Composed coupe faces down its critics
Behind its ugly mug this latest Beemer ticks lots of boxes, writes Matt Allan
In the hierarchy of the Volkswagen Group, Skoda has always been the budget brand but with the latest Octavia you’d be hard pressed to tell. It looks and feels every bit as good as anything else from the VW stable.
The exterior design is an evolution of the previous model but is longer, wider and more sophisticated looking thanks to some careful sculpting around the bonnet and grille, and a sleeker roofline.
The interior is more of a step forward. Cover the badges and I’m not sure you’d be able to tell it apart from a Golf. The cabin has been improved and simplified, with fewer buttons, a neat rockerstyle gear selector sunk into a gloss-black centre console and a generous application of chrome trim.
Generous can also be used to describe the interior space. It has always been renowned for its practicality but this latest version offers even more room, especially in the back. A 600-litre boot also offers unrivalled luggage space for the money.
As well as improved looks and space, the latest Octavia
gets new technology. Features such as a head-up display, adaptive LED headlights and new collision avoidance technology are available on high-spec machines but even entry-level cars get keyless entry, dual-zone climate control and a 10-inch touchscreen.
While that screen is huge and sharp, the number of menus is almost overwhelming. There’s also the small matter of the ridiculous touch controls and sliders instead of proper dials for the heating control and stereo volume.
Outside the cabin, the biggest technological leap is the powertrain, with a plug-in hybrid offered for the first time.
Using a 1.4-litre petrol engine, 85kW electric motor and 13kWh battery, the iV offers the usual outlandish PHEV claims of economy but delivers far better than some rivals. You’ll never see the official 282mpg but over a week the worst economy I saw was 62mpg. The overall average was a staggering 80.7mpg. For a big family car travelling five-up much of the time that is mightily impressive.
The petrol/electric setup also means the Octavia isn’t lacking in power. A combined output of 201bhp will get it to 62mph in 7.7 seconds and it feels even punchier thanks to the instant shove of the electric motor. The drivetrain isn’t the smoothest, though, with a gruff engine note and a surprising amount of tyre roar.
As mentioned, even base-spec Octavias are well equipped. One rung up from there and our SE L car adds everything from a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and heated seats to 18-inch alloys and adaptive cruise control. It’s a strong specification but while regular SE L cars start at £25,000, the plug-in iV starts at £33,000.
That’s a lot of cash but then the Octavia iV is a lot of car. It’s far more spacious than rivals and projects a premium look and feel along with premiumgrade equipment. It’s also fast and frugal, offering a useful all-electric range backed up by an efficient petrol engine.