Skoda reveal new Octavia | New Release - Car News Nov 2019

09:36 Thursday 14 Nov 2019

Skoda has unveiled the latest generation of the flagship Octavia.

This year marked the 60th anniversary of Skoda first producing models under the Octavia name, and the latest version is the fourth generation since the Czech brand came under Volkswagen Group ownership in 1991.

At launch, the new Octavia will boast a powertrain line-up consisting of a wide spread of petrol and diesel engines, with an entry-level 108bhp 1.0-litre petrol. A 148bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol is also available, and both of these engines, when chosen with the seven-speed automatic gearbox instead of the standard six-speed manual, will come with a 48-volt mild hybrid system which cuts CO2 emissions and boosts fuel economy. The premium petrol option is the 187bhp 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder which, in combination with the seven-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive, can hurl the Octavia to 62mph from a standing start in a fraction under seven seconds. A four-cylinder 2.0-litre TDI diesel unit comes in either 114bhp, 148bhp, or 197bhp variants, while the new model will also be the first Octavia to come with the option of plug-in hybrid power. The latter comes in the form of a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor and 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack to create a hybrid drivetrain with 201bhp and which is capable of covering 34 miles on battery power alone.

The new Octavia is both longer and wider than its predecessor, and luggage capacity grow accordingly. The hatchback model sees boot space grow to 600 litres, while the Octavia estate now has a 640-litre cargo capacity. The sharply-styled Octavia has LED headlights as standard, but the biggest change comes at the rear where thinner, wider LED lights have been incorporated into the design. Inside is a new two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, all-new dashboard and touchscreen infotainment system, new touch sensitive volume control slide function, and an updated 10.25-inch optional virtual cockpit display. Other options include massage seats, head-up display, tri-zone climate control, and full LED matrix headlights.

Collision avoidance assistance, steering assistance, predictive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, and traffic jam assist are included in the Octavia’s suite of safety and assistance systems.

Full UK pricing and specification is expected to be announced closer to showroom launch, which is scheduled for the latter half of next year.