The New Skoda Octavia 2014 Review

Whereas the Skoda Octavia 2013 was a family hatchback, the Skoda Octavia 2014 belongs in the medium range segment, where it will be competing with the top selling Ford Mondeo. It represents a major overhaul for the car, as the German brand have now finally decided to focus enough effort and resource on it so as to turn it into a truly sophisticated, spacious, functional and overall quality car.

 

Of course, Skoda are well known for being a car manufacturer we associate with value and space above anything else. But whilst being committed to practicality, they haven’t always delivered on refinement and class. True, the Skoda Octavia has always offered a generous amount of space, outstripping anything its rivals could offer. But it has always been marked down for that touch of elegance than its bigger competitors have always had. Now, though, the Skoda Octavia 2014 has benefited from the Volkswagen Groups luxury thinking; it is bigger than before, more intelligent, better looking. More sophisticated. Let’s take a closer look.

Excitement

Okay, so the thought of getting behind the wheel of a Skoda has never been the most alluring of propositions. Consumers tend to buy a Skoda out of loyalty towards a brand that has consistently given them huge satisfaction, value for money, and the kind of practicality they know will be scarce elsewhere. Skoda Octavia elegance is not something we often talk about. But the brand have really stepped up a gear here, investing in the ‘Driving Mode Selection,’ the kind of hi-tech gear normally reserved for cars we associate with having a degree of sportiness already attached to their image.

With the Driving Mode Selection, you can really give your Skoda Octavia 2014 a boost, as without it the speeds aren’t particularly thrilling. Even when in control of the 1.6 TDI diesel variant, which comes with 105PS, you won’t be ripping up any trees. But the Driving Mode Selection allows you to select between three different driving settings – normal, sport and eco – to suit your mood and driving style. It’s easy to use, and the sporty option is certainly worth a go, offering pace and dynamism to the 2014 Skoda Octavia driving experience. Exciting indeed.

 

The more powerful variants, such as the sporty Skoda Octavia vRS models, including the Skoda Octavia 2014 vRS Estate review, come with a refined multilink rear suspension, and the handling is fairly good across all models. We say ‘fairly’ because you would probably need to invest in a Skoda Octavia vRS variant to get the best out of the Driving Mode Selection experience. Backed by a 2.0 litre diesel engine and 150PS, the body roll isn’t far from exemplary, with the steering accurate and solid.

Design

Skoda wanted the Skoda Octavia 2014 to have an ‘engaging and elegant new look.’ The dimensions are bigger than its predecessor – 90mm more length and 45mm more width – but yet it’s also 102kg lighter. With that in mind, it does look engaging and elegant but there still exist similarities to the previous model – similarities that you simply cannot ignore. Still, we’re certainly not arguing because the previous model certainly had the pretensions to be elegant and engaging.

The difference in design is probably more to do with space rather than aesthetics. This will probably be music to Skoda enthusiasts’ ears, who are already drawn to the brand’s spacious practicalities. The boot here is an incredible 125-litres bigger than last time around, coming in at a grand total of 590-litres. Moreover, the Skoda Octavia Estate offers up 610-litres. And thanks to a bigger wheelbase, there is more space in the rear than last time. If that wasn’t enough, the interior is benefiting from Volkswagen’s luxurious mindset, with a finish that is crisper and more quality than before.

Skoda Octavia Deals

Skoda Octavia 2014 prices start at £16,000 and rise to £25,000, with the most popular being the 1.6-litre 105PS TDI diesel variant. Overall, there are a number of engines to choose from for both body styles (Skoda Octavia hatchback and estate), and a few extra thousand will get you the new Skoda Octavia vRS which comes with multilink rear suspension and improved handling. All models, including the Skoda Octavia 4×4, however, come with a number of standard Skoda Octavia parts which includes alloy wheels, climate-controlled air conditioning, tinted glass, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, as well as an eight speaker stereo.

The standard specs certainly see Skoda keeping up with the Joneses, and if you choose to add the Driving Mode Selection, you’ll probably find it hard to believe that you’re even driving a Skoda Octavia. Until you look around you, that is. Indeed, as ever, you’ll be left stunned by the amount of space you’re afforded. The 2014 Skoda Octavia is back bigger than ever before, but can it really compete with the dominant force in its sector, Ford’s Mondeo? We don’t see why not.

If you want to get hold of the Skoda Octavia 2014, don’t hesitate to leave us a message on our contact page, or give us a call on 01903 538835 to find out more about our Skoda lease deals.