Skoda Octavia Pre Model Elegance 2.0 TDI CR DSG 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £21,130
Tax Band: E
Insurance Group: 20
MPG: 53.3
CO2: 138
0-62 Mph: 9.6 secs
BHP: 138 BHP
Range: 645 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
As a large family car with great levels of comfort and practicality, the Skoda Octavia Elegance 2.0 TDI CR DSG is a great choice. The car offers the perfect combination of performance, efficiency and comfort and buyers prepared to make this slightly steeper investment will not be disappointed.

PROS:  The advanced trim level combines with high performance credentials and great efficiency to make this a luxurious and powerful car.

CONS:  The cost implications of this car’s benefits are clear with the purchase price and insurance premiums being higher than other models within the range.

Behind the Wheel

The engine’s power output of 138 bhp at 4200 rpm is great for a car of this size and combines with torque figures of 236 lb-ft at 1750-2500 rpm to give this model high performance credentials. A top speed of 130 mph is one of the highest in the range and acceleration is fairly rapid with the car taking 9.6 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

Noise from the engine is fairly limited and this petrol model works quietly. Road and wind noise are fairly high however, especially on coarse road surfaces.

There is plenty of grip on the road and handling is stable which makes the car comfortable to drive. The steering does lack some feel, but this is unlikely to impact on driving in any noticeable way.

In terms of efficiency, this model performs well and achieves 53.3 mpg on a combined cycle. On top of this, carbon emissions of 138 g/km put the car into a reasonable tax band (E) giving it a great combination of performance and efficiency.

Looks & Equipment

As an Elegance model, this car comes with the highest trim level of the range. Despite this, some features are still only available for an additional cost and this means that the overall price of the car can be fairly high.

Standard equipment which comes with the model includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors and an advanced stereo system with both CD and MP3 connectivity.

Optional extras available at an additional cost include leather seats for £1,495, Bluetooth connectivity for £575 and a built-in sat nav for £1,660.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The arrangement of internal instruments is logical and well organised, allowing drivers to operate controls whilst driving with ease. The visibility from the car is also high and this means the car feels safe to drive. The advanced safety kit comes with the car as a standard feature. This offers driver, passenger and front side airbags all as standard features with an immobiliser and fitted alarm also included as standard.

With moderate boot capacity even with the seats in place, this car offers decent practicality. With the rear seats up storage space totals 585 litres, expanding to 1,455 litres when these are folded down. To make the space within the cabin even more practical there is plenty of adjustment available in the seats and this allows both passengers and drivers to be comfortable. The driver also benefits from a large volume of movement within the steering column and this gives them the optimum driving position.

Reliability is expected to be a strong point of the car and the model comes with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles to give customers increased assurance.

Value for Money

Priced at £21,025 this automatic car is a little pricy compared to other models in the range. However, the resale values are pretty strong across the range and this combines with low running costs to make this model a good investment.

It should be remembered that insurance premiums will suffer because of the advanced trim level however and this model falls under insurance group 20. Despite this, running costs are still fairly manageable and for those looking for a car which offers a good combination of performance, efficiency and comfort this is a great option.

Skoda Octavia Pre Model Elegance 2.0 TDI CR DSG 5dr Car Review - by 
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Medium Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the Skoda Octavia. Here are some popular Skoda Octavia alternatives:

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