Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice and opinions as I compare my current car, a 2013 Skoda Octavia MK3 1.2 TSI (only 75k miles), with the possibility of switching to a Toyota Yaris MK3.

First off, I absolutely love my Skoda! It’s been a fabulous car—spacious, reliable, and perfect in so many ways. I’ve had zero issues with it since I got it a year ago, and it’s just a joy to drive (not so much uphill though). It’s petrol, and I mostly do city driving (under 3,000 miles per year). However, I’ve been having some second thoughts lately because:

1. The size of the Octavia feels a bit much for my needs (just a family of three and the parking where I live is tight).

2. My fuel economy is currently around 16 mpg, which isn’t ideal for city driving. Though I only spend around £50 a month on fuel, I feel like I could do better.

3. Most of our driving is for short trips, like school runs and errands.

 

I’ve been looking at smaller, city cars that are more fuel-efficient, reliable, and still safe—something like the Toyota Yaris MK3 caught my eye. It seems like a solid option, but I’d love to hear from people who have experience with both cars or know more about them.

To clarify, my Skoda is in great shape—I just had a full service done, so no maintenance issues are driving this decision. It’s more about whether a smaller, more efficient car would suit my lifestyle better.

What are your thoughts on the Yaris MK3 vs Octavia MK3? Any experiences, insights, or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

2 hours ago, Oct@via13 said:

My fuel economy is currently around 16 mpg, which isn’t ideal for city driving.

That's not right for any engine Octavia Mk3 - the only time I've ever had fuel economy that poor was winter city driving in my previous Audi RS4 which had a 4.2L V8 making 450PS 🤯

Overall my economy has been 24mpg over last 200miles.

I literaly do 2-5 minute drives up to 4 times a day. Once a konth I'm on a dual carriagafor 5 min. Hence consieering downsizing.

MOT done 1 month ago (no adv.) and full service done.

1 minute ago, Oct@via13 said:

I literaly do 2-5 minute drives up to 4 times a day. Once a konth I'm on a dual carriagafor 5 min. Hence consieering downsizing.

I'm not sure that with that driving profile you should be thinking about an ICE or even a hybrid and should instead be thinking about a BEV or a PHEV?

Changing cars to save a marginal amount on fuel is a false economy.  It will likely take years to recoup the money you lose on your skoda at such low mileage and the yaris probably won't be much better anyway.  As has been said, if you're looking to change look at an EV of some kind

Average speed of 9mph - I can easily beat that on a push bike. 😆

 

From what you've written it sounds like your parking situation is on the street in which case an EV is probably not a great choice right now either.

 

If that is the case then I would either stick with what you have or buy a smaller 10+ year old hatchback with a small normally aspirated petrol engine.

That's how bad is the traffic in my area. Also I live very locally to everything.... And my town is only 30k people :]

Parking in the street, correct. Victorian house.

What you suggests is exactly what I am battling with.

Also it feels bad that such a great car's potential is being wasted.

I'm leaning towards Yaris 1.33 from 2012 atm although I can see why a 2009 iption for £1500 less might be tempting, even with 10k miles on the clock 😐

Edited 2 January, 20251 yr by Oct@via13

I would also consider something like a Citigo, UP or Mii as they do 50 mpg easily and pretty cheap to run

The 1.2TSI engine isn't really that frugal as its quite an old design. We used to own one - you were lucky if on a run you got 45mpg.  In town, I never got over 30mpg and if you run it on E10, your MPG will drop through the floor (because those engines never really like E10). You might want to look at a 1.0TSI 70bhp or 90bhp Fabia if the Octavia is too big.  The three cylinder engines are far better around town and are Euro6 compliant.

I can't force myself to love Fabia MK3 for some reason. Looks like unwamted chid of Chrysler and Suzuki Swift to me. Plus it would be like getting a divorce and marrying your wife's weird cousin on the mothe's side 😅

I am still taking UP/MII into consoderation but the boot size.... And when eventually on a motorway, I am mot sure how I would feel next to lorries or in high winds 😕

Have you considered a Scala?  Smaller than an Octavia...still with the 1.0TSI engine plus they are quite rare and I think look a little bit cool.

Edited 3 January, 20251 yr by varaderoguy

Yes, I have. Double my budget (I'm not buying new) higher tax and can't really justify £10k expense for sake of driving 2.5k miles a year

5 minutes ago, Oct@via13 said:

can't really justify £10k expense for sake of driving 2.5k miles a year

So why are you even looking at different cars?

If you fit in a Yaris then fine, they are too tight a fit for me in comparison to a Fabia.

 

Not little, bear or mummy bear, daddy bear here. 

 

PS.

MINI 3 door, 1.5 3 cylinder petrol, economic.

MINI 5 doors, or Clubman are not short when it comes to parking spaces, but then parking spaces are all the same length. (well nearly all.)

Edited 3 January, 20251 yr by Ootohere

You could compromise and get an Octavia with a 1.0tsi engine. Frugal with practicality. Here is a super cheap high mileage on for sale:

11 minutes ago, varaderoguy said:

You could compromise and get an Octavia with a 1.0tsi engine. Frugal with practicality. Here is a super cheap high mileage on for sale:

1.0 with this mass won't work. I live in a very hilly area and 1.2 TSI is already struggling sometimes 😕

8 minutes ago, Oct@via13 said:

1.0 with this mass won't work. I live in a very hilly area

Don't write it off without trying it.  The 1.0TSI engine is a rocking little unit and is IMHO far more peppy than the 1.2TSI.  The 1.0TSI engine is configured for 115bhp, so should be perfectly able to take you and the family up the steep hills of Kent.  P.S. recommend a manual 6 speed - the auto's aren't as good.

Edited 3 January, 20251 yr by varaderoguy

1 hour ago, varaderoguy said:

You could compromise and get an Octavia with a 1.0tsi engine. Frugal with practicality. Here is a super cheap high mileage on for sale:

I appreciate that it is super cheap in todays stupid market but that is double the price of what a vehicle with similar mileage but half the age was worth before the stupidity started.

21 hours ago, Strebord said:

Changing cars to save a marginal amount on fuel is a false economy.  It will likely take years to recoup the money you lose on your skoda at such low mileage and the yaris probably won't be much better anyway.  As has been said, if you're looking to change look at an EV of some kind

 

You just contradicted yourself there. Doing 3000 miles a year isn't going to pay back for an EV either

With the amount of miles and short trips your doing nothing is going to give good mpg ,my vrs tsi does short trips in the week but does mid to low 20s ,the wifes 1.2 fiat 500 does a couple of miles a day and gives mid 20s ,but on a run will do mid 50s ,your cars never getting warmed up properly .

I wouldn't get hung up on fuel economy with that mileage, at best you might save £5 or £10 a month driving a much lighter car about and that is being optomistic.

 

I would just be thankfull you are not spending £50 a week. I know if I did only 3000 miles a year I would be enjoying a much more powerful car.

I

9 minutes ago, SuperbTWM said:

I wouldn't get hung up on fuel economy with that mileage, at best you might save £5 or £10 a month driving a much lighter car about and that is being optomistic.

 

I would just be thankfull you are not spending £50 a week. I know if I did only 3000 miles a year I would be enjoying a much more powerful car.

In my case that would only mean staying in traffic super-fast 😁🤣

2 hours ago, Oct@via13 said:

I live in a very hilly area

Which part of Kent do you live in to say it's very hilly?

9 hours ago, Oct@via13 said:

I live in a very hilly area

No you don't. You live in Kent, not somewhere like the edge of Kirkfield Bank, the Peak or Lake District, Snowdonia or the Scottish Highlands. I have lived in or at least visited all 6 and know what I am talking about.