Hi,

 

Just started shopping for a new Octavia, but I am after some real world feedback on the engines.

 

We are selling our 07 plate 130bhp Mondeo Tdci. zetec. 

 

My wife will be the main user and she has looked at the press recommendations which say 1.2SE..... which scares the cack out of me as I haven't had such a small engine since I was 17!

 

what are peoples real world feelings on the new series of engines? 1.2 or 1.4..... or vRS >;-)

 

Cheers for your feedback people.

Depends on your type of usage and annual miles which motor would be the best choice; lowish miles and local driving suits the petrol better IMHO. Not tried the 1.2 in the Octy III but I have spent a day travelling around Lincolnshire in a loan 1.4 TSI SE, which I was impressed with. Have also tried the Elegance TDI 150 and vRS 184, both with DSG and in real world driving limits there's little between them in performance.

 

Now have a TDI 150 4x4 SE estate myself and very pleased with it, standard spec on this trim is generally very good but for me the spec is missing cruise, so had to option it.

 

Oh did consider the 1.6 TDI 4x4 before going with a 2ltr order, felt however the 150 would be safer for overtaking and have better legs for holiday runs into Europe for example.

 

 

TP

Horses for courses. It all depends on what it is you want. All the engines available are punchy enough to pull the Octy along and have good MPG, even the VRS petrol if you remember what performance you have on tap. If you were happy with the TDI Mondeo what about the 2.0 TDI with 150BHP will be smoother that your old Mondeo, quicker and better fuel economy . May be easier to sell to SWIMBO.

I have the petrol VRS estate, overall I am getting 34mpg after 6K and get about 40mpg at 70 on a long run. Engine is so smooth and power is instantly available when you want it, great fun and practical with it

Edited 9 February, 201412 yr by TonyD

I own a vRS tdi and it's very good, effortless to drive and covers distance very quickly if you can live with high 40s MPG and expensive softish rubber then it the dogs dangly bits.

I recently hired a car in Belgium and was given a 1.6 tdi SE estate. I have to say I was impressed with it, surprising performance and on a M way journey comfortably low 60MPG. Also spent a afternoon on a German autobahn and it kept up a good 150kph pace with no problems (the MPG did suffer but not too much considering)

If you want a good around family car, like you wouldn't want anything smaller than a 1.6. Fully loaded I personally think the smaller engined cars are limited IMO.

If the engines are very similar then think about other criteria, such as interior and exterior look. 

 

One of the other reasons I opted for a VRS was for the extra finish. Found the standard car a bit bland.

 

VRS IMO is just right.

Some say the best engine choice is the 1.8 TSI which we do not get in the UK !

 

 

0-60 in 7.5 seconds, proper suspension, 50 mpg and cheap to buy, why oh why Skoda do you leave this one out of the range?  

 

EVO

Car Reviews:

evo Car Reviews

2013 Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI review

Rating:

 

The third generation Skoda Octavia offers something different to its A3, Golf and Leon cousins

By John Simister

January 2013

 

What is it?
 
The new-generation Skoda Octavia, billed as the roomiest car in the compact class. This latest, mk3 Octavia is the fourth car to be based on the Volkswagen Group's MQB modular platform, following the Audi A3, VW Golf and SEAT Leon. It’s as big as a Mondeo used to be yet it costs less than a same-engined Golf.
 
Technical highlights?
 
More car for less weight is the key innovation, with all that means for pace and fuel efficiency. There's a lot of electronic cleverness, too, as befits the Octavia's new role as a 'premium' Skoda. There’s automatic emergency braking as standard, plus options including auto main beam, a lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise and automatic belt-tensioning if it predicts disaster.
 
Engines are 1.6 or 2-litre turbodiesels, which will dominate the UK market, and turbo petrols of 1.2 and 1.4 litres. And, as headlined above, a 1.8-litre, 177bhp petrol engine which is denied to UK buyers but is without reservation the pick of the bunch. This engine is matched to sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, while all the others make do with a torsion beam.
 
What's it like to drive?
 
The 1.8 TSI is the best-driving Octavia partly because it has the most power, delivered with smooth urgency and a quick throttle response, but mainly because it has the best mix of crisp, natural steering, an absorbent ride and tidy, precise handling. That's the combination of accurate rear suspension and a relatively lightweight engine at work, making this Octavia a grippy, deft device to fling through bends.

I've found the 1.4TSi very good..I was surprised going from a 1.8TSi Audi to a 1.4 TSi. It is still quite pokey, well pokey enough for my daily grind in the traffic. It has good fuel economy, even when sitting at 80 on the motorway.  I'm not sure on the 1.2, never driven one and like you, think it would scare the poo out of me!

My opinion is that the 1.4TSI is the best balanced engine within the Skoda/VAG lineup. It offers good performance, superb refinement and excellent fuel economy. No other Octavia petrol or diesel engine offers such a blend of abilities.

My opinion is that the 1.4TSI is the best balanced engine within the Skoda/VAG lineup. It offers good performance, superb refinement and excellent fuel economy. No other Octavia petrol or diesel engine offers such a blend of abilities.

 

I would have to agree with this, probably the most balanced choice. You cannot go wrong with the 1.4 TSI. Unless you want/need AWD that is...

Autocar mag is running a 1.4TSI on its long term fleet and getting around 45 mpg out of it. See mag dated 29 January this year i.e. last week's.

....I have to say I was impressed with it, surprising performance.......

I'm considering a 1.6 Wasp for tax reasons but am concerned with overtaking ability coming from a MkII vRS. Can you elaborate on your comment above please? Thanks

Overtaking in a 1,6 Tdi is no problem. Weight is lowered with at least 100 kg's compared with O2. With the DSG it feels zippier than with manual. Don't know why....

I'm considering a 1.6 Wasp for tax reasons but am concerned with overtaking ability coming from a MkII vRS. Can you elaborate on your comment above please? Thanks

I wouldn't describe it's as rapid but nippy in the right gear.

If you're comparing a vRS150bhp mk2 against 105bhp 'mk3 I would say its a very linear delivery without the torque you get from a bigger diesel.

I only drove it on motorways and once off them I didn't really get into overtaking territory.

Sorry I can't say much more other than I was impressed with the car overall.

If you can afford it have the vRS it's a hoot.

Horses for courses .... I have the 1.2 SE manual currently (in estate form) it doesn't feel underpowered, is able enough for A road overtakes and I return around 42 mpg from a mixture of local shunts and some A and B  road work on a car that has not yet reached 10k miles.

Sure its not a quick car, but it does what it needs to and coming back from our devon holiday, 3 kids, 2 adults, luggage and relatively clear A road and dual carriageway run, @ legal maximum speeds achieved a little over 50mpg.

 

Get one on a test drive (extended if you can) and see if it suits you, if you feel you would like more oomph, try the 1.4 petrol or 2.0 diesel.

Before I bought the vRS, I had a scirocco and before that a 55 plate Mondeo Tdci Ghia X 130bhp which served me well for about 70,000 miles.

The trim level on the Mond was better but apart from that, the Tdi vRS is superior, much of it due to the fact the Mondy remained largely unchanged from its release in 2000 up to the new one appearing in 2008.

The Ford engine is a bit tractor like, not that refined and certainly not indicative of modern Diesels, things have moved on somewhat.

If you still hanker for a 2.0 Diesel, the vRS won't disappoint, it's a lovely car to own.

Of course you would need to decide whether the extra 54bhp was needed.

Personally, I found the 1.2 TSI to be just a bit too wheezy under power, I feel safer in a car that's able to make snappier maneuvers. The 1.6 TDI is less so. 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0 are all very good engines.

 

I was choosing between 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TDI in the end and went with the petrol for mostly subjective reasons. It feels very good to drive to me and there's less engine noise.

Small car small engine big car big engine.1.2 in a octavia is to small I had that engine 105bhp in a Fabia elegance dsg it's brilliant in that or pushing it in a Rapid,

I wouldn't describe it's as rapid but nippy in the right gear.

If you're comparing a vRS150bhp mk2 against 105bhp 'mk3 I would say its a very linear delivery without the torque you get from a bigger diesel.

I only drove it on motorways and once off them I didn't really get into overtaking territory.

Sorry I can't say much more other than I was impressed with the car overall.

If you can afford it have the vRS it's a hoot.

the mk2vrs is 170 mate not 150

As others have said "horses for courses" but for what it's worth, this is my second Octy & following my experience with the 1.4TSi first time round it was my choice this time.

Plenty of acceleration when needed & I have never found it lacking power when required.

I have a light touch right foot & being retired don't need to rush about & after 3000miles I am getting 50mpg.

My 1st Octy averaged 45mpg