I didn't want to start a new topic, but I couldn't find the previous thread that I remember seeing a month or two ago on this subject.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are any engine improvements heading the Octavia's way (or even the Superb's way)? I ask this as I've been reading some info on the new VW Passat and its emissions seem to be down and mpg up - 48mpg/139g/km on the 1.4tsi and 60mpg/119g/km on the 140 tdi for example. Sounds a lot better than what Skoda are currently offering on their engines.

Does anyone think these changes might be coming soon for Skoda?

And, does anyone know if Skoda are planning to improve the safety on the Octavia. It doesn't have curtain airbags as standard and reviews tell me it only gets 4 stars on the euro ncap tests.

Thanks guys

I didn't want to start a new topic, but I couldn't find the previous thread that I remember seeing a month or two ago on this subject.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are any engine improvements heading the Octavia's way (or even the Superb's way)? I ask this as I've been reading some info on the new VW Passat and its emissions seem to be down and mpg up - 48mpg/139g/km on the 1.4tsi and 60mpg/119g/km on the 140 tdi for example. Sounds a lot better than what Skoda are currently offering on their engines.

Does anyone think these changes might be coming soon for Skoda?

And, does anyone know if Skoda are planning to improve the safety on the Octavia. It doesn't have curtain airbags as standard and reviews tell me it only gets 4 stars on the euro ncap tests.

Thanks guys

The Skodas now generally have the same engines, but they miss out on some of the tech like Start/Stop. I think this is a VAG group policy to keep the brands separate, and to allow Skodas to be sold at a lower price.

I had a Greenline Octavia as a courtesy car the other day and it doesn't have Start/Stop, while the 'equivalent' Golf Bluemotion does.

You can fit curtain bags to the Octavia as an option. They will probably wait for the new model before changing things significantly.

As far as I can see Skodas eventually get the same engine tech as VW, Audi etc, but its not surprising that the latest released qroup model (in this case the Passat) will have the latest mods.

Saying that the Octavia has had new engines in mid production run (the 1.2TSi recently introduced as the "base" engine to replace the antediluvian 1.4 8v for example, the updated TSi VRS 2.0T Petrol and CR diesels).

Regarding safety Isn't the NCAP 4 star for the original 2004 Octavia 2? I can't find the FL model on the NCAP website and I don't think NCAP have tested it!

I wouldn't get hung up about the curtain airbags if buying new. They really don't cost very much extra, less than metallic paint for instance!

I doubt the FL would get a higher NCAP rating as it is effectively the same car, the chassis and crash structure are the same... As only about half the range doesn't get ESP as standard (and only L&K gets curtain airbags as standard IIRC) I can't see it getting any extra points...

I suspect Octavia III (whenever it arrives) will get 5 stars...

I doubt the FL would get a higher NCAP rating as it is effectively the same car, the chassis and crash structure are the same... As only about half the range doesn't get ESP as standard (and only L&K gets curtain airbags as standard IIRC) I can't see it getting any extra points...

I suspect Octavia III (whenever it arrives) will get 5 stars...

Ah well that explains it NCAP require 90% of sales to have ESP fitted for a 5 star rating. I can't see it being fitted as an option on basic Octys that often.

(The Golf V is 5 star by the way and it has the same chassis and crash structure surely?)

I doubt the FL would get a higher NCAP rating as it is effectively the same car, the chassis and crash structure are the same... As only about half the range doesn't get ESP as standard (and only L&K gets curtain airbags as standard IIRC) I can't see it getting any extra points...

I suspect Octavia III (whenever it arrives) will get 5 stars...

I think that's it, isn't it - waiting for the octavia mk3 to arrive. This is the only thing that puts me off the Octavia - it isn't a new design, its been around since 2004 (hence the safety issues). I know its been facelifted, but its essentially the same car as the one that arrived in 2004 - right?

I'm also actually quite tempted by cars such as the Kia Ceed and Hyundai i30 - the longer warranties sound appealing for one thing, although I think these cars both look a bit flimsy compared to the Octavia.

I think the Octavia spec'ed with ESP and head airbags is pretty good safety-wise. As you note the similar Golf Mk 5 and Yeti get 5 stars on the same chassis. One thing I did note test driving a Yeti is that Skoda seem to have worked hard to provide energy absorbing stuff in the drivers footwell - I think its lost the drivers oddmet box on the right hand side of the steering wheel as a result.

The Ceed gets 5 stars BTW.

Edited 26 October, 201015 yr by London Les

remember skoda is the budget brand. VW are already being massively outsold by skoda since they are such goo value for money. the last thing VW will let happen is for ythe skoda to become even better and more value for money. I had the curtainbags added as an option mysel, this makes it the equivalent of a 5 star golf then

Is Skoda really a budget brand these days?

Where I live they sell at a hell of a price.

The other day I looked at an Octavia 1.6 TDI and a 2.0 TDI Passat--similar spec -and the Passat was just 1 600 Euros more.

The Octavia sells for 96.8 per cent of the EU average price in the UK and 119 per cent in Spain.

An octavia OTR in the UK for 17655 GBP is in my local dealer for a GBP equivalent of 22160. (or 25040 Euros) And that is not OTR either--add about 1K for "preparation"

The Fabia by the way sells in the UK for 155.5 percent of the average EU price. Thats some mark-up.

I am being forced to look at other brands.

Is Skoda really a budget brand these days?

Where I live they sell at a hell of a price.

The other day I looked at an Octavia 1.6 TDI and a 2.0 TDI Passat--similar spec -and the Passat was just 1 600 Euros more.

The Octavia sells for 96.8 per cent of the EU average price in the UK and 119 per cent in Spain.

An octavia OTR in the UK for 17655 GBP is in my local dealer for a GBP equivalent of 22160. (or 25040 Euros) And that is not OTR either--add about 1K for "preparation"

The Fabia by the way sells in the UK for 155.5 percent of the average EU price. Thats some mark-up.

I am being forced to look at other brands.

Not sure about this %age of average EU price....what does that actually mean? The average price paid across all the Ocatvia model range bought in Europe?

Maybe the UK taxi market is pushing the average price down as they tend to be cheaper models?

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by juan27

Is Skoda really a budget brand these days?

Where I live they sell at a hell of a price.

The other day I looked at an Octavia 1.6 TDI and a 2.0 TDI Passat--similar spec -and the Passat was just 1 600 Euros more.

The Octavia sells for 96.8 per cent of the EU average price in the UK and 119 per cent in Spain.

An octavia OTR in the UK for 17655 GBP is in my local dealer for a GBP equivalent of 22160. (or 25040 Euros) And that is not OTR either--add about 1K for "preparation"

The Fabia by the way sells in the UK for 155.5 percent of the average EU price. Thats some mark-up.

I am being forced to look at other brands.

Depends on your definition of budget... If I spec a Golf GTD to the same spec as my CR vRS there's about £5000 difference in the list price and about £6000 difference in real life (in favour of the vRS) by the time discounts etc are negogiated. I'd have said that the vRS is a lot better value than the golf on that reasoning...

Thanks for all the info there guys.

Just one thing on engines - would the 1.9tdi be reccommended? Does it have enough grunt for a car this size and will it give you 50+ mpg?

Thanks for all the info there guys.

Just one thing on engines - would the 1.9tdi be reccommended? Does it have enough grunt for a car this size and will it give you 50+ mpg?

The 1.9 TDi has pretty good performance but not startling. Over 50k miles mine averaged 51mpg.

It is not the most refined of engines! Gruff and growly under acceleration but not too bad once you have it rolling.

Not available new any more - replaced by the 1.6 CR engine.

Something I think is perhaps slightly unfair with the Octavia NCAP test is that the Golf, A3 & Leon were tested by NCAP as "Small Family Cars" so were compared to the Focus, Astra etc.

The Octavia however is just big enough to fall into their "Large Family Car" category, so was compared to the Mondeo, Vectra etc.

As the NCAP star ratings are not comparable between size classes this does tend to put the Octavia at a disadvantage as it's being compared against larger, heavier cars. I'm not saying this would necessarily have been enough to bump it from four to five stars (the Golf got five, A3 & Leon got four) , but it does make me wonder...

Edited 8 November, 201015 yr by nick74