Hello,

Here are a few thoughts after 60,000 kilometres, for anyone thinking of buying an Octavia 4.

I bought a second-hand car (Octavia 4 estate, TDI 150 hp (110 kW), DSG). It had almost all the features I was looking for. The car had clocked up almost 60,000 kilometres over four years when I bought it.

It’s safe and economical to drive (3.7 l/100 at 110 km/h on the motorway and in low/medium mountain terrain, 4.2 at 120). I like the car for its practical features and its comfort.

In short, the best car I’ve ever owned. I drive between 20,000 and 30,000 km a year.

I did, however, experience a few niggles:

- the infotainment system was completely buggy in 1810, until I applied the updates found on this forum;

- airbag and oil sensors (fault codes cleared at the dealership);

- DSG gearbox making a cracking noise when shifting to P in very hot weather (resolved with recall 37VQ);

- battery died after 6 months (it was 4 years old);

- A ‘POP’ sound near the wing mirror pillar, causing an error that resolves itself on the next start-up;

- A dried-up water droplet just in front of the front-facing camera. The dried residue sometimes triggers an error when the sun shines on it, blocking the adaptive cruise control: an error that resolves itself on the next start-up;

- the boot does not open automatically when activated with the key (a problem that is apparently well-known here).

The front tyres (Michelin CC2) were replaced at 60,000 km; I plan to replace the rear ones at around 110–120,000 km.

So, despite these minor issues, it’s a reliable model, and economical on fuel and tyres.

Edited 17 hours ago17 hr by BeaverRS

@BeaverRS Re the Recall or TPI /TSB or ''Service Action '37VQ' on a DQ381 DSG might interest many that might never of heard about this. Were you notified of a RECALL as the Registered Keeper, or did you find out when reporting an Issue. ie A Skoda Secret Service 'Recall Action'. Need to know and owners need not be told! EDIT PS. What country are you in?

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by Evolution13

List of different recalls :

https://www.octavia-rs.eu/rueckrufaktionen-feldmassnahmen/

37VQ: Software update for the gear selector control unit: In ŠKODA Octavia vehicles produced during a specific period, there is a risk that the ‘P’ (Park) position of the automatic gearbox may not be active due to a faulty magnetic contact. (12 May 2025)

Actually, it seems this recall doesn’t even relate to the problem I’d encountered with the P doing a loud noise after driving in temperatures above 35 degrees.

But it sorted it out anyway.

Where that shows iV do they mean PHEV rather than IV as in Mkl4?

iV is PHEV I think.

In fact, the photo shows a hatch on the front left-hand side of the vehicle.

@BeaverRS So is it a PHEV you have and the DSG is a DQ400-e?

1 hour ago, Evolution13 said:

Where that shows iV do they mean PHEV rather than IV as in Mkl4?

The link provided by @BeaverRS has a menu option for Generation IV, the first few lines of which translate to ...

"The Octavia IV (internal name NX) was first announced for the 125th anniversary of the Skoda brand on 05.02.2020."

So, it seems that, in Škoda parlance, IV is Mk4 and iV is the PHEV variant.

If a PHEV then it is DQ400-e DSG,s? 6 speed wet clutch with 40,000 mile Oil & Filter changes.

Mine is a TDI with DQ 381. The automatic gearbox fluid will be changed in the next few days, as it has reached 120,000 km.

Isn’t it every 60,000 kilometres (37,300 mi) for PHEVs with the DQ400e?

In the EU & with VW Group they seem unable to convert km to miles for the UK. So 40,000 miles, or with a DQ381 they say 80,000. In the USA Audi might say 36,000 miles. It is pick a number any number. Then even Dealerships employees can have not a clue what you have or when stuff needs doing. In the UK they say a DQ381 Oil filter change is not due at the first service, they would leave until 160,000 miles.

I’ll ask them when I drop the car off. In any case, I want to keep this car running for as long as possible. It’s reliable and economical – I won’t find another one like it for quite some time.