March 29, 2024

Wade Through Films

The Ultimate Driving Machines

2021 Skoda Octavia review, test drive

The Octavia is a car or truck that defies conference. Regardless of the point that it has a hatch at the rear, it isn’t a standard hatchback significantly from it. It isn’t a sedan either, despite the fact that in profile you’d swear it was. Then there’s the fastback rear, the big rear overhang and the estate-like 600-litre boot, but it isn’t a fastback or an estate either. What it is, is exceptional, and all the much better for it.

About the years, the Octavia has preserved these exceptional properties, together with other brand-defining attributes like the tough make, the superior-quality experience, the enjoyment-to-travel character and the ‘value luxury’ positioning. In point, the Octavia has produced these a solid effect above the years, it’s the car or truck that will come to thoughts 1st when you say the phrase Skoda.

While this fourth-technology Octavia will come at a time when the govt sedan phase has all but collapsed, there’s minimal question that this car or truck, definitely in this stunning shade of blue, will have all eyeballs on it. The focal point is the new grille, now placed lower down, and the unique pair of LED headlights with their twin L-shaped DRL sample, all of which are mounted flush with the bodywork now. As on its big sister, the Wonderful, skinning on the fenders, doors and flanks is restricted, with loads of interesting creases and cuts, and this would make the new Octavia seems lithe and muscular.

article image

LED DRL sample is a subtle url to quad-headlamp predecessor.

It is about the exact same dimensions as the prior car or truck, but the tucked-in waist and coupé-like roof make it seem extended than it is, and the solid belt-line assists give it a more self-assured stance. All over the rear, the BMW-like upside-down L-shaped tail-lights increase to the over-all attractiveness too. On the other hand, some will uncover the blackened wheels, with their webbed detailing, a little bit above the top.

article image

L&K trim’s wheels divide belief. Elevated ride height apparent at wheels.

The new Octavia is also slipperier, with a drag coefficient of just .24. But mainly because it has been elevated for Indian streets, there’s loads of daylight involving the wheels and wheel arches. And this, aside from spoiling the stance, is also very likely to affect drag. Still, all in all, there’s an appealing richness to the design and style and that actually does make it stand out.

Czech Out The Cabin

The contemporary new seem carries on within too, wherever you are greeted by a really modern-day cabin. High-quality concentrations have also taken a big step ahead and the make is more durable than on the prior car or truck. You can experience it all above – on the sprint, centre console, doorpads and even the seats. The doors shut with a strong thunk and there’s a fulfilling heft to how things function, and this feels just wonderful.

article image

Horizontal center element on sprint designed to echo shape of entrance grille.

The cabin is now more sculpted and the three-dimensional design and style of the interiors provides to the elevated perception of situation. Skoda has correctly managed to give the insides a rich experience. There are both equally, brushed steel and chrome inserts that brighten up the cabin, Alcantara has been used on top of the sprint, the door pockets are felt lined and the ‘floating’, two-spoke steering wheel, with its metallic knurled controllers is superbly constructed. Even the stubby gear selector that will come in place of a common gear lever is very well crafted. Apparently, the Octavia employs shift-by-wire tech, which signifies communication involving the selector and gearbox is by using digital alerts and not mechanical linkages.

article image

Stubby gear selector sits in place of common gear lever.

The most current Octavia is very well outfitted too. Along with the 10-inch touchscreen, which is crisp and responds very well to the lightest tap, there are physical shortcut buttons for the ESC, exhaustion warn method, local climate regulate and park help. The local climate regulate shortcut, on the other hand, doesn’t get the job done very well, as it merely prospects you back again to the touchscreen, and there’s no hard button for the supporter speed either. This, of study course, is rather fiddly, especially on the go. What’s also a strike and overlook is the quantity regulate panel underneath the touchscreen. Swiping still left/right raises/decreases the quantity, but it’s not as slick as you’d like it to be. A rotary quantity controller would have performed the career just fine.

article image

10-inch touchscreen is good to use. Added physical shortcut buttons would aid though.

You also get a completely electronic instrument panel with configurable modes. The layouts are user helpful and what’s pleasant is that the screen can also relay navigation instructions from Android Vehicle or Apple CarPlay, so motorists won’t will need to seem away to the major touchscreen.

Other package features brilliantly performed ambient lights that bathes the cabin in delicate colours of your choice, there’s a strong and crisp 600W Canton sound method with a subwoofer, LED looking at lights that have proximity sensors, retractable solar shades on the rear home windows, and wireless Apple CarPlay (it desires an app) and Android Vehicle. You get four USB-C slots, two up entrance and two at the rear, and the parking help ably steers the Octy into a detected place. Ventilated seats aren’t element of the package deal, though a even larger overlook for likely potential buyers is a sunroof the most current Octavia isn’t engineered for a person.

article image

Shapely entrance seats present wonderful support. Lumbar regulate aids comfort and ease.

What occupants will respect, on the other hand, are the big, comfy leather-based-Alcantara entrance seats. They are electrically adjustable, wide more than enough to keep even big occupants comfy, provide up excellent back again and thigh support, and even element lumbar support adjustment and a memory function. They are, on the other hand, completed in a mild colour and this could make them hard to keep clean.

article image

Even big-constructed 6 footers will be comfy at the back again. Room is good and the seat is very well bolstered.

Convenience at the rear is excellent too, and the new Octavia is now even much better suited to becoming used as a chauffeur-driven car or truck. For a person, there’s loads of place in the rear – a little bit more than in the earlier car or truck – there’s good thigh support, the backrest is now established at a more comfy angle, and the seats are much better contoured for more lateral support. There’s even a good amount of place for the 3rd passenger, but they will have to straddle the vast central tunnel four-wheel-travel versions offered overseas have a propellor shaft in there. The point that there’s no sunroof and a dim headliner, on the other hand, indicate it isn’t as vibrant or airy here as it could have been.

article image

Accurate to tradition, the boot is cavernous Baggage capability is 600 litres.

There’s loads of room for odds and finishes, like a sunglass holder, a usable cooled glovebox, big bottle holders in the doors, and two cupholders around the gear selector that have rubberised dimples on the base. You actually won’t be brief on place on outstation visits or airport operates either. The new Octavia will get a 600-litre boot with loads of intelligent attributes packed in to make your daily life less complicated. The boot can be accessed via the rear armrest, the rear seats can be folded down electrically, you can open the hatch by ‘kicking’ underneath the boot if you have the essential in your pocket (Skoda phone calls it virtual pedal), and a powered operation is incorporated too. In real Skoda vogue, there are, as at any time, loads of smart hooks and fasteners to protected your luggage too, and though it has a spare tyre, it’s only a place saver.

Traveling Arrow

The last-gen Octavia bowed out of India in grand type, in entire-blown RS245 avatar. The new Octy attributes the exact same 2. TSI turbo-petrol engine, albeit in a acquainted 190hp and 320Nm condition of tune. For reference, the earlier Octavia one.eight TSI produced 180hp and 250Nm. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is conventional suit and channels ability to the entrance wheels. A lesser one.five-litre petrol version is a possibility and Skoda has verified the new Octy RS will occur to India in due time, but there won’t be any diesels.

article image

190hp, 2.-litre TSI engine is refined and provides solid efficiency.

Fire up the Octavia and it settles into a sleek and really refined idle. The car or truck responds neatly to a tap on the throttle, and past 2,000rpm there’s a solid tug that would make efficiency experience easy. Among 2,000 and four,000rpm, the engine is also incredibly sleek and inaudible, producing the new Octavia a really attained cruiser. Earlier four,000rpm, ability shipping will get even much better, and the run to 6,000rpm is really energetic. Driving in this band is especially satisfying when conditions permit (a couple of more revs would have included more spice), and what assists is the twin-clutch gearbox that is swift to dial up the up coming gear. It is super swift to react to tugs at the paddles too. In city, on the other hand, the seven-speed DSG does get tripped up on situation. Unexpected modifications in throttle enter can elicit a a little delayed response, though it’s by no means too harsh.

Drivers with a sportier bent will overlook travel modes, but you do get start regulate. Place your foot down and start it does, the engine pulling strongly as before long as you are off the line. 100kph will come up in eight seconds flat, with one hundred sixty coming up in 18.nine seconds. As the desk would make apparent, there’s actually really minimal variance in conditions of efficiency involving Octavias previous and new, and that is reflective of their around-identical ability to body weight ratios. The most current Octy would make 10hp more but also weighs 84kg more than its predecessor.

article image

 

On its elevated suspension, the Octavia also rides very well. The 106mm laden ground clearance determine is worrying, but our fears proved unfounded as the Octy cleared big speed breakers with ease. The Skoda also rides via big potholes very easily, with no big deflection felt within the cabin. Sharp-edged bumps, on the other hand, do catch it out, with a sharp ‘thwack’ read within the cabin on very poor surfaces. The ride can be fast paced at situations too, especially on concrete streets, wherever there is also a little bit of tyre sounds. Preserve to a constant tempo on the highway and you are going to respect the Octavia for its strong and settled experience.

Like the earlier-gen car or truck, this a person too has a steering that is mild, straightforward to twirl and accurate. This assists make the car or truck experience scaled-down than it is from guiding the wheel. Even nicer is that the steering continues to be pin-sharp and accurate even at better speeds, and because the Octavia’s entrance end has a reasonable amount of bite and it doesn’t roll too a lot, agility is good. So it’s no shock that this neutral handler feels harmless and composed even in fast corners. It is only when you press really hard into a corner that the 205/fifty five R17 tyres feel out of depth.

Much more, For Much more

Even bigger, much better and more attained, the new Octavia feels like a more upmarket and high-class sedan. The cabin is incredibly comfy, quality concentrations have taken a apparent step ahead and aside from a couple of misses, Skoda has outfitted the Octavia generously too. Then there’s the strong make, the solid engine, the sorted dynamics and that merely huge boot.

article image

Pricey but plush new Octavia is wonderful to travel and be driven in.

If there is a hurdle, it would be the selling price. The new Octavia is noticeably more high-priced, with a beginning selling price of Rs 25.99 lakh and likely up to Rs 28.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India) for the completely-loaded L&K and that could make some potential buyers baulk. But, the moment you get above the sticker shock and seem carefully at wherever your dollars goes, it’s reasonable to say that with the Octavia’s unimpeachable make quality, it’s dollars very well expended.

Also see:

2021 Skoda Octavia video clip assessment