Quick, reliable, comfortable and cheap
A few minor issues with rattles, but nothing major.
A good car with great performance at the price.
The handling could be improved, but is more than adequate for my limited ability.
VW Audio group quality is very apparent throughout.
So far reliability is flawless.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th July, 2005
It does nothing badly and most things well
Air conditioning needed filling but was fixed under warranty.
Throttle body slightly sticky so it revs sometimes stay at 1,000RPM instead of 850-900RPM
Rear washer pipe detached filling boot with washer fluid. I fixed this while sitting in the huge boot.
The rear seat back was rattling but I fixed it with some sticky felt pads.
I can't think of anything this car does badly.
There have been niggly little problems, but nothing that has left me stranded. After 15,000 miles it is still showing no indication of requiring a service - absolutely remarkable!
It is comfortable, easy and relaxing to drive. It is easy to park with the reversing sensors too.
Space inside is excellent and the boot is enormous. It's so big you can sit inside it comfortably which was useful when I was fixing the rear washer pipe! The Octavia boot swallows 2 shopping trolleys full of stuff with no need to fold the rear seats. I've managed to get some 1.8m interior doors in the car with the rear seats down too.
The engine is slightly noisy at tick-over when the diesel clatter is obvious, but when driving it just makes a muted hum in the background. It is not as refined as the more modern diesels like the 130 BHP TDi PD. There can be some wind noise from around the front pillars, but it only becomes intrusive at higher speeds.
The gearbox (4 speed auto) is good most of the time, and kicks down quickly enough when needed.
The brakes are good and the handling is OK as long as you remember the car is more of a cruiser than a sprinter. If you push VERY hard you can provoke slides and understeer, but it is predictable and controllable. This isn't a performance trait, more of a safety one.
I'm averaging around 48 mpg and the car has used virtually no engine oil in 15,000 miles. The front tyres are about 50% worn and the back tyres are down just a few millimetres.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th February, 2005
Superb car, brilliant performance, and cheap to buy
Ignition coil failed and required roadside assistance.
Windscreen wipers failed after 500 miles.
Despite the early mechanical problems, the Octavia has been exceptionally reliable.
I chose the top of the range trim with all leather seats, with walnut effect inserts and it really looks the part.
The car drives effortlessly and is extremely comfortable especially on those long runs. Kick the accelerator hard and the car really performs.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th December, 2004
I'd be interested to know more about the running costs, and why the reviewer awarded only 5/10 for a car which I would expect to be cheap to run.
It's a 1.8 20 valve turbocharged petrol engine, rated at 150 BHP. That's why it has a 5/10 rating for economy. My Octavia Estate 1.8T Elegance averages about 36MPG. It is a high performance engine, hence the score!
2nd Feb 2006, 06:05
At the end of the day, you have made an excellent choice. The Skoda represents real value for money. The marque has a century old tradition of manufacturing unique and technologically advanced vehicles. The latest batch of Skoda models are ALL winners.