The new Skoda Octavia – “with everything”, in pretty form!
More space, more emotions, more internet - Skoda's most important model wants to make a big leap in all areas. Is that still possible?
The new Skoda Octavia celebrated its world premiere in Prague with a large line-up. The Czech relies on the latest group technology and has copied a lot from the VW Golf. He remains loyal to the lavish space.
It was only a few weeks ago that the eighth Golf generation entered the automotive stage in Wolfsburg. The compact classic proliferates with high-tech solutions in the cockpit, fresh engines and relies fully on digitization. A novelty bath in which the Lower Saxon would have been able to wallow alone for at least a year or two - before the group subsidiaries were also allowed to grab the technology. But times are changing: the new Skoda Octavia has just celebrated its world premiere in the Prague National Gallery and caused a sensation. On the one hand, because the Philharmonic performed a specially composed Octavia Symphony and the Czech Prime Minister himself did the honors, which - because Skoda and its suppliers alone account for around ten percent of the Czech gross domestic product - are not at all surprising. On the other hand, because the Octavia no longer believes in wearing mother's old clothes first. The Skoda bestseller, which will come to dealers as a station wagon and limousine at the end of March 2020, has taken the technology shelf of the new Golf straight away and also comes up with the latest drives, the latest infotainment and all-round networking.
The fact that the Octavia is new, you can see at first glance: The controversial dual headlights are gone, the lights (optional with matrix LED technology) are now under a single slim cover and ran up to the wide grille ran. There are also striking folds in the sheet metal dress and a tail with slim tail lights and eye-catching Skoda lettering. The Octavia has remained faithful to the generous space available: with 4,70 meters, it is anyway longer than a VW Golf. And although it has only grown by a few centimeters compared to its predecessor, the technical basis, the advanced modular transverse modular system (MQB), ensures more interior space. Above all, the rear guests, who are almost as comfortable as a luxury sedan, can look forward to it. The combination trunk is with 640 liters on a known level, the notchback version, however, has gained by proud 110 counter on 600 liter.
The novelty race continues in the cockpit: the driver holds in his hands a freshly designed multifunction steering wheel with sleek turning rollers and looks at ten-inch-large, virtual instruments. Optionally, as with the Golf 8, all relevant information can now be projected into the windscreen on the Octavia. Also, the slider area under the ten-inch infotainment touchscreen has been copied from the Octavia at his VW brother. You can adjust the volume or zoom on the map by swiping the finger. Skoda has also upgraded the subject of assistance systems, the Octavia can now not only keep the distance to the front man, but also the track. And thanks to camera and navigation data, for example, it automatically brakes off bends. In addition, the car helps with dodging with a steering pulse, stops when turning left automatically when oncoming traffic comes or warns the guests when disembarking when approaching from behind cars or cyclists.
Current Group technology is also used under the hood: The advanced petrol and diesel are to be emitted across the entire Octavia fleet measured 14 percent less CO2, five engines remain below the 100-gramme limit. The Octavia is available as a gasoline engine first with 81 kW / 110 PS from a 1,0-liter three-cylinder (probably from around 20.000 Euro) or the two four-cylinder with 110 kW / 150 PS and 140 kW / 190 PS. For the weaker, in combination with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, an 48-Volt mild hybrid system is used, which relieves the engine and reduces fuel consumption thanks to its sailing function and electric boost. For the first time, the Octacia is also available as a plug-in hybrid: the electric motor and the combustion engine together deliver 150 kW / 204 PS, with a current range of over 50 kilometers. A second, stronger plug-in hybrid will follow later as an RS model.
The diesels still drive without electrification, but have been thoroughly revised and rely on double exhaust gas purification with two SCR catalysts. Available are the three two-liter units with 85 kW / 115 PS to 147 kW / 200 PS; Automatic there is for all surcharge, the strongest diesels drives, like the top gasoline engine, always with four-wheel drive before. Incidentally, as the fourth source of energy in addition to gasoline, diesel and electricity, the Octavia continues to use natural gas.
On the chassis side, too, Skoda is looking for variety: in addition to the standard undercarriage, there is a slightly higher bad-road chassis as well as the lowered sports chassis, and the Czechs have further refined their adaptive dampers; they can now be customized in 15 levels. And of course, Skoda also has a few Simply-clever ideas in store: The parking ticket holder on the windshield, the dustbin for the side pocket or the umbrella in the door are now well known. New features include a USB port in the rear-view mirror to power Dashcams without cable mess with power and mobile phone holders in the rear seat pockets. In addition, the Octavia is the first Skoda, the urea AdBlue, which is necessary for diesel emission control, can refuel at the truck petrol pump. So the mess with the canister has an end.