New Skoda Octavia, cast in the same mold, arrives full of new features

[cawimmer430]

New Skoda Octavia, cast in the same mold, arrives full of new features



There's no reason a one-trick pony can't be an entertaining success – you've just really got to like that one trick. And while we're not saying that the new offerings from Škoda are one-dimensional, we are saying that it's a good thing we like the Czech brand's new design language; line up the new Octavia next to the Rapid and you'll need to know the details or the sizing chart to tell them apart.

The Octavia is the compact segment offering, but this larger third-generation comes packed with lots of new features. It is 90 millimeters longer and 45 mm wider than the previous car, with a wheelbase 108 mm longer, so it offers what Škoda says is more interior length, knee room and rear headroom than any other car in the segment. The hatchback opening at the rear hides a trunk that can hold 590 liters. For all that, it is up to 225 pounds lighter than the second-generation Octavia.

Four gasoline and four diesel engines will litter the options sheet, the most powerful of them the 1.8 TSI with 177 horsepower, the most frugal among them the 1.6 TDI GreenLine with 109 hp that gets 69 miles per gallon. All but the entry-level engines can be fitted with stop/start and brake regeneration, and a natural gas powerplant will be coming later. A hotted-up Octavia RS is also down the line.

Brand new features include adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam switching, a panoramic sliding and tilting sunroof and the next generation of infotainment systems. From next year an emergency braking function will be available, as well as traffic-sign recognition. Have a read of the presser below for more details.


Link: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/14/new-skoda-octavia-cast-in-the-same-mold-arrives-full-of-new-fe/

[Colin]

I think this is excellent.

Unfussy looks (hurrah!), exemplary build quality, roominess you would never imagine possible, decent price, likely to be good to drive (and the forthcoming vRS is bound to be a real blast).

Another top offering from Skoda.

[Raza]

No liftback model anymore?

[MrH]

Skoda is an interesting brand.  It's basically marketed as slightly lower end VWs in Europe, right?  I think they do that a lot better than the US-only model VWs do here.  I know, it's such a drastically different market, VW couldn't put Skoda quality vehicles out in the US at current Passat & Jetta prices, but still, I think they do a better job delivering a car on a budget.

[Colin]

No liftback model anymore?

Yes it still is.

[mzziaz]

I think this is excellent.

Unfussy looks (hurrah!), exemplary build quality, roominess you would never imagine possible, decent price, likely to be good to drive (and the forthcoming vRS is bound to be a real blast).

Another top offering from Skoda.

Spot on, old chap!

Probably my top pick in the segment.

I actually find it rather attractive.

[2o6]

I usually perfer something less conservative, but I think its really attractive. Would take it ovwr the Jetta and Focus, and probably most of the segment.

[Galaxy]

Skoda is an interesting brand.  It's basically marketed as slightly lower end VWs in Europe, right?  I think they do that a lot better than the US-only model VWs do here.  I know, it's such a drastically different market, VW couldn't put Skoda quality vehicles out in the US at current Passat & Jetta prices, but still, I think they do a better job delivering a car on a budget.

Basically yes, however in terms of build quality it has become hard to find differences. The VWs generally give you then options of ordering options like adaptive suspension etc.

The one oddity in the Skoda lineup is the Superb Laurin & klement, which is in Audi A6 territory except that it is larger, but cheaper. The Superb was created  because the Czech government wanted to buy locally for the diplomatic fleet, but they did not want their President to pull up to the White House in an Octavia and cloth seats, however it has become relatively popular in private sales.

[cawimmer430]

The Skoda Superb is still my favorite Skoda, especially in wagon form. 

[TurboDan]

Is this still a rebadged Jetta, basically?

[Colin]

No.

It is based on the MQB platform, so the only cars with which it shares are Golf 7, the new A3 and the latest Seat Leon.

The Euro Jetta is still on the old Golf VI platform.

[Madman]

I think there is huge potential for Skoda in North America.  It's sad that we don't get them over here.

[AutobahnSHO]

Holy engine choices, Batman!

Four gasoline and four diesel engines will litter the options sheet, the most powerful of them the 1.8 TSI with 177 horsepower, the most frugal among them the 1.6 TDI GreenLine with 109 hp that gets 69 miles per gallon. All but the entry-level engines can be fitted with stop/start and brake regeneration, and a natural gas powerplant will be coming later. A hotted-up Octavia RS is also down the line.

[Madman]

Holy engine choices, Batman!

Yep, that's a far cry from the one or two engines offered in most US spec cars.  Combine this lack of choice with the "Take-it-or-leave-it" option packages manufacturers insist on shoving down our throats and it's no wonder nearly every damn car on our roads looks and feels the same.

[Raza]

Combine this lack of choice with the "Take-it-or-leave-it" option packages manufacturers insist on shoving down our throats and it's no wonder nearly every damn car on our roads looks and feels the same.

People here don't order cars, they buy off the lot.  That's why. 

[TurboDan]

I think there is huge potential for Skoda in North America.  It's sad that we don't get them over here.

With Hyundai (and to an extent Kia) heading upmarket, an entry foreign carmaker has the potential to move some units as long as they're reasonably reliable. But I tend to think lower-income new car buyers are more likely to buy stripped domestics than some "fancy European brand." 

[93JC]

People here don't order cars, they buy off the lot.  That's why. 

That and people don't see the point in having eight engines with power outputs between 109 and 177 hp. First of all no one would buy the 109 hp engine, so that would get the ax. Most people wouldn't buy one of the next lowest powered diesels either, so ax one of them. I'm sure the two or three least powerful gasoline engines wouldn't be palatable to the North American buyer either, so you're left with only three or four engines that anyone in North America would buy anyway. Who gives a shit about having a choice of eight engines when at least three or four of them suck balls?

[2o6]

That and people don't see the point in having eight engines with power outputs between 109 and 177 hp. First of all no one would buy the 109 hp engine, so that would get the ax. Most people wouldn't buy one of the next lowest powered diesels either, so ax one of them. I'm sure the two or three least powerful gasoline engines wouldn't be palatable to the North American buyer either, so you're left with only three or four engines that anyone in North America would buy anyway. Who gives a shit about having a choice of eight engines when at least three or four of them suck balls?

This. The Jetta is an anomaly in North America with its four engine choices, and im not sure if it really helps.

[Laconian]

We don't have crazy displacement taxes messing with the market either.

[93JC]

This. The Jetta is an anomaly in North America with its four engine choices, and im not sure if it really helps.

You can have your pick of four engines in the Mazda 3 too: base 2.0 L, 2.0 L Skyactiv, 2.5 L and 2.3 L turbo in the Mazdaspeed.

We don't have crazy displacement taxes messing with the market either.

At least half of the Skoda's engine choices are almost certainly in existence because of arcane taxes on displacement and CO2 emissions.

[MexicoCityM3]

Skoda is the smart money way to get yourself a car on a VW corporate platform IMHO. Looks ok too and doesn't have the rotten brand image of SEAT.

[2o6]

Hmmn. We only get the Skyactiv 2.0L (not counting the Mazdaspeed)


I mean, no one really wants to have these engine choices. No one wants a Ford Fiesta with 58HP.

[cawimmer430]

I mean, no one really wants to have these engine choices. No one wants a Ford Fiesta with 58HP.

Some people do.

My parents live in the province and many people there own small cars with most likely the weakest engine. They need such cars to drive from home to work and back (which can be anything in the region of a 10-20 km trip on average). For these people a 58-hp Fiesta will do the job of getting them from A to B with minimal costs.

[2o6]

Some people do.

My parents live in the province and many people there own small cars with most likely the weakest engine. They need such cars to drive from home to work and back (which can be anything in the region of a 10-20 km trip on average). For these people a 58-hp Fiesta will do the job of getting them from A to B with minimal costs.

No, it will not. A Fiesta 1.4 will be quicker and return better economy.

[MexicoCityM3]

I like the engine choices and we have relatively cheap gas and low automotive taxes here.

I just learned that VW has just brought the euro-Polo with the 1.2L TSI engine here. That looks extremely attractive as a daily driver, I am planning on checking it out soon.

[93JC]

Hmmn. We only get the Skyactiv 2.0L (not counting the Mazdaspeed)

Lies!

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsSpecs&vehicleCode=M3S

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN CHOICES
- 148-hp, 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of 5-speed manual or 5-speed Sport automatic transmission (i SV)
- 155-hp SKYACTIV-G 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual or SKYACTIV-Drive
6-speed Sport automatic transmission (i Sport, Touring and Grand Touring models)
- 167-hp, 2.5L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed Sport automatic transmission (s Grand Touring)

[2o6]

Lies!

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsSpecs&vehicleCode=M3S

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN CHOICES
- 148-hp, 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of 5-speed manual or 5-speed Sport automatic transmission (i SV)
- 155-hp SKYACTIV-G 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual or SKYACTIV-Drive
6-speed Sport automatic transmission (i Sport, Touring and Grand Touring models)
- 167-hp, 2.5L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed Sport automatic transmission (s Grand Touring)

My bad, I went to build one, and it only gave me the Skyactiv 2.0 as an option. (Hatchback)

[cawimmer430]

No, it will not. A Fiesta 1.4 will be quicker and return better economy.

I don't see how "quicker" is relevant here. The roads around the town where my parents live have speed limits between 60-100 km/h. There is no Autobahn involved, just twisty country roads. A base engine will do just fine here. Like I said, people will commute for short trips (10-20 km on average) so they don't need something fast.

If we're talking Autobahn, then the 1.4-l engine will get better gas mileage than the base motor.

[2o6]

I don't see how "quicker" is relevant here. The roads around the town where my parents live have speed limits between 60-100 km/h. There is no Autobahn involved, just twisty country roads. A base engine will do just fine here. Like I said, people will commute for short trips (10-20 km on average) so they don't need something fast.

If we're talking Autobahn, then the 1.4-l engine will get better gas mileage than the base motor.

It gets to 60 in about literally 1/2 the time, and since it has more power, it won't be overburdened all the time trying to move the car around (engine working harder - more fuel consumption).

[93JC]

My bad, I went to build one, and it only gave me the Skyactiv 2.0 as an option. (Hatchback)

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsSpecs&vehicleCode=M3H



ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN CHOICES
- 155-hp SKYACTIV-G 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual or SKYACTIV-Drive
6-speed Sport automatic transmission (i models)
- 167-hp, 2.5L 4-cylinder engine with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed Sport automatic transmission (s models)