I have a 1.4tsi wagon and I think it is a very quiet car even at our speed limit (110kph) on a course chip surface road.  Quieter than any comparable car I have driven recently (that excludes luxury brands like Lexus which really was impressively quiet)

When I get a bit of really smooth tarmac it is almost eerily quiet with just wind noise making itself known (similar to when I flew gliders, many years ago).

The exception was when I recently encountered very heavy rainfall for the first time and I could not believe the noise from the direct impact of the large raindrops and the water thrown up in the wheel arches. Fortunately not hail.

 

I know everyone's interpretation of what is quiet or noisy will vary, but the reported variation is almost impossible to reconcile unless the variance between individual cars is really that extreme.

Incidentally I have 17 inch Dunlops on my car which are not particularly renowned for being quiet although they have only done 6500km.

Rain drops are definitely louder than my previous car. Noises from the wheel arches are not bad. It is on 18" Bridgestones. The Ambition plus hatch I test drove was noisier than my car. Don't know whether elegance gets better sound proofing than other models. As you said it is subjective. Feel free to take my car for a spin if you are in Brisbane

Rain drops are definitely louder than my previous car. Noises from the wheel arches are not bad. It is on 18" Bridgestones. The Ambition plus hatch I test drove was noisier than my car. Don't know whether elegance gets better sound proofing than other models. As you said it is subjective. Feel free to take my car for a spin if you are in Brisbane

I'd take up the kind offer but I am in Adelaide. Does that mean you have the 1.8tsi with multi-link rear?

It may well be the case that the wing mirrors are noisier than they should be, certainly on my car when you get to about 50mph there is what sounds like a heck of a lot of wind roar from the windscreen area, even when there is hardly any wind at all, never had that on any other car I've owned or driven before. I've also got the much maligned Dunlop tyres too, which may well be making the car noisier than it could be. I think also that the suspension setup may not be setup very well for UK roads, at least on the earlier 2013 cars like mine, that plus torsion beam rear suspension is not going to make an Octavia super quiet.

Others have commented on driving across the Channel on the difference on road noise with driving on presumably smoother continental roads and then coming back to the UK and how much noisier their cars have been. In my area local roads are not that great, lumpy, bumpy with occasional pot holes, the suspension on my car does not appear too happy under these conditions. I know that most makers change suspension settings to allow for differences in road conditions in different countries, guessing Skoda doesn't change too much on that side of things to compensate for UK roads.

Others have commented on driving across the Channel on the difference on road noise with driving on presumably smoother continental roads and then coming back to the UK and how much noisier their cars have been. In my area local roads are not that great, lumpy, bumpy with occasional pot holes, the suspension on my car does not appear too happy under these conditions. I know that most makers change suspension settings to allow for differences in road conditions in different countries, guessing Skoda doesn't change too much on that side of things to compensate for UK roads.

 

I agree. We brits pays the most to have the pleasure of sitting in traffic for longer and on significantly worse roads than our European friends would tolerate. Mine can be noisy on poor roads and I think Skoda underestimate just how bad UK roads are. 

It may well be the case that the wing mirrors are noisier than they should be, certainly on my car when you get to about 50mph there is what sounds like a heck of a lot of wind roar from the windscreen area, even when there is hardly any wind at all, never had that on any other car I've owned or driven before. I've also got the much maligned Dunlop tyres too, which may well be making the car noisier than it could be. I think also that the suspension setup may not be setup very well for UK roads, at least on the earlier 2013 cars like mine, that plus torsion beam rear suspension is not going to make an Octavia super quiet.

Others have commented on driving across the Channel on the difference on road noise with driving on presumably smoother continental roads and then coming back to the UK and how much noisier their cars have been. In my area local roads are not that great, lumpy, bumpy with occasional pot holes, the suspension on my car does not appear too happy under these conditions. I know that most makers change suspension settings to allow for differences in road conditions in different countries, guessing Skoda doesn't change too much on that side of things to compensate for UK roads.

 

At 50mph (80kph) I am not aware of any wind noise, it is more noticeable at 70ish mph (110kph) and I think that is mostly the wing mirror, but still not that bad. I could understand wing mirror noise would being more annoying at higher speeds.

Noticeable wind noise at such low speeds surely has to be poor door seal fit? Mine must be ok but they do not look as resilient design (cheaper) compared to those I remember fitted on the old Mk2.

 

The problem with my Mk2 was tyre noise. The original Dunlop SP Sports fitted had a relatively large block tread that 'scalloped' over time. So they were quiet to start with but got progressively worse and unbearable until I was forced to change them prematurely at 20k km for Yokohamas which were a lot better noise-wise. Tyres were regularly rotated.

 

Current Dunlop SportMaxx are still pretty low noise after 6500km

Edited 18 January, 201511 yr by Gerrycan

I'd take up the kind offer but I am in Adelaide. Does that mean you have the 1.8tsi with multi-link rear?

1.4 tsi with torsion beam rear. 

My mk3 Elegance on standard suspension is quite a bit quieter than the Mk2 vRS that it replaced.

one area I gather Skoda do skimp a bit is sound deadening....they dont have as much (or as good quality) stuff as the equivalent VW or Audi but thats one thing that the extra bucks go towards I suppose.

One thing that strikes me about my car is how different it feels when I go from rough to average local roads at 30 to 40 mph to dual carriageway or motorways. On Thursday I had to go to Edinburgh and back via the M8, almost as soon as I got onto the motorway, hit 70 mph and what a difference to the suspension! The car just seems so much more at home with that kind of road environment, completely effortless cruising at the legal maximum even with my wee 1.6 engine. Makes you wonder if they did all of their road testing on German Autobahns because that would seem to be the only kind of environment in which my car actually really drives well. But turn off the motorway and it is instantly back to being lumpy, bumpy and fidgety kind of annoying really as most of my driving is on local roads in and around 30 mph, which is not a comfortable speed in that car at all with the awkward gear ratios and suspension issues!

My first O3 had the 18" Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres and they were horrendously noisy and with such stiff sidewalls you felt every bump, as well as offering little in the way of grip on wet surfaces. Probably the worst tyre I have experienced in a long time, but they don't wear out - when I traded the car in at 30k (24k done on the Dunlops and the rest on Winters) the rears had 6mm of tread and the fronts 4mm according to the service report at 29k.

 

My second O3 has Bridgestone Potenzas, and these are quieter and grippier than the Dunlops, and nowhere near as harsh on bumps. Still not a 'good' tyre though.

 

I have run both cars on some 'proper' tyres - Continental TS850s on 16" steel rims and the noise level drops massively,which is odd as I found these a noisy tyre on the O2 coming from either 18" Goodyear Eagle F1's or Conti SC 5's.

 

So. I am looking forward to wearing out the Potenzas and replacing with some decent summer rubber, more than likely Goodyear Eagle F1 AS2's

one area I gather Skoda do skimp a bit is sound deadening....they dont have as much (or as good quality) stuff as the equivalent VW or Audi but thats one thing that the extra bucks go towards I suppose.

I've gotta agree, I had 250kg of block paving sand in the boot today and it still sounded as noisy over poor road surfaces so, its gotta be the sound deadening materail thats to blame.

This s model hatchback loaner is noisy. Resonating noise inside the cabin. Tyres are contis on the 16" wheels.

The resonating noise appears to go if I crack a Window open a little. Sounds like an air pressure thing going on. My f reg cavalier from years ago had similar issues.

The car I purchased, an octavia estate didnt suffer the resonating noises. And was generally quiet on its pirellis. I must add though those Dunlops as mentioned earlier must be awful if potenzas appear better. I found Bridgestones great on bikes but hopeless on cars. Not very confidence inspiring.

I can vouch for the harshness of the Dunlop's, they were rotated at 38k and come what may they are going in the bin when at the next service which is due at 48.7k, currently on 40.2k, with 5mm left on fronts, 3.5mm left on rears! I reckon if I kept them til the fronts get down to wear markers, I'd be well over 60k! If a set of Goodyear Eagle F1A2s do cure my harsh suspension woes, I'll be kicking myself for not ditching them sooner! Bizarrely, in the recent snow, the Dunlops did me proud, getting me out of trouble on a road covered in over 6" of snow and on an incline where others were spinning and getting stuck, the Octy just crawled past everything for about 200m on what I reckon was a 25° slope, not sure if it was down to extra tread on the front due to recent rotation, or the fact I'd diasbled the Traction Control which prevented it from stalling as the TCS prevents over revving which is not good if the wheels start spinning in snow!

Edited 1 February, 201511 yr by Matt Pez

those Dunlops as mentioned earlier must be awful if potenzas appear better. I found Bridgestones great on bikes but hopeless on cars. Not very confidence inspiring.

 

I only drove about 1000 miles on the Potenzas before the winters went on, so can't really comment on grip in the wet as I didn't push them.

 

They are quieter and more forgiving on bumps than the awful rock solid Dunlops. I don't expect much from them, as I had them years ago on my O2 and they were awful.

 

I'll be swapping the fronts to Goodyear F1 AS2's as soon as I can justify it.

I have found my car to be very quiet, but I am comparing it to my work truck and a 20 year old Pulsar with a bad alignment...  Really, the only noise issue is a bit of the booming others have reported, but it only seems to show up on corrugated surfaces, and either I'm getting used to it, or it's getting better as the car gets broken-in.  My car is a 1.4 wagon (wagons are generally noisier than sedans) with the torsion beam rear end and 17" Pirelli tyres.

My first O3 had the 18" Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres and they were horrendously noisy and with such stiff sidewalls you felt every bump, as well as offering little in the way of grip on wet surfaces. Probably the worst tyre I have experienced in a long time, but they don't wear out - when I traded the car in at 30k (24k done on the Dunlops and the rest on Winters) the rears had 6mm of tread and the fronts 4mm according to the service report at 29k.

So far after only 6500km my 17 inch Dunlop Sport Maxx are pretty good for noise, grip and ride quality, I cannot comment on wet weather performance though.

I had to ditch the Dunlops provided on my Mk2 after 20k km because they got unbearably noisy, but although the replacement Yokohamas were much quieter through their whole life they never seemed to have the grip or feedback of the original Dunlop.

Way back when I was a kid Dunlop made golf balls in the UK. They only had one production line but depending on the final bounce and measurement tests they were sold as either the premium 'Dunlop 65', a secondary range (name eludes me), or bottom range 'Goblin' which I usually bought but were still good golf balls.

Seems to me that Dunlop (and others) must have as much variation in their tyre manufacture, so while they are still safe the customer experience will vary. So sometimes you get a good batch and sometimes you don't.

Having said that there are some Chinese tyres dumped here in Australia that beggar belief that they are even allowed to be put on a vehicle.

I swapped my 2007 VW Passat estate for the Octavia and the Octavia is much quieter in all conditions than the Passat!

I have a 2011 passat cc Gt and that can be very noisy on certain road surfaces. I didn't get to test the octy Estate on my usual roads before giving it back but noise in the cabin didn't seem as loud as with the passat in general.

The ride/noise/handling on the Octavia 3 seems to quite the subjective thing.

 

I've had two Octy 3's, both 2.0 TDi, estates, with Elegance spec and standard suspension, one on Golus 18's (Michelin Pilots) and the current one on standard 17's (Dunlop Sport Maxx). 

 

I've found them both noisy, which I never did my Octy 2 L&K (2.0 PD). I also find the ride awful on both, when I never did my Octy 2 or the Mk 1 Fabia vRS before it. It's both engine and road noise and I never had an issue with either until the Octy 3 which has surprised me.

The car on 17's is the noisiest (which ties in with other comments here on the Dunlop's) but rides less harshly than the car that had 18's. For an estate car, and not even a sporty specification, the ride to me is way too harsh, totally unsuited for UK urban roads. If I wanted to bounce along and spend my time at an osteopath I'd have got an S-Line Audi.

 

There's either a big variation in the cars, or for some reason people's opinions seem to differ quite markedly on the car. 

 

Saying all that, if we didn't have such badly maintained roads we'd have no issue with suspension firmness, and much less issue with noisy worn out road surfaces.

 

I also find the amount of engine vibration through the steering wheel annoying - some agree, yet others don't even notice it.

 

 

I've had 2 2.0 TDi's, an Elegance on 18" Golus and Dunlops with standard suspension and the L&K estate on sports suspension on 18" turbines with the Bridgestones. 18 months difference in build date between them. The L&K is a completely different drive, much quieter and smoother.

Neither exhibit any vibrations of the steering wheel or pedals from the engine though.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The ride/noise/handling on the Octavia 3 seems to quite the subjective thing.

I've had two Octy 3's, both 2.0 TDi, estates, with Elegance spec and standard suspension, one on Golus 18's (Michelin Pilots) and the current one on standard 17's (Dunlop Sport Maxx).

I've found them both noisy, which I never did my Octy 2 L&K (2.0 PD). I also find the ride awful on both, when I never did my Octy 2 or the Mk 1 Fabia vRS before it. It's both engine and road noise and I never had an issue with either until the Octy 3 which has surprised me.

The car on 17's is the noisiest (which ties in with other comments here on the Dunlop's) but rides less harshly than the car that had 18's. For an estate car, and not even a sporty specification, the ride to me is way too harsh, totally unsuited for UK urban roads. If I wanted to bounce along and spend my time at an osteopath I'd have got an S-Line Audi.

There's either a big variation in the cars, or for some reason people's opinions seem to differ quite markedly on the car.

Saying all that, if we didn't have such badly maintained roads we'd have no issue with suspension firmness, and much less issue with noisy worn out road surfaces.

I also find the amount of engine vibration through the steering wheel annoying - some agree, yet others don't even notice it.

This is strange as some of the comments are contradictory. I know this is all subjective but some say noisier estates, some say it's the hatches. For some it's the 17" wheels and others the 18" wheels etc. From my experience my estate is comfy and supple with regards to suspension and it's relatively quiet inside. Then I found the vrs to be firm but the damping rate of the suspension was awful and not so progressive.

Either this is all because it is subjective in the eye of the driver or the standardised quality of the parts is not repeatable from component to component. My example of this is that out of 4 car door handles on a brand new octavia they all have a differing feel. Some feel already a few thousand miles old and 'loose'. Same for the loaner car I'm in now. The front seat belt tensions are both stiffer than the estates belt action.

The same could beset the suspension etc. The manufacturing repeatability of these components could be part or some of these reason to explain the noises (and ride characteristics).

Just an idea....

Please note I'm not comparing an estate with standard suspension to a vrs suspension set up. I'm aware they differ.

Edited 2 February, 201511 yr by octavianestate

I have a 2017, 1.6 diesel Octavia estate and mine isn't noisy. It is quite quiet, on all surfaces. I just recently drove a new passat estate on the same highway at the same speed and I didn't find my Octavia any louder or less confortable to drive.

But I have isues with resonating noise inside the back of cabin. It only ocours  exactly at 1250 revs and when the engine is struggling. It might be exhaust related or something resonating due to engine vibrations.

The dealer is avare of that problem, but it looks like they won't do anything about it until lots of other people report the same problem.