Skoda Octavia S 1.2 TSI 5dr Car Review - April 2013

The new Skoda Octavia has grown in size over the previous model, and this translates into a more roomy feel to the cabin with plenty of space for passengers. The rear head and leg room is impressive, save for the centre rear passenger who may feel slightly compromised by the transmission tunnel, and the driver will feel equally at home with a well thought out driving position that includes plenty of options for seat and steering wheel adjustment.

The entry model in the new Octavia range, the Skoda Octavia S 1.2 TSI 5dr is powered by a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine, producing 102bhp and 129 lb-ft of torque at 1400-4000 rpm. With the increased size of the new model there will be some who are concerned as to whether a 1.2-litre engine is large enough to cope with the increased workload, and while it can feel a little overwrought when pushed, under normal driving conditions it proves more than capable. It propels the car from 0-62 mph in a fraction under ten seconds and on to a top speed of 122 mph, and is surprisingly quiet and refined when running at speed.

Popular as it was, the second generation of the Skoda Octavia had been with us since early 2004 and was beginning to look its age. The new Skoda Octavia is a much more contemporary and stylish design that compares well against its competitors.

The Skoda Octavia S 1.2 TSI 5dr has already won admirers for the level of standard equipment it boasts. It comes as standard with power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, driver airbags, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser, and CD player with Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity. In addition, there is a range of optional extras, for example you can add cruise control for an extra £180, or rear parking sensors for an additional £300.

The Skoda Octavia provides peace of mind to the safety-conscious driver, passing the Euro NCAP safety testing with flying colours and receiving 5 out of 5 overall. It comes as standard with stability control and driver, passenger, and front side airbags.

The 1.2-litre, turbocharged petrol engine comes with a proven track record, and is also used in Skoda’s smaller Rapid and Yeti ranges, and added peace of mind comes from a 3-year, 60,000-mile manufacturers warranty. Skoda has in recent years acquired a solid reputation for build quality, in no small part due to the performance of its first and second generation Octavia models.

The Skoda Octavia S 1.2 TSI 5dr is practical too, with a spacious interior and a positively cavernous 590 litres of boot space, with the capacity growing to 1580 litres when the split folding rear seats are lowered.

The Skoda Octavia S 1.2 TSI 5dr performs strongly in the value for money stakes, not least because of the amount of standard equipment you get for its £15,990 asking price. Despite the small engine size, a claimed combined fuel economy figure of figure of 57.7mpg means the Octavia will be comparatively easy on the wallet too. To put it in perspective, the entry-level diesel model in the range has a combined fuel economy of 74.3 mpg, but has a price tag of over £2,000 more than its petrol stablemate. With CO2 emissions of 114g/km, the Skoda Octavia S 1.2 TSI 5dr falls into Road Tax Band C, meaning you will pay just £30 per annum.