DavidY

SE Tech also gains folding mirrors, and one or two other things as well I believe.

My impression is that the options list is overall a bit thinner than it was at the end of the non-FL Mk4 versions. Maybe more options will reappear once they have been in production for a while?

I saw an interview (AutoExpress) when they launched the FL version, with someone at Skoda, who said "at the time it was decided not to put the plug-in hybrid in the Octavia" And then a bit later: "Will we revisit that? Yes." But also: "the profit margins on plug-in hybrids are low" So may be some chance of Octavia PHEVs eventually but I'd be surprised if it's before 2025. Which is a shame - put Skoda/ VW's new 100km/62 mile range (WLTP I guess) batteries in an Octavia Estate and I'd be very interested. Also worth noting - Skoda *have* announced there will be new PHEV versions of the Superb and Kodiaq, but PHEV versions aren't in the current brochures for those either.

Thanks for that. I was curious what would happened if I just used Google - and that way I found an Octavia FL brochure (I posted the link over in that Forum) which also isn't on the brochure page. And the Brochure page has a picture of the old Superb but a link to the brochure for the new Superb.

UK Brochure for the facelift Octavia - 10 April 2024. It doesn't seem to have a link from the main brochure page on the website - but Google found this for me. https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/0bcfc2d5-654f-49b2-a524-91e141293e36

Interesting - where did you find that? It doesn't seem to be on the main Skoda UK "Download a brochure" page unless I'm missing something.

There's something on the Skoda website too (probably where Autocar got it from): https://www.skoda.co.uk/news/details/uk-specification-and-pricing-confirmed-for-all-new-skoda-kodiaq

Ah thanks for that - I didn't know that. Which probably means they won't do it for a huge length more time though - I see the new Superb SEL already doesn't have that colour in the configurator. I'm still hoping they may bring a PHEV model back to the Octavia, but I guess that even if they do do it, that green colour will have gone by then.

As one who likes a green car, I'd be tempted by something in "Royal Green Metallic". Is that a new colour to Skoda or has it appeared on other models?

I noticed it on 12 March:

If Skoda brought out an EV estate with decent range they could probably just take my money. Even without 800V. Something like the ID7 tourer but perhaps a class down - more Octavia-sized than Superb-sized - would be perfect for me. I know Skoda have said they will have some sort of "Combi" EV "by 2026" but given Skoda have a good reputation for estates, and the EV estate market isn't exactly flooded, I'm hoping they're aiming at a sooner timescale than that.

It's not obvious from the Download a Brochure page, which still shows a picture of the old Superb, but there's now a UK brochure for the new Superb as well: https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/71165c49-62c5-4f74-b29a-be6ad40d7373

I see the new Superbs are now visible in the UK version of the configurator: https://cc.skoda-auto.com/gbr/en-gb?pagegroup=Website&salesprogram=GBR&type=Car configurator PHEV versions don't seem to be available there yet though?

Yeah I think I'd do the same to be fair. Stop-Start always feels like it's hard on the various components too, so if you can drive those parts of your journey in EV mode instead it does make sense.

Agreed - burning fuel to make electricity to power the car introduces more stages for losses so is surely less efficient then just leaving it to work as a non-plug-in hybrid. I guess there's case for charging the battery if you know you want to use EV mode later in a journey, but it will cost extra in terms of fuel.

I do agree that there's a risk of fiddling and I also dislike those who don't put lights on when it's dark. My Mk3 Octavia doesn't illuminate the instrument panel unless the lights are on so it's a big clue if I can't read the dials that I need to switch lights on. I'm not sure all cars are like this though? (How do fancy all-digital instrument panels behave?) But for the OP's Matrix lights - I thought the whole point was that they automagically change the beam pattern so they don't dazzle people when it detects headlights coming the other way? Which should be better than normal LEDs. For example when you meet someone over the crest of a slight hill which is normally a guaranteed dazzle with normal LED lights. So if you're dazzling people when you have Matrix LEDs in normal conditions then it does seem that something is worth checking out?

I believe the Octavia IV (PHEV) are like this and you can't legally tow with one unless the towbar prep was fitted as a factory option. I always imagined it was to do with the extra weight of the battery in the back requiring suspension changes in order to tow?

Not looked in any detail but the new Superbs look like a nice car from what I've seen. But as you say the price.... and also just the sheer size of them when trying to park etc. would be an issue.

According to this Autoexpress article, there isn't a PHEV option, at least for now and presumably for a while. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/skoda/octavia/362295/new-skoda-octavia-facelift-ups-power-and-tech-2024 Which is a big shame as (as per my post below) I'd have been very tempted by a PHEV estate using the 100km range batteries which are going in the Golfs.

Ah interesting - thanks for that. Sadly I won't be able to watch it live, but maybe there'll be something to see there later.

I've seen a couple of articles saying this will be launched on 14 February.

I think the thing which will start to make in-built SatNav more important is cars that use that data to impact the driving. I believe some of the Enyaqs and Hybrids can already automatically vary how much regeneration to apply, based on SatNav info. So it may slow you down more if it thinks you're coming up to a junction for instance. Or if an Enyaq knows you're coming up to a charger so (I believe on some models at least) it pre-conditions the battery to the right temperature. In those sorts of scenarios an out-of-date SatNav will start to make a material difference to how the car drives.

I know it's currently of limited benefit to those of us in the UK, as I'm not sure specs have even been announced yet, but I see the Owner's Manual for the Mk4 Superb is now online on the Skoda website. (Same for the new Kodiaq.) May be of interest to those considering getting one. Looks like the PHEV models aren't included yet though. https://www.skoda.co.uk/apps/manuals/models

I see that VW has announced some things about the Golf facelift. I wonder how much of the same we can expect for the Octavia facelift when it is announced next month...? I've been wondering about EVs but would be sorely tempted by the PHEV if Skoda do an Octavia estate with the same claimed electric range of 62 miles (100km?) as (according to this article) the Golf GTE hatch (and I guess the new Superb estate). https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf/362087/new-2024-volkswagen-golf-facelift-arrives-updated-styling-and-improved-tech

There was a trailer on the Skoda YouTube channel saying that a face-lifted Octavia would be announced in February. Maybe that's related to the changeover mentioned?