Skoda Octavia Estate
First UK drive of spacious new family holdall
OUT of the countless models and derivatives offered by the VW Group, a Skoda Octavia Estate powered by a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine is about as sensible as things get. It’s not going to turn many heads on the street, but if a practical, affordable and refined family car is what you need, then you really can’t do much better.
This is the lightly updated version of Skoda’s best-selling Octavia. The changes aren’t revolutionary, but since its predecessor ticked so many boxes, a major revamp was hardly necessary. Nevertheless, the designers have been to work on the front end, sculpting a set of new split headlamps, while inside updated infotainment systems and a raft of new safety tech have been added.
In SE L spec (the most popular trim level) and powered by Skoda’s excellent 2.0-litre diesel, it costs from £24,556 – a £1,200 premium over the slightly less practical hatchback. It’s on par with rivals from Ford, SEAT and Peugeot when it comes to price, but the Skoda is packed with kit. There’s 17-inch alloys, Alcantara and leather seats, an eight-inch infotainment system, fullled headlamps and a wi-fi hotspot all as standard. Interior quality is excellent; the overall finish nearly matches its Volkswagen Golf sibling’s. The controls are easy to operate, and the dials simple to read.
Practical
Look beyond the Peugeot 308 SW’S 660litre boot, and the Octavia is one of the most spacious and practical estates in its class. The 610-litre load bay (the hatch offers a still impressive 590 litres) extends to 1,740 litres when you drop the split-fold rear bench.
While it still trails the Peugeot on carrying capacity, the Skoda does come with several handy features such as underfloor storage, carrying hooks and a 12V power supply in the boot as part of the brand’s ‘Simply Clever’ thinking. Of course, the now-familiar ice scraper hidden in the fuel filler cap remains, plus there’s loads of rear seat space.
The 148bhp TDI diesel is one of six engines now offered in the Octavia. Three petrols and three diesels make up the range, starting from a tiny three-cylinder turbo to the 242bhp VRS. Out of the six, the TDI is the one we’d recommend, as it serves up punchy performance, strong fuel economy and decent refinement when paired with the slick six-speed manual gearbox.
At lower speeds, the engine does grumble slightly, but it fades once you get going. Don’t be surprised to get close to Skoda’s 70.6mpg economy claim, either. The 1.6 TDI is cheaper to buy and offers lower running costs (74.3mpg), but the differences are likely to be marginal in everyday driving.
Mechanically there have been no major updates to the Octavia, although adaptive dampers have been made available as an extra. They offer Comfort, Normal and Sport driving modes, but there’s very little difference between any of the three. In our opinion, it’s an unnecessary £850 option.
The driving experience is the same as the rest of the Octavia range: sensible, easy to get on with and without much comprise. Yet that’s not a criticism, because it soaks up bumps in the surface, has light but accurate steering and even feels at home on a tight and twisty B-road. The diesel’s low-down torque (340Nm at 1,750rpm) and supple suspension mean it tackles undulating roads comfortably. Get on the motorway and the car’s relaxed nature makes long slogs a breeze. The seats are comfortable, plus there are plenty of adjustment options.
As a car designed to carry passengers and luggage comfortably and safely over many long miles, the Octavia Estate is certainly up there with the best.
“The 148bhp 2.0 TDI serves up punchy performance, strong fuel economy and decent refinement”