From Autocar reviews

 

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/skoda/octavia/first-drives/skoda-octavia-15-tsi-2020-uk-review

 

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/seat/leon

 

Autocar Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI 2020 UK review:

More than almost any other, the brand knows its customer base, but this doesn’t change the fact that the steering and gearshift action are then wholly light and inert, almost to the point where it impinges the accuracy of your inputs. Turning into a bend can feel a little like that phantom extra step you weren’t expecting at the bottom of the stairs.

 

Autocar Seat Leon review:

Still, it’s clear that Seat has put some thought into the driving experience. Unlike so many over-servoed offerings in this class, the brake pedal is soft and progressive and the electromechanical steering, steadily geared but not sleepy, paints a clearer picture of the road beneath you than the class average.

 

 

The comments about the steering are puzzling given they are based on the same platform.

I can’t say they are not true as I have not driven either.

Is there any explanation other than different driving modes?

 

Having said that the only thing I am interested in hearing is that Skippy has been banished from the 1.5 TSI Manual. I’m afraid that given how VAG have handled this so far I will take a bit of convincing.

 

Tyres and wheels, type and size and brand make a difference even if driving identical cars with different tyre / wheel set up's.

The Car Reviewers / Motoring Journalists collect cars from the Media Team maybe read the Media Pack and never bother checking the tyre pressures.

 

So drive the cars yourself and check the tyres and pressures, and remember that What Car / Autocar, AutoExpress and all the others just keep with SEAT from Spain being Sportier than Skoda from Czechia even if the cars are actually built in the same countries in the same factory. 

VW Tell them SEAT's are more for the young than Skoda's.

Edited 29 July, 20205 yr by Roottoot

The amount of steering assistance is controlled by firmware, so it's entirely possible that the setting in the SEAT and the Skoda will be different - given that SEAT is aimed at a more sporting image.

Agreed I wouldn't rule out the possibly of tyre brand/  size / inflation or steering firmware / driver modes contributing to a difference, The reported difference is really fairly massive though - can't help but wonder if some cliched image based judgements are going on. 

 

And of course I agree more reason, if ever it were needed, to rely on your own experience rather than rely too much on the motoring press - but then again I haven't really attached much significance to their output since sometime around about 1983. 

 

All the same, until Skippy is brought under control it's pretty academic for me. Still hoping for a 2.0 TSI  SEL Manual though - Yes I know it's not going to happen.

 

 

 

 

Edited 29 July, 20205 yr by Octy0GG

IMHO, the Skoda has a good steering feeling. It's not ideal, but it is not bad. I am driving the 17s. 

 

It's a cruiser, so it's fine I guess. Don't stress over it too much.

I also own an Alfa Romeo, and they are World's apart in the steering sensation, but...the Alfa is a different beast. This is a elecromechanical,,..crappy steering that allows you an effortless turning, not a performance oriented machine.

I haven't tried other cars lately, but I reckon they feel the same. I have heard rumors that the Focus has a better feeling steering wheel.

The steering in my 2013 2.0TDi 4x4 estate is pretty good, as long as it is in Sport mode. Any other mode is too light for me, and harms the ability to steer steadily and progressively in corners. You absolutely need a certain minimum steering weight to be able to "keep it smooth", and Sport mode is fine for that.

 

I am worried though that the Mk 4 won't offer the same weight of steering - I haven't seen a single reference to the ability to increase the steering weight in reviews and as the OP mentions this is something that is negatively mentioned in reviews. 

 

Looking at the user manual reveals some worrying things - firstly the section on "Vehicle Driving Mode" (pp 119-120 in the one I am looking at) simply says for Individual Mode - "Individual mode allows the individual configuration of certain vehicle systems." but there is no reference to what can be controlled. Secondly and more worryingly it also says - "After switching on the ignition, the Normal mode is automatically selected."

 

On my Mk3 the selected mode retains its setting until you change it. I would hate having to always choose Individual Mode EVERY TIME I start the car.

 

One thing I have always wondered is whether it is possible to change the steering weight using VCDS or the like. When I had a Fabia you could do this, and that would very much improve things for me. I know it is an artificial thing, but it still makes a big difference to have firmer steering so that you are turning the wheel against a greater force, helping you to be more measured in your steering of the car.

 

Can anyone who has a Mk 4 let me know how this actually works?

 

Finally there is one thing which also makes a vast difference to the handling of Octavias - which is whether they have IRS or the beam axle. This is an immense difference and is the difference between a sporty car and a run-of-the-mill one. This is never referred to in the reviews I have seen, and I would love to see a review by one of the car magazines of three Octavias where the difference is beam axle, IRS, and also 4x4. From my experience I think that the 4x4 with IRS (automatic fitment with 4x4) is likely to be the sportiest, but it would be fascinating to see a formal review of this.

 

The Octavia is the only MQB platform car where this comparison could be made as far as I know (obviously 4x4 for the Golf is only for the R in the current range, in the UK at least, and I don't think Seat will be bringing any 4x4 variants to the UK).

Edited 11 August, 20205 yr by nickcoll

One further thing that makes a difference is the size of the tyres. My Octavia has 205/55x17 tyres rather than anything bigger (Continental PremiumContact 6).

 

I am sure this will be contentious, but having driven a number of (non-VRS) Octavias with different tyres I think this is the perfect size. It makes the car a bit "playful". Anything bigger/wider ruins this by increasing grip levels and hence reducing the slip angle, which means the car rolls a bit more in corners and reduces the feel through the steering wheel.

 

The new PremiumContact 6 has had amazing reviews in comparison to tyres like the PilotSport 4 and Eagle Assym F1 5, but interestingly I slightly preferred the 5 on my car, probably because the grip level was a bit lower. Although my car is a good handling car, the suspension isn't super firm and again I think the greater grip causes more roll which spoils the handling a bit. This might be different with the VRS models which will obviously be a bit firmer and more resistant to roll. A certain amount of roll is not a bad thing, but beyond a point it starts to change the handling.

2 hours ago, nickcoll said:

My Octavia has 205/55x17 tyres rather than anything bigger

 

Sorry, should be 205/55x16, of course!

I’ve watched several of the the more credible YouTube reviews recently and none mentioned poor or lifeless steering. Most were cautiously complimentary about it. Brakes were said to be good, with one believing them to have more feel than the Leon.