Insurance Group: 20
MPG: 40.9
CO2: 158
0-62 Mph: 7.8 secs
BHP: 150 BHP
Range: 495 miles
There is tons of standard equipment and security kit. Best of all, the car is cheap to run and will hold its value well.
PROS: Good road performance. Spacious. Good equipment level. Good economy. Promising resale values.
CONS: Steering is very light. Stability control not standard.
This Octavia model has a turbocharged, 1.8-litre 4 cylinder 16v 1798cc petrol engine that is punchy and smooth. It produces 150bhp and a torque of 184 lb-ft. For its size, the Octavia is fast. It reaches 62mph in 7.8 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars in its class. A top speed of 135mph ensures that the car can hold its own on the motorway.
The Octavia handles superbly on the road. Grip is good and the car feels stable while on the open road. Suspension is stiff and soaks bumps well, making the ride comfortable. There is good body control; body roll is very minimal and only in bends. Only steering is light and vague on the motorway; but okay for town driving.
The cabin is quiet. Road noise becomes intrusive at motorway speeds but wind noise is well-contained. The engine is quiet, humming away softly even when revved hard.
All-round visibility is good.
The Skoda Octavia is a five-door, five-seat, large family hatchback. It is not the best-looking hatchback but it is decent enough to get nods of approval, thanks to a good design and streamlined shape.
The cabin is tastefully finished to match those of more premium brands. All the materials used are soft and of a high quality. The soft plastics used on the dashboard are appealing while the dash itself is simple but well-designed.
The Octavia SE Plus has a decent offering of standard equipment. Power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, air con, electric door windows, electric front mirrors, rear-parking sensors, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, immobiliser, alarm, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and CD player are all provided.
Cost options include stability control for £395, climate control for £3490, cruise control for £225 and metallic paint for £440.
The Octavia SE Plus boasts class-leading roominess. Five adults will sit comfortably in the car, and enjoy masses of head, elbow and legroom. The equally spacious boot provides 585 litres of space with the seats up. When you fold the seats, capacity increases to 1455 litres.
There are plenty of storage solutions in the cabin. Compartments, a sizeable glove box and door pockets all ensure that there is adequate space for everyone to keep their stuff.
You can find a good driving position by adjusting the steering wheel for rake or reach. You can also slide the driver’s seat back and forth or adjust its height. The simple dash layout makes driving so much enjoyable. Controls are within easy reach and are all easy to use.
The Skoda Octavia SE Plus was released in mid-2011 so it is relatively new. As such, it is difficult to say anything about its reliability. But it feels strong and well-built so it should not disappoint. Skoda has always been a strong performer in reliability tests and the Octavia is likely to have the same levels of reliability as previous Skoda models. The car comes with a 3-year/60,000 warranty that will be of help if it develops problems.
There is a good level of safety equipment, from traction control, electronic brake force distribution and engine immobiliser to central locking, six airbags, ISOFIX child-seat mountings, and alarm. You will need to pay extra for stability control. The car is yet to undergo the Euro NCAP crash test.
The Skoda Octavia SE Plus is competitively priced and cheap to run. It returns 40.9mpg in combined cycle, which is decent for its size and class. Emissions are also low for the class and average 158g/km. This puts the car under road tax band G, which attracts £165 a year in VED.
Insurance costs will be low going by the car’s categorisation under group 20. Service prices are good for all Skoda models so the 10,000 mile service interval will not cripple you financially.
Skoda models generally have high residual values. Early indications are that the Skoda Octavia SE Plus will hold its value very well, beating a good number of more expensive rivals.
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