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Skoda Octavia variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £23,199. Borrowing £20,879 with a £2,320 deposit at a representative APR of 10.9%.

48 monthly payments
£354.64
Fixed interest rate
10.9%
Total amount payable
£30,021.90
Cost of credit
£6,822.90
Optional final payment
£10,679.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

Skoda Octavia buying guide

Okay, no one’s going to mistake it for a supercar, but the Octavia does have plenty to shout about. It’s great to drive, economical, spacious and smart-looking, both inside and out. Piggybacking off Volkswagen also means it has the latest infotainment tech – without the annoying user interface in certain VW cars.

What Skoda Octavia trim levels are there?

For later examples of the Octavia produced up to 2020, trim levels kick off with S specification, with highlights including 16-inch alloys, electric heated door mirrors, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, black fabric upholstery and air-con. SE adds foglights, a multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and rear parking sensors. Stepping up to SE L introduces 17-inch alloys, full LED headlights with auto high beam, privacy glass, alcantara and leather seats, upgraded infotainment and even a handy umbrella stored neatly under the front seat. A couple of other derivatives crept in near the end of production, including SE Drive and SE Technology, so check each advert to confirm the spec.

Elsewhere, Scout is a model in its own right, with all-wheel drive, a raised ride height and chunky body cladding, and while it’s no Land Rover, you’ll find it more than capable enough for even quite rugged off-road terrain. If affordable luxury is the name of the game, check out the Laurin & Klement range-topping edition.

The latest model as launched in 2020 dives in with SE spec, which includes 16-inch alloys, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control and touchscreen infotainment, while SE Technology adds sat-nav to the mix (see Technology, below). SE L upgrades to Microsuede trim, 17-inch alloys, and privacy glass.

The vRS returns as a high-performance standalone model and features a sportier design inside and out, uprated suspension and brakes, plus a couple of extra features.

Skoda Octavia interior and technology

Later examples of the Octavia produced up to 2020 are fitted with an eight-inch touchscreen across the range, which includes DAB Radio, a USB input, Bluetooth, and SmartLink Connectivity to link your smartphone with the touchscreen.

The 2020-on Octavia goes one better with a 10-inch touchscreen as standard, while other infotainment features include DAB radio, Bluetooth, voice control and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.

Skoda has tended to fit cheaper materials in the Octavia so as not to step on the VW Golf’s toes. In the latest model, though, quality is better than ever. You might even prefer the Octavia’s interior. It’s easier to use than the latest Golf’s, even if it might not look quite as eye-catching.

You also get a host of clever features in Skoda models, like a windscreen clip for parking tickets and an ice scraper hidden away in the fuel filler cap.

Skoda Octavia engine range explained

(Most popular!) Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI petrol

This four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, also fitted in the Golf, SEAT Leon and Audi A3, is a delight. It gets up to speed really quickly – 0-62mph takes around eight seconds – and never feels underpowered, yet manages 50mpg. Diesel who? Perhaps best of all is that you can choose the gearbox for you – the manual for a little extra involvement or the DSG automatic to let the car do the work.

Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI petrol

A 1.0-litre engine in a car this big? Surely not? Yes, the Octavia’s entry-level motor is small, but it’s willing and capable. Economy is just as good as the 1.5, and the 110hp output is plenty for most driving situations. It’ll only start to run out of puff when you’re fully loaded and going up a steep hill.

Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI diesel

The 2.0-litre diesel engine is a natural fit in the Octavia, and will suit higher-mileage drivers to a T. Fuel economy stands at 64mpg – and you might get even more if you’re careful – and most of the time you’ll barely know the engine’s there. Most diesel Octavias have 150hp, but there are 115hp and 200hp versions too. The latter is reserved for the hot vRS model, and can be had with four-wheel drive.

Skoda Octavia iV 1.4 TSI plug-in hybrid

A frugal plug-in hybrid was introduced on the latest Octavia model. It claims whopping economy figures of 250mpg and over 40 miles of electric-only driving – as long as you recharge the battery regularly. Boot space is slightly down compared to non-hybrid models as Skoda has had to fit in a battery pack, but the Octavia iV is still a spacious car so it doesn’t matter too much.

Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TSI petrol

A Golf GTI in a sensible body, the Skoda Octavia vRS offers a compelling blend of performance and practicality. The 245hp petrol engine is by far the fastest option in the Octavia range, but settle down to a cruise and you can hit 40mpg. There’s plenty of choice for vRS buyers – hatch or estate, petrol or diesel, manual or automatic. In fact, the latest vRS also comes as a plug-in hybrid, with more power than the one mentioned above.

Your Skoda Octavia questions answered

There’s no doubt that the Skoda Octavia has become a constant in British motoring. It’s been knocking around since 1996, while the latest-generation Octavia launched in 2020. For a while, you’ll find both the latest and last-generation car for sale at Motorpoint. Both come as a hatchback or as even roomier estate, if you want to win the space race.

Because it has a bigger boot than most hatchbacks, the Octavia is around 30cm longer than the Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra. The latest model is nearly 4.7 metres long. Luckily, it doesn’t feel like you’re parking a stretched limousine, and rear parking sensors come as standard. The upshots are palatial rear-seat space and that vast boot that we mentioned – it’ll swallow a huge amount of family clutter, or a whole pack of shaggy labradors. In the estate, the class-leading 640-litre boot is slightly larger than the hatch, and it’ll come in handy if you regularly load to the roof or for those doggos.

Later examples of the last-generation model (produced up to 2020) are offered with petrol and diesel engines. The petrol models are badged TSI and stretch from a 1.0-litre through 1.5 to 2.0 litres. Diesels are offered as a 1.6-litre TDI, plus a 2.0 TDI. The line-up is largely similar for the latest Octavia introduced in 2020, save for the introduction of the 1.4 TSI plug-in hybrid, which can run on electricity alone for extended periods.

Depending on engine specification, both manual and dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are offered, and while most Octavias are front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive is available on models with extra performance.

More powerful versions of the Octavia should be able to tow a small-to-medium size caravan. Skoda offers a towing package, which beefs up the alternator and cooling system to account for the extra load.

For previous-generation Octavias built until mid-2020, all versions can tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1,500kg. Every diesel-powered Octavia from this generation can tow a braked trailer up to 1,800kg, and four-wheel drive diesel versions can tow a two-tonne braked trailer.

Current Octavias built from late-2020 onwards have shaved down these figures a little. Entry-level 1.0-litre TSI petrol cars can tow 1,300kg, while the more powerful 1.5-litre TSI can manage 1,500kg. Both the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engine options can muster 1,600kg, while the four-wheel drive 200hp diesel-powered vRS model has a 2,000kg rating.

While the Octavia hasn't reached the top positions of any reliability surveys, it's always scored fairly highly for dependability.

All its engines and several other parts are shared with lots of models from the wider VW-Group, so availability shouldn't be a challenge if you need something replaced.

For ultimate peace of mind, add an extended warranty onto your Octavia when you purchase it, which will cover you in the event you're hit with an unexpected repair bill.

In a word – big.

The Octavia hatchback is priced to compete with family hatches like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, but has an ace card in the form of its saloon-like body shape. That means you get a truly enormous 600-litre boot – more than 200 litres larger than most of its key rivals – while keeping the handy hatchback boot opening for easy cargo access.

You can also select the Octavia Estate with its even larger 640-litre boot. That figure isn't that much bigger than the hatchback's on paper, but the extra height makes it easier to transport taller objects in the estate. Folding the rear seats in the estate makes the overall space even more useful and sees its 1,700-litre capacity outclass the hatchback's still-impressive 1,555 litres.

The specific tax rate you pay for your Octavia will depend on the year it was registered, as those are the tax regulations that will apply for that specific car throughout its life. Most versions will cost between £150 and £300 per year to tax, with range-topping models costing even more.

For buyers shopping nearly new cars, the majority of Octavia models sit in tax band G, with previous-generation 1.6-litre diesel versions sneaking into band F, and potent vRS models showing up in bands H and I.