Hello all,

I'm getting an Octavia estate and just wondering which engine is the best to get. I drive about 10000 a year, a few long journeys of about three hours every few months. Daily commute of about 25 mins each way. My last car, a Peugeot 207 was a 1.4 petrol.

Can anyone suggest pros and cons of each? Thanks in advance

Try the 1.2 TSi 110 petrol and the 1.4 TSi 150 petrol.

Broadspeed shows the type of discounts available.

I haven't driven other engines. Covered 30000 kms in 1.4 tsi. This engine is a gem. 

Ive had the 1.2 and 1.4tsi engines in successive Leons. Both are good engines in their own right. The 1.4 has a great bit of punch d minbe has returned an average of 40mpg over 18 months in the SEAT, the 1.2tsi was around 44. Motorway in the 1.4 returns around 45 at 70ish.

Both suffer from poor returns on hills etc.

For me theres no reason not to get the 1.2 other than if you want the extra bit of power from the 1.4. I think a test drive in bith would be a good idea though!

Thanks for all of your input. Any advice on the diesels? I'd quite like more punch than what my 1.4 offered!

The 1.4Tsi is turbo. Your peugeot was not. There will be an extra punch.

In all honesty unless you want a diesel, or get a corker of a deal on a diesel, I would go for a petrol.

The 1.4 TSi is almost as good as the previous generation of 1.8 TSi. 

 

If you want grunt and a bit of lunacy and the ability to go to work with a grin on your face then it's a got to be a vRS. Drives like a pussycat when you don't need the power and then it's like a tiger when you want some fun.

I've come from a Saab 9-5 with 220 BHP, and the 1.4 TSi gives me around 75/80% of the Saab's performance and half the running costs.

 

My budget wouldn't run to a vRS when I changed (also hardly any petrol DSGs on the used market 18 months back) but if I was looking now it'd be a difficult choice between 1.4 and a petrol vRS.

Thanks for all of your input. Any advice on the diesels? I'd quite like more punch than what my 1.4 offered!

I wouldn't go diesel on that basis but probably a 1.4tsi.

 

I had a 1.2tsi DSG Fabia hire car over Xmas and done about 500 odd miles mostly motorway and fast A road. Just seemed to drink a bit of fuel maybe sort of driving or me just being a heavy right foot maybe 

 

Book both for a test drive if possible as others have mentioned.

 

I'm going diesel vRS  but it is a close call TBH between petrol and diesel for my mileage (12K p/year and 50mins each way commute)

Edited 31 January, 201610 yr by davitc

The 1.4 TSi has more punch than the 2.0 TDI 150.

So, if you want more punch than the 1.4 TSI, and you want to go diesel, you'd need to go RS TDI, that is on par with the 1.8 TSI.

.

Even the 1.2 TSI should have more punch than the 207's 1.4.

I have the 1.2TSI, cruise on German motorways cruise at 150 KMH couple of 2000 KM round trips a year,  feel it a bit on the hills. Live in a city and get round fine. I just want to get from A to B. Happy with the car, Would probably go for a 1.4 tsi next time.

Thanks for all of your input. Any advice on the diesels? I'd quite like more punch than what my 1.4 offered!

The 1.2 TSI has more power and torque, and better acceleration and top speed than my old 1.6 l Focus. You need to look at the performance figures rather than the engine size. I don't have any advice to offer on the diesels, other than that I think they make more sense for people doing high mileages.

My son runs the Mk2 Octy with the older 1.4Tsi and its fantastic. If going petrol go for the new 1.4Tsi 150ps.

Think the most powerful Pug 207 1.4 output was 95ps.

So even the 1.2 110 turbo is more powerful, albeit the Octavia is heavier.

P.s. that Top Gear sketch about Peugeot makes me laugh. Sacking the 'chef de suspension' etc...

The 1.4 TSi is almost as good as the previous generation of 1.8 TSi.

If you want grunt and a bit of lunacy and the ability to go to work with a grin on your face then it's a got to be a vRS. Drives like a pussycat when you don't need the power and then it's like a tiger when you want some fun.

I agree the VRS is great fun when you want it and restrained when you need it to be, the VRS also comes with all the options you need.

Although if you want to be sensible I'd recommend the 1.4TSI, if you want some fun out of your motor buy a VRS.

You say your commute is about 25mins each way under what type of driving?

My run to work takes 15 to 20 mins to cover just under 5 miles, I moved to a petrol for two reasons, with lots of short journeys not only are you filling the DPF up quickly you never really get the best MPG out of the TDI

 

To give you an idea your 1.4 Pug 0 - 60 is about 15.2 seconds, the Skoda engines are:

 

1.6TDI 110ps is 10.6 - possibly a little less torque than the Pug

2.0 TDI 150ps is 8.4

 

1.2TSI 110ps is 10.2 possibly a little less torque than the Pug

1.4TSI 150ps is 8.1

 

For me the 1.4 engine it is quick and economical enough and a good balance for my driving.

Even the 1.2TSi has more torque that the 1.4 VTI engine in the 207.

The peugeot puts out 136nm. The 1.4TSi puts out 250nm.

I also wouldn't say the Peugeot is lighter, for a small car they are rather heavy

Edited 31 January, 201610 yr by M12MKD

I'll add my name to the chorus supporting the 1.4tsi over the diesel for the sort of mileages you are doing.

The 250nm of torque is available from about 1500 to 3500 rpm which is the pretty much what is used in normal driving.

The mk3's relatively light weight for its size improves performance and economy. I have no complaints about mine.

You will just have to get a test drive to confirm that for yourself though.

The only other non VAG car I would be tempted to compare is the Peugeot 308 which is even lighter in hatch form although the estates are comparable.

The vast majority of the car buying public still associate the engine size with the power, but this certainly isn't the case nowadays.  The most extreme case I can think of is the new 1 litre Mondeo which most people will consider a crazy idea.

 

I've not tried the 1.2TSI engines but it seems to get good reviews - certainly not wanting.  I'm more of an advocate of the 1.4's from VAG - two twinchargers (160PS/180PS), and two turbo-only 1.4's (Octavia - 140PS and now a Leon 150PS with the ACT engine).  Great performance when you need it, and great economy when you don't.  Didn't have the Octavia long enough to get a decent MPG test, but the Leon is returning mid to high 40's mpg with mixed driving - all these have been DSG/Auto as well.  These engines really do warm up quickly - both the car I are warm within a few minutes of starting which really does help the economy.

 

In terms of "old school" engine sizes, the 1.2TSI in the Octavia is akin to somwhere between 1.6 and a 1.8 in performance; the 1.4TSI more like a good 2.0 - maybe a 2.2/2.3 depending on the manufacturer.  The bonus is you get the economy you would associate with the smaller engine.  40mpg+ should be achievable in the real world from either the 1.2 or 1.4.

 

I'm not sure if there are plans to bring the 1.0 cylinder turbo unit to the Octavia (as used in the Fabia and Golf that I've noticed so far)?

Edited 1 February, 201610 yr by philhoward

Sadly I think common concensus is that the super and turbo charged 1.4 engine was a failure.

Sadly I think common concensus is that the super and turbo charged 1.4 engine was a failure.

Great when it was working though!

Not the most reliable of engines (both of mine needed work), but when it worked (most of the time, to be fair - I did a combined 130,000 miles in them), it was marvellous.  Twincharging isn't dead - Volvo have now embraced it.

 

My Scirocco needed half the engine rebuilt but that was VW's fault for specifying the wrong plugs at service time - the Fabia spat out part of a valve whilst cruising down a Belgian motorway.  They did have a bit of  a thirst for oil though until you got about 40,000 on the clock at which point they settled down - in my case anyway.

Edited 1 February, 201610 yr by philhoward

A 1.2 TSI 110 I suspect would easily be the match of a 1.4 NA Peugeot 207. Bit more power, considerably better torque spead because of the turbocharging and the 1.2 TSI Octavia is freakishly light for a car its size (1100ish KG)....I think it would be a pleasant surprise.

Engine choice does rather depend on trim level too though....the 1.2 is only available in S and SE trim in the UK (assuming you are UK based).....you'd have to go SE-L trim to get the 1.4.

The 1.4 is that bit better though....40 more horses...a fair chunk more torque again and not a great deal less economical.

The only thing with small turbo engines as good as they are is that they rely on being on boost to make progress....travel around somewhere v hilly or really load the vehicle up and you'll notice the MPG plummet...also if you do really use the performance they become no more economical than a sedately driven 3.0 straight six of yesteryear...so not great.

A diesel probably makes more sense if the vehicle is going to have to lug weight around a fair bit or is going to sit on the motorway all the time...otherwise go petrol and just accept that loading and heavy use of the loud pedal makes them fairly innefficient.

I don't know - 27mpg from my 1.4 Octy with a caravan on the back to Le Mans and back in 2014.  I didn't think that was bad?  Wasn't much worse than a mate's diesel Scenic doing the same.