News & Star Tuesday, June 2, 2009 29www.newsandstar.co.uk 1111
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yyoouurrffaammiillyy Skoda's Octavia is a lesson in the art of building a
reliable and classy family car reports June Neary
Don't be a snob, this is the job
W
ith its imposing front
grille and boldly
sculpted lines, the
Octavia looks as if it's
been milled from a solid rock.
It just looks expensive, despite
the crest on the bonnet nagging
otherwise. Most would probably
think it was a Volkswagen or an
Audi and although rather closely
related, these two marques will
cost a good deal more than Skoda
ask for the current Octavia. Only
the most ignorant will still poke
fun at Skoda's image. If they do,
give them a ride around the block
and watch them suffer at the all-
you-can-eat humble pie buffet.
Decently sized, the Octavia I
tested � the 2.0TDI 140 model �
certainly looked more expensive
than its list price and compared
to most of its direct competitors
looks a very tempting proposition.
I think this car could definitely
find a space in my garage.
THE PRACTICALITIES
Like all Octavia model so far
produced, this one boasts a
practical hatchback rather than
the boot its stub-tailed lines may
suggest. The first generation
Octavia was renowned for
possessing one of the biggest
payloads in class but this second
generation model has
comprehensively trumped that,
available capacity now 560 litres
with the rear seats in place.
Passenger room is similarly
generous � and that's important
since the prodigious luggage
space of the original Octavia
required rear seat passengers to
pay in kind. The wheelbase of
today's model has been teased
out by another 66mm, endowing
it with admirable rear legroom
even when the front seats are
occupied by long limbed adults.
Rear headroom is better than the
swooping roofline would suggest,
helped in no small part by a
slightly more generous seat back
recline than in many such cars.
The fascia feels much smarter
since the most recent facelift.
Enhancements to the switchgear,
entertainment systems and trim
send the cabin up in class a good
few notches. There's ample room
for five inside and there's even an
estate version if you need more
space. It really does seem more
like the flagship Skoda Superb -
albeit after a hot wash cycle - and
feels a couple of classes removed
from the next car down in the
Skoda hierarchy, the Fabia
supermini.
BEHIND THE WHEEL
There's no shortage of poke
from the technologically
advanced 2.0-litre TDI 140 engine.
This engine is good for a
maximum speed of 129 mph and
will return a combined fuel
economy figure of some 51.4 mpg.
It's a good environmental citizen,
emitting just 145g of carbon
dioxide per kilometre travelled. A
170bhp version of this unit is
offered in the vRS version, while
the older 105bhp 1.9-litre TDI unit
is offered in entry-level variants.
Petrol is mounting something of
a fightback after a good few years
of diesel dominance and engines
like the Volkswagen Group TSI
units are in the vanguard. Two of
these units are available with this
Octavia. First comes a 1.4-litre TSI
unit with 122bhp. Big deal, we
hear you cry, but the engine's
advanced turbocharged
configuration allows it to produce
its 200Nm maximum torque at
just 1,500rpm for diesel-style low
end grunt. It's a similar story with
the 1.8-litre TSI but with 160bhp,
this unit will feel more muscular
all round. Pride of place in the
petrol range continues to be
occupied by the 2.0-litre TFSI
engine with 197bhp. It powers the
vRS models.
All the latest Octavias benefit
from Skoda's quest to endow the
chassis with Ford Focus-style
driving manners. Even with the
wick turned down a good few
notches, it can't help but feel
extremely capable when stitching
a series of bends together. The
steering feels like a good
hydraulically assisted set-up but
is in fact electro-mechanically
assisted. The sophisticated multi-
link rear suspension does a great
job of keeping road bumps and
thumps nicely suppressed.
Value for money
In a word, excellent, but what
would you expect from Skoda?
Prices mainly sit in the �12,000
to �19,000 bracket and there's a
choice of either five-door or
estate bodystyles. Buyers in
search of extra traction can
choose the all-wheel-drive
transmission of the 4x4 and
Scout models. The standard front-
wheel-drive Octavia is also
available with the advanced
seven-speed DSG twin-clutch
gearbox that has received critical
acclaim on models from across
the Volkswagen Group empire.
Skoda can offer the usual raft
of high tech gadgetry to enhance
the Octavia ownership
experience. The plusher models
come with touch screen stereo
and navigation systems with the
option of a 30Gb hard disc for
storing music. Owners can also
connect their music players
through iPod, AUX or USB
connectors which allow the track
listings to be displayed on screen
in the car. There are high-tech
parking sensors too with a visual
guide on the central display
screen as well as an audible
warning signal.

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