix LED headlights, now of the second generation, which are available for the updated version of Skoda Octavia, but were not presented on the test car.
Although if you “paint a picture with large strokes,” everything remains as it was a few years ago. Maybe it’s better this way: after all, Skoda Octavia A8 immediately found a successful embodiment of the “liftback” body silhouette, which has become a characteristic feature of the model since the mid-1990s. A distinguished hood, a rounded roofline, a small protrusion on the trunk lid – this description is suitable for several generations of Skoda Octavia.
The general shape of the Skoda Octavia body has been known for decades: this stretched liftback has been with us since the mid-1990s, and each new generation has gradually increased in size. The current model Skoda Octavia A8 is frankly quite large: length – 4.7 meters; width – 1.83 meters; height – 1.48 meters; wheelbase – almost 2.69 meters. The maximum ground clearance is declared at 158 mm without load, it can be reduced to 105 mm under load when the car sags. The updated version ofthe Skoda Octavia for 2024 is recognizable by its headlights with fangs and taillights with split stripes. That’s all the differences from the outside.
What’s new in the salon?
The interior is beautiful: classic shapes, an elegantly curved front panel line, chrome accents on the handles of the ventilation deflectors, a small joystick for the automatic transmission. Wait! Is this a description of the Skoda Octavia A8 in general or the 2024 version specifically? The new car has an unusual but pleasant Black Middle Carbon finish: it looks like an artificial stone, but with tangible ribbed notches. Or this combined seat covering with gray fabric, which has also found its way to the front panel. However, all of these are nuances of a particular ordered interior, which may vary depending on the options or even just the model year. So what is really new?
New 10-inch displays – one acts as a dashboard and the other controls the multimedia system. It’s almost as if we’ve had it all before, but now it’s simpler and easier to use. The digital instrument cluster, for example, makes it easier to select the additional information windows you need and to summarize the on-board computer’s readings. The display of the multimedia system can be customized at your own discretion: you can change the start pages, select the functions you need most and make them the main ones. To put it simply, the dashboard and multimedia system have become more intuitive. It’s not just another “buzzword” for a nice text – in the case of the updated 2024 Skoda Octavia, it’s really true.
And so, when everyone almost believed in the genius engineer at the Skoda factory who thought through and worked out every detail, an unexpected but loud flaw suddenly appeared. The fact is that the climate temperature is controlled via virtual buttons located at the bottom of the touchscreen. Nearby, at the base of this screen, there is a touch strip for adjusting the volume of the audio system. And there have been cases when you try to change the temperature, but at the same time you barely touch the strip – and at the same time change the volume of the music. Okay, there are also temperature buttons on the driver’s side – the volume is minus. But if the passenger changes the temperature, the volume is adjusted upwards. That is: click-click-click, and it becomes not only warmer, but also louder. Hey, what’s going on?
Okay, let’s get back to the description of the cabin in general. More precisely, to its rear part. The car offers a typically horizontally elongated passenger seat. However, thanks to the considerable size of the Skoda Octavia, there is really room to stretch out your body: enough legroom, enough width for two people to sit comfortably or the usual “somehow we’ll fit” three people, and a good tilt of the rear sofa backrest. The sloping roof makes you duck your head a bit when sitting down, but there is enough headroom in the cabin. So: it’s good to sit in the back, and the ride is not bad either – it moderately rocks even on a bad road, the armrests are set at the optimal level, and there is a good view through the windows. Although you can barely hear the rustle from the trunk behind – after all, we have a liftback, not a sedan with a deaf rear panel. In general, the Skoda Octavia is a bit noisy from below: wheel arches, bottom, and floor. However, there is not much aerodynamic noise; and the engine manifests itself only at high revs, and before that it is barely audible at low to medium revs.
The interior of theSkoda Octavia 2024 has not changed in its general shape, but it has changed in details: nice trim and decor, new 10-inch displays – or rather, their menu content. If it weren’t for this puncture with temperature control… The seats are comfortable both in front (good profile, thick fabric, wide range of settings) and behind (plenty of space, good backrest inclination). The trunk is very large and well thought out: a useful volume of 600 liters, easy access thanks to a huge lid, a lot of additional niches and clips for small items.
I guess there are almost no technical changes either?
And here is the main highlight: there are technical changes, and what a new engine! We are talking about the appearance of a 1.5 TSI mHEV gasoline turbo engine (i.e., a “mild hybrid”) in the range, which is paired with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. However, it is new only for us in Ukraine. In fact, this engine has been offered in Europe since the beginning of the Skoda Octavia A8’s career – but in our country, its place was taken by the 1.4TSI engine with a classic 8-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission. I compare these two engines because their power (150 hp at 5000-6000 rpm) and torque (250 Nm at 1500-3500 rpm) are the same, and the acceleration dynamics of 0-100 km/h differs by 0.1 second. And now both versions are offered in parallel – the choice is up to the buyer.
The test car was just equipped with a new combination: a 1.5 TSI mHEV gasoline engine plus a 7-speed DSG gearbox; therefore, we pay maximum attention to this. The new engine belongs to the EA211 EVO series and is codenamed DXDB; its design features include an inline 4-cylinder layout, a 12.0:1 compression ratio and a variable geometry turbine, ACT+ cylinder shutdown system and high-pressure fuel injection up to 350 bar. However, the most interesting element is the mHEV (mild-hybrid electric vehicle), which is realized thanks to the BSG (Belt-integrated Starter Generator) starter generator with a belt drive instead of the usual alternator. The system operates at a nominal voltage of 48 volts and has a small battery located under the front passenger seat. Plus a 7-speed DSG robotic transmission with two clutches.
How does it all drive? If you don’t take into account the operation of the mHEV hybrid, then everything drives as you would expect. The engine starts smoothly at low revs, but already in the middle range (2.5-3-4 thousand) it produces good, even traction – if combined with the “seamless” DSG shifts, accelerations are like a straight line. During intense acceleration, the engine gains 5-6 thousand (only then it becomes clearly audible in the cabin) and lives up to the promise of dynamics. And there is enough power to support high-speed driving at all speeds allowed in Ukraine, and there are also certain reserves of dynamics for overtaking. But the nuance is that the operation of the mHEV hybrid and DSG box must be taken into account. For example, when driving at a steady speed, the system simply turns off the engine and disengages the clutch – the car moves in a rolling motion until the next time the accelerator or brake pedal is pressed. The engine also stops at every traffic light and almost every stop. However, it starts up quickly and smoothly afterwards, thanks to the belt-driven starter-generator.
And it’s also worth focusing on the engine because the rest of the driving qualities of the 2024 Skoda Octavia have not changed: good suspension comfort on bumps, almost no hard jolts, normal handling and steering response with medium sharpness (2.7 revolutions from stop to stop), small cornering. If you do not have a “background” of several other cars of a similar class and format, then it will seem that Skoda Octavia drives like a standard, or almost a standard. However, if there is such a “background”, you suddenly realize that during sharp maneuvers there is a certain inertia due to the stretched body and long “tail” behind. For example, the short hatchbacks Peugeot 308 and Opel Astra feel better in this regard and give a more solid feeling while driving. And then there is another hatchback in this class (I hope to tell you about it soon) with independent rear suspension – and I know for a fact that it rides even better in corners and on bumps. But in any case: the Skoda Octavia deserves the title of “good” and does not fail in any of the key points.
The overall design of the car has not changed: the MQBplatform , front independent MacPherson suspension, rear semi-dependent suspension based on a transverse beam, front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive versions are not available in Ukraine) and transverse engine placement. But it is the engine that has changed – under the hood of the test car, a 1.5 TSI mHEV engine and a DSG-box were installed, which easily justify the promised 8.5-second dynamics. There is no button for switching driving modes, but there is a sport mode of the automatic and this is quite enough to realize the capabilities of the car Skoda Octavia with such a power unit. It is worth noting that the mHEV-hybrid cannot provide transportation solely on electric drive; it only stops and starts the engine and (potentially) helps it in the first moments of starting the car. Thus, the improvement in economy is won literally by drops of fuel; but these drops eventually add up to a lot – according to my own observations, in the city, a car with a 1.5 TSI mHEV and DSG gearbox wins about one liter of fuel, and maybe even up to one and a half liters, over a similar variant with a 1.4TSI engine and a conventional automatic transmission. So, you can drive stably around the city with fuel consumption at the level of plus or minus 7 liters, my minimum was about 6.5 liters, and the maximum reached 8.5-8.8 liters. However, on the highway, the fuel consumption of the two Skoda Octavia variants is the same: at a speed of 100 km/h, it is about 5 liters per 100 km of travel.
That is, even though it is only a “mild hybrid,” it still really helps to save fuel. But now let’s take a calculator in hand. This is important, because the new 1.5 TSI mHEV DSG version is not only more economical than the already known 1.4 TSI automatic transmission, but also more expensive – the difference reaches 160 thousand hryvnias! Even if we calculate the savings of 1.5 liters of fuel and take the most expensive gasoline at 60+ UAH per liter, it still turns out that the new version can recoup about 100 UAH per 100 km of mileage – and to recoup 160 thousand UAH of the initial overpayment, you need to drive 160 thousand km; and this is only in the city, because on the highway, fuel consumption is almost the same.
And one more thing: the overpayment for the 1.5 TSI mHEV DSG is almost the same as the overpayment for the 2.0TDI DSG version – that is, for the version with a turbo diesel engine that will save not only in the city but also on the highway! Plus, the diesel’s insane liquidity during resale on the secondary market. Therefore, if a private buyer chooses a Skoda Octavia and is willing to overpay for a more economical engine, a diesel rather than a mild hybrid is the right choice.
But! It’s not for nothing that I wrote about private buyers, because there are also corporate buyers. And there have been stories where the company is required to purchase cars with electrified powertrains. This term includes both electric vehicles and hybrids of various types. Perhaps even including this mHEV hybrid.
Speaking of prices, how much does a Skoda Octavia cost now?
Skoda Octavia is offered in Ukraine with two gasoline engines and one turbo diesel engine, a manual and an automatic transmission (a traditional 8-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission or a 7-speed DSG robot automatic transmission), as well as in three configurations and with the possibility of adding option packages. It is worth noting that cars with automatic transmissions have special discounted prices – they will be indicated. Cars with manuals are offered at the standard price without a discount; therefore, they are even slightly more expensive (this is not a mistake). So…
The range is opened by the Skoda Octavia Essence, which offers the following: front and side curtain airbags, driver distraction and drowsiness monitoring system, multimedia system with 10-inch display, LED headlights, light control assistant and rain sensor, digital 10-inch instrument panel display, dual-zone climate control, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, rear parking sensors, etc. The price of Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI 150 6MG Essence – from 1.12 million UAH or $27 thousand.; price Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI 150 8AQ Essence – from 1.02 million UAH or $24.8 thousand.; price Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI m–HEV 150 7DSG Essence – from 1.18 million UAH or $28.6 thousand.; price Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI 150 7DSG Essence – from 1.174 million UAH or $28.5 thousand.
One step higher is the Skoda Octavia Selection, where the following is added: chrome stripe in the front bumper, Loft fabric seat trim, SmartLink wired connection, wireless charging, heated steering wheel and front seats, heated windshield, 17-inch alloy wheels, rearview camera, front armrest with JUMBO BOX compartment, additional niche compartments in the trunk, etc. The price of Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI 150 6MG Selection starts from UAH 1.22 million or $29.7 thousand.; price Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI 150 8AQ Selection – from 1.1 million UAH or $26.7 thousand; price Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI m–HEV 150 7DSG Selection – from 1.26 million UAH or $30.6 thousand; price Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI 150 7DSG Selection – from 1.28 million UAH or $31 thousand.
The Skoda Octaviatest car was presented in the Selection configuration , which automatically means LED headlights (even if they are not matrix), 17-inch alloy wheels, a new multimedia system with a 10-inch touchscreen display, a rearview camera, and wireless charging. In addition, several options were added to the test car: the Design Selection LODGE package (fabric and leatherette upholstery, interior background lighting), a full-size 10-inch digital instrument panel, power driver and front passenger seat adjustments with memory settings, etc. As a result, the car that became the hero of this article costs about $36 thousand .
The maximum variant is the Skoda Octavia Sportline, which additionally offers: head airbags, a central airbag between the front seats, FRONT ASSIST (forward distance control), a choice of driving modes, black exterior mirrors, fabric and artificial leather upholstery of the seats, atmospheric colored interior lighting, sports pedals (pedal pads), 3-spoke sports steering wheel, progressive steering mechanism, LED Matrix headlights, dynamic high beam control, virtual 10-inch instrument panel and much more. The price of Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI 150 8AQ Sportline starts from 1.36 million UAH or $33 thousand.
I would also like to note that in addition to the usual Skoda Octavia in a liftback body, Skoda Octavia Combi with a station wagon body (trunk volume of 640-1700 liters) is also available – the surcharge is about 40 thousand hryvnias, taking into account the same engine, transmission, and equipment. In addition, I would like to note the features of the Sportline version: not only sports attributes outside and inside the cabin, but also improved equipment.
A question instead of a conclusion: should I buy or not?
It’s very simple – if you liked the Skoda Octavia before, you will like it now. The new Skoda Octavia for 2024 has changed externally just enough to make its “new” status clear. However, in addition to symbolic changes, the Skoda Octavia model has now become really comfortable in the cabin – thanks to the new digital instrument panel and multimedia system. As for the appearance of the 1.5 TSI mHEV DSG version, it is an interesting alternative for those who want to get more modern technologies under the hood at the same time as improving efficiency. Moreover, the new 1.5 TSI mHEV DSG version does not exclude the already familiar 1.4 TSI automatic transmission modification, but rather complements the model lineup. At least, it looks like that now. That’s why there is a buyer for every version of Skoda Octavia – regular gasoline, mHEV-hybrid, diesel – and every version of the car.
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