Skoda Octavia – Enjoy German Technology Without Paying the Price
Skoda, is a Czech make that belongs to the German Volkswagen Group. Since its takeover, the German giant has greatly improved the brand with Volkswagen and Audi technology. The result is a second brand that can be acquired for a much lower price than either the Volks or the Audi, on account of the shared technology and the relatively lower costs of production in Czechoslovakia. When we tested the Superb last year, we liked it very much; now that we have tested the Octavia, we are all very excited about it too.
Whilst it is generally true that not all the best and latest technology is put into the Skoda, there are some features that are the latest. The Octavia body is designed by Skoda, with technological input from the parent company, and the engine is the 2.0 litre FSi engine, a 150 horsepower DOHC power plant that is also used in the latest Audi A4, and the Volkswagen Golf. A turbocharged version of the very same engine is also available in the latest A4 quattro and the Golf Gti. Mounted transversely, power is transmitted to the front wheels through the same 6-speed automatic gearbox (with a manual shift option) used in the Golf. The Octavia is one of the few cars in this class that feature a six-speed gearbox. It really helps improve the drivability, by making it possible to have a gear low enough for fully-loaded take-offs, and enough gears to make a high speed in top gear.
The suspension is Macpherson strut type in front, and a multi-link arrangement at the rear, similar to that of the Golf. Steering is an electro-mechanical system that minimises power loss, giving the car more power on tap while saving fuel. Wheels are 15 inch alloys fitted with 196/65 R15 tyres, which I suspect is to keep the specifications one step below the golf or the Audi equivalent in the class. Getting them changed would be a relatively simple matter.
On the road, the Octavia does a zero to 100-km/hr acceleration in 8.8 seconds, and an indicated top speed of 220 km/hr (as tested). These are quite impressive figures for a two-litre car that tips the scales at 1335 kilograms. The suspension is of a well-proven set-up, and while it does not have the aluminium members to reduce un-sprung weight, it nevertheless reaps benefits from Volkswagen’s R & D, because the Octavia behaves flawlessly while on the move. In the handling department, the Octavia is certainly one of the most driver-friendly cars that I have driven. With a high caster angle at the front, straight-line stability is very good. Around corners, it sticks to the road unerringly; our best experience was taking the exit ramp from the NKVE highway at the Damansara interchange at 150 km/hr. The Octavia just ‘sat’ down, and took it all so easily that I could actually exit the bend at 160+ km/hr; that performance impressed two of my friends. KL and MJ, who happened to be in the car at that time.
A great standard features that come with the Octavia is a traction control system that will kick in if a driver loses it in a bend. Also included is an ABS system and mechanical braking assistance. Other safety features include driver and passenger airbags. The fuel system also has a feature that will cut off fuel supply to the engine in the event of a crash, to minimise the risk of fire.
Exterior dimensions are 4572mm overall length, 1769mm overall width, and 1462mm overall width. These dimensions make the Octavia one of the larger cars in the small to medium segment. Rear passengers will appreciate the large cabin, and the over-sized rear doors that make for easy ingress and egress. Built as a class leader, priority has been given to cabin dimensions; the result is plenty of legroom for front and rear occupants alike.
Inside, the Octavia has black leather upholstery. Initially, some of my passengers did comment that the seats are a little on the firm side, but after riding in the car for a while, they soon realised that firm is actually comfortable, and the contours actually contribute towards holding one in the seat. The driver seat does appear to be a little on the narrow side, and big butts may end up spilling over, but being of average dimensions, I found no problems with them. With a steering wheel that is adjustable for both reach and height, drivers will find it very easy to get a comfortable driving position. At the rear, passengers get the luxury of an additional air conditioner vent to keep cool, plus three headrests, and a folding armrest in the centre. The rear seats also split and fold to allow for stowing long items.
The boot actually opens up like a fastback, i.e. the rear screen and bootlid are integral with each other. The user benefit is of course ease of loading and unloading of bulky items. Boot area is long, but a little narrow. Three large golf bags will just fit in snugly.
The final pleasant surprise of the Octavia is its great fuel economy. We had the car for close to a week, during which we covered more than 500 kilometres. We took a trip back to Port Dickson, and drove it around Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur the rest of the time. The car was passed to us with a full tank of 55 litres, and when the warning light came on, we had traveled 470 kilometres. This is a very impressive figure, considering that we did top speed testing, acceleration testing, and drove it around quite aggressively for quite a bit.
In our final analysis, the Octavia is a great car, with German technology that contributes to its great power, excellent handling, and excellent fuel economy. What more could you ask for, at the very reasonable price of RM151K?
