And guess which comes out on top?

Chevrolet Cruze Vs. Skoda Octavia | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express

And guess which comes out on top?

Chevrolet Cruze Vs. Skoda Octavia | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express

No surprises there since it's the Octy 1.4TSi versus Chevy's normally aspirated 1.8.

The next generation Astra will share the same GM platform - at least Chevrolet Cruze sounds better than Daewoo Cruze - just!

As it replaces the Lacetti, perhaps Top Gear will adopt one for their "Star in a reasonably priced car" ?

Had it beaten the Octy, then it would have been time for us all to give up!

It wasn't reall much of a contest was it as the Octavia's got a far better engine and more practicale luggage carrying capability.

One of the things I didn't like on the Chevy is it's overly fussy dashboard. The dash on the Octavia is in my opinion very clean. I've noticed many of the Japanese makes also tend to overstyle the dashboard which makes it look very messy. The dash is important to me as it's the part of the car I see most when I'm driving it.

Edited 3 July, 200916 yr by jzc008

My own personal road test would read something like this...

"Skoda's latest generation Octavia remains a classy, well-priced, engaging and handsome family car. It has practicality, pace, economy, robust build, reliability and a quality feel that belies the price.

The Chevrolet Cruze sounds like a bar on Canal Street in Manchester.

So the Skoda wins.

Fact."

"Skoda's latest generation Octavia remains a classy, well-priced, engaging and handsome family car. It has practicality, pace, economy, robust build, reliability and a quality feel that belies the price.

I hope you're right soapywalrus, I've yet to take delivery of my first Octavia and I'm getting a bit anxious that I've made the right choice after reading on this forum the problems people are reporting. I keep having to tell myself that it's probably the the same for ALL car forums.

I've had three - one petrol and two diesels. The only problem wih any of them was the exhaust pressure sensor which failed - each time under warranty so I wasn't bothered. I did get the feeling of "oh no, not another one" though from my local dealer.

I hope you're right soapywalrus, I've yet to take delivery of my first Octavia and I'm getting a bit anxious that I've made the right choice after reading on this forum the problems people are reporting. I keep having to tell myself that it's probably the the same for ALL car forums.

You're right that forums tend to be full of doom-mongers and tales of woe, but that's the nature of the beast - forums are inhabited by enthusiasts who want their car to be perfect, complain about the slightest little thing etc etc.

If you want a less skewed opinion, rely on the JD power wsurveys and stuff like that, where the octavia, and Skoda in general, has consistently performed brilliantly.

I've had mine six months (after three years with Ford) and I am quite sure you've made a great choice.

How catastrophically terrible is this photoshop attempt???

I wonder if they ever had the cars on test at all.

:eek:

The lighting is impossible!

It says it's not out yet but I'm sure that's what the 'thing' parked next to me was the other week.

Bloody 'orrible front on it if it was. Doesn't look so bad in the pictures.

I hope you're right soapywalrus, I've yet to take delivery of my first Octavia and I'm getting a bit anxious that I've made the right choice after reading on this forum the problems people are reporting. I keep having to tell myself that it's probably the the same for ALL car forums.

I'm just about to order my second having had my Octy for 4 years.

How catastrophically terrible is this photoshop attempt???

I wonder if they ever had the cars on test at all.

Pity it's not Starrucca Viaduct - at least there would be something interesting on top of it.

I hope you're right soapywalrus, I've yet to take delivery of my first Octavia and I'm getting a bit anxious that I've made the right choice after reading on this forum the problems people are reporting. I keep having to tell myself that it's probably the the same for ALL car forums.

I've had my Octy for 2 years / 20k miles. Total warranty claims / faults = 0

If it wasn't for the stone chips it would still pass for new inside and out. I wouldn't worry

Thanks for the reply guys, I'm sure the new octy will be fine. It's just that the Passat I'm driving now has been quite reliable mechanically, the only things that have gone wrong in 11 years, apart from fair wear and tear items, are the aircon, the remote locking and the clutch thrust bearing has recently started to whine a bit.

I agree it in the nature of forums to raise issues when things go wrong, most problems seem to be fixed under warranty though and the JD Power survey did help to make up my mind to buy a Skoda and I'm confident I've made the right choice (it took me long enough to decide).

The next generation Astra will share the same GM platform - at least Chevrolet Cruze sounds better than Daewoo Cruze - just!

As it replaces the Lacetti, perhaps Top Gear will adopt one for their "Star in a reasonably priced car" ?

I think Top Gear use a Suzuki Liana

I think Top Gear use a Suzuki Liana

They did up until about 3 years ago when they changed to a Daewoo.

Steve

This test of the new 1.4TSi Octavia is the second such test I have seen in AutoExpress. While Skoda (VAG) rave on about the new small efficent engines, this is also the second time I am slightly shocked but the mpg figure (28.8) the car returned in the test :thumbdwn:

In the same issue of the magazine they test the new VW Golf GTi, MINI JWC and Honda Civic. Only the Civic (27.6mpg) returns a (slightly) worse figure than the Octavia, the Golf (31.5mpg) and the MINI (35.5mpg) really show the Octy a clean pair of heels :confused:.

AFAIK the last test I read was against 1.6 engined Golf and Megane and both killed the Octy in MPG also. So it is all well and good sticking a turbo on a small engine for more power, but with the price of fuel as it is now, and talk of it getting much worse,,, maybe the older N/A engines have not seen their day just yet :confused:

This test of the new 1.4TSi Octavia is the second such test I have seen in AutoExpress. While Skoda (VAG) rave on about the new small efficent engines, this is also the second time I am slightly shocked but the mpg figure (28.8) the car returned in the test :thumbdwn:

In the same issue of the magazine they test the new VW Golf GTi, MINI JWC and Honda Civic. Only the Civic (27.6mpg) returns a (slightly) worse figure than the Octavia, the Golf (31.5mpg) and the MINI (35.5mpg) really show the Octy a clean pair of heels :confused:.

AFAIK the last test I read was against 1.6 engined Golf and Megane and both killed the Octy in MPG also. So it is all well and good sticking a turbo on a small engine for more power, but with the price of fuel as it is now, and talk of it getting much worse,,, maybe the older N/A engines have not seen their day just yet :confused:

The 28.8 mpg quoted figure is for 100% urban driving conditions which can vary so much with differing conditions. The extra urban figure achieved was 53.3 and the combined 42.8. These relate to Skoda's quoted figures of 33.2, 56.5 & 44.8 mpg combined cycle. Although still taking it somewhat easy running in my 1.4TSI, albeit with the 7 speed DSG box, I'm easily achieving the 44.8 on combined.

All I can say is that you are welcome to the old n/a 1.6 FSI, as far as I'm concerned the 1.4TSi is in a totally different league being a far superior unit in every respect.

The 28.8 mpg quoted figure is for 100% urban driving conditions which can vary so much with differing conditions. The extra urban figure achieved was 53.3 and the combined 42.8. These relate to Skoda's quoted figures of 33.2, 56.5 & 44.8 mpg combined cycle. Although still taking it somewhat easy running in my 1.4TSI, albeit with the 7 speed DSG box, I'm easily achieving the 44.8 on combined.

All I can say is that you are welcome to the old n/a 1.6 FSI, as far as I'm concerned the 1.4TSi is in a totally different league being a far superior unit in every respect.

The 27mpg was their over all test results, it includes track and road driving, the same as all of the tests, and the 1.4 simply does not seem to be giving a great over all economy account of itself in the tests I have seen

The 27mpg was their over all test results, it includes track and road driving, the same as all of the tests, and the 1.4 simply does not seem to be giving a great over all economy account of itself in the tests I have seen

In the real world, low to mid forties is easily achievable, 'nail it' and as with any engine, consumption will suffer accordingly. That is the real beauty of the1.4 TSi , with its maximum 122 bhp and torque figures of 200Nm between 1500 and 4000 rpm you do not need to 'nail it' under normal driving conditions. People need to try one and then they will understand why the demand for it is so high with VAG struggling to satisfy that demand.

The proof of the pudding is ..................

Seat's slogan for the TSi is very apt, quote

" You don't need to put your foot down to feel the acceleration. One toe will do "

So very true.

This test of the new 1.4TSi Octavia is the second such test I have seen in AutoExpress. While Skoda (VAG) rave on about the new small efficent engines, this is also the second time I am slightly shocked but the mpg figure (28.8) the car returned in the test :thumbdwn:

In the same issue of the magazine they test the new VW Golf GTi, MINI JWC and Honda Civic. Only the Civic (27.6mpg) returns a (slightly) worse figure than the Octavia, the Golf (31.5mpg) and the MINI (35.5mpg) really show the Octy a clean pair of heels :confused:.

AFAIK the last test I read was against 1.6 engined Golf and Megane and both killed the Octy in MPG also. So it is all well and good sticking a turbo on a small engine for more power, but with the price of fuel as it is now, and talk of it getting much worse,,, maybe the older N/A engines have not seen their day just yet :confused:

AE's own economy figures are often very different to the manufacturers' (which are also often somewhat optimistic!) and i suspect reflect the test driving style of the reviewers rather than the kind of driving most people do in real life.The 1.4tsi is capable of being pushed quite hard so maybe that's what the testers did. Once there are more 1.4 tsi owners out there we should get a better idea of what real life economy is.