After the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf and the Seat Leon received their facelifts, it was the Skoda Octavia's turn.
The fourth MQB-model.
And I think, it's the most radical of the four. The nose has undergone major changes, and that's exactly what a facelift has to do.
The responses on our website were so intense, our newsdesk created a little poll if it's better looking than the pre-facelift version or not,
and it seems the public is divided. 1600 votes and the results were 50/50.
So I'm going to ask you guys now, is it better like this?
I mean you can see it in real life now, which is better than photo's of course.
I mean, I can see it in real life, you guys can see it 'realer'.
So, is the new nose an improvement or not? I think I'll go with the improvement.
The pre-facelift version was a little bit too friendly, and I think this new look gives the car a fresh impression.
There are different kinds of facelifts available. Sometimes, the changes are minimum.
New headlights, new colors available, maybe even a new engine,
but the rest stays the same. Also, it isn't problematic if I don't drive these cars for a while.
I mean, I know what personality the car had before the facelift, and personality makes the car...
Then there's the facelift which changes a lot. A car which receives this kind of facelift, has changed very much compared to its predecessor.
That can be deceiving sometimes, because some cars just slip out of my memory,
and if the facelifted version arrives in the AutoWeek-garage, I wouldn't immediately say that I'd want to go around the block with the new car.
But, if you think of the current Mazda 6, which has improved very much thanks to its update,
it was very bumpy before but the suspension is balanced out very well now.
So it's very important that I get to know the car after the facelift as well.
Right, we've got the spectrum from big facelift to small facelift, and where's the Octavia?
Here's the middle... I think it goes about here...
The personality hasn't changed, but there's just a tad more difference than with its MQB-brothers.
You can see the nose has changed a lot, more than the changes applied to the Leon or the Audi A3, if I'm honest.
The grille is different, just like the headlights. That means you can easily see if it's the pre- or post-facelift version coming your way or when it's for sale.
The same goes for the rear.
Skoda has applied a few changes in the interior as well. You can see some little updates in the form of nicer materials.
The biggest eye-catcher however, is the new multimedia system.
It looks good, it's got a nice big screen, it's very smooth to control as well.
The touchscreen of course. The system also offers good shortcuts in the menu's.
If you compare it with the facelifted Seat Leon, which also received a new multimedia system.
A different one though. It was cheaper and not as nice to work with,
and that way, Skoda distances itself from Seat.
And that's something I've been noticing for quite some time now. The Skoda Kodiaq for example,
I think that car is almost in the 'High-end'-category. You can really get very luxury equipment on board.
which makes it look good as well. That it distances itself from the Seat Ateca.
When you consider the whole range, even though we can't speak of a change in hierarchy
because Skoda wasn't necessarily placed below Seat, but the distance between those brands is increasing, and that's a chosen path.
The Octavia's position has remained the same, it's still aimed at comfort.
The cars are very comfortable, I might even say they're too soft.
I mean, I like sporty driving, but I can absolutely enjoy some comfort as well.
Of course, that's dependant on which car I'm driving at that moment.
I mean, comfort is better suited for SUV's, like the Skoda Kodiaq.
But when it comes to cars in the C-segment, I do expect more feedback from the road.
Right, it must apply to the public, because all of Skoda's cars are aimed at comfort.
Luckily I've got dynamic dampers, if I put them on sport, I'll manage.
Right, one of the most important things then; the space in the car.
For a C-segment car, you've so much space.
When you have the station version, you've got 610 litres of luggage space.
That's huge. Look at the rear seat,
you've got lots of space, a lot of legroom as well, and all that in the price range of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot 308.
Those are the cars which you'll have to compete with, and none of the competitors will top that.
When it comes to the engines, there isn't a lot of news.
There'll be 4 TSI-engines and 4 diesel-engines. Also one new automatic gearbox for the biggest diesel,
yay. That's the news. Logical, because Volkswagen spreads its engines over the whole group,
so they won't introduce a new engine exclusively for the Octavia.
Of course, they don't have to. Their engines are pretty good to start with.
This one isn't an exception, this one has got a 1.4 TSI producing 150 horsepower.
A very nice engine, it's powerful enough, on paper it's efficient enough to make it a little bit cheaper,
the rev range is pretty good as well, so it's got a lot of power in the low revs which goes on to the limiter.
A lot of you complain about the reliability of TSI's and DSG's, those statistics are clear enough,
but we can't take those in consideration when judging a new car.
This car doesn't really fail on any factor. Maybe dynamics, you shouldn't buy this if you want a dynamic drive.
If you want a real drivers car, or if you want to have driving pleasure, the Octavia isn't your car, that's clear.
Also, it's a very friendly car. It isn't really exciting, you know?
The interior, the exterior, the drive, it's just very family-based.
Toyota is a little bit more businesslike, I mean Skoda try to include those little gadgets,
the ice scraper in the fuelfillercap, the umbrella in the door, big spaces for 1,5 litre bottles in the door,
with those little things, Skoda does try to include little gadgets.
I have to give them that.
It's also very good if you need a family car on vacation, that way it really speaks to its public.