2017 Skoda Octavia Review
Car Tested: 2017 Skoda Octavia; Road Test No. 837; Test Location: Chandigarh
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 17.91 – 27.17 lakhs
With refreshed exteriors & improved features, the Skoda Octavia remains a favourite in its segment
Skoda entered the Indian market 16 years back with the first generation Octavia which actually sold in quite a lot of numbers and it was later replaced by the second generation of the sedan, which was brought down to India with the Laura nameplate, and then the automaker re-launched the Octavia in 2013. What we have here is a mid-life facelift of the third generation Octavia which doesn’t get many changes but keeps the product fresh.
Motor Quest: The Skoda Octavia is a very popular name in the Indian market but the first generation that was launched here sold in very good numbers and actually paved the way for the Czech automaker in India.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/35316213552/[/flickr]
Minor changes at the rear include tweaked tail-lamps and bumper
Exteriors – The Skoda Octavia carries a minimalistic design that comes with a blend of premium appeal and sportiness. The front fascia carries an aggressive look and the facelifted model here comes with a new set of LED headlamps which have a love it or hate it design, while the new grille adds some flair to the styling. You also get restyled bumpers and revised LED tail-lamps. To complete the package, the alloy wheels have also been given a new design now. The grey colour that you see here is also new and looks quite good in flesh.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/34642136904/[/flickr]
The dashboard is driver-centric and has rich quality materials
Interiors – The interior layout of the 2017 Skoda Octavia is largely similar to the older model. The layout of the dashboard continues to remain ergonomic while the centre console now houses a new infotainment system in a glass housing. The 8.0-inch touchscreen is easy to use and offers a seamless experience while the sound quality from the speakers is also crisp and clear. You also get smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Some other features on the Octavia include Driver Fatigue Detection System, ambient lighting, rearview camera, hands-free parking system and 8 airbags. The hands-free parking system makes the car steer on its own but you need to operate the accelerator and brake manually. Getting this tech to work properly requires a lot of practise because we tried it many times and it seldom worked. On one occasion it even showed perpendicular parking even though we had to park the car parallel. Also, the car’s turn indicators need to be on at the time of parking.
[flickr size=”center” float=”medium”]http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbeam/35096923520/[/flickr]
The new infotainment system is splendid to use
The Octavia has premium interiors with a long equipment list, seats are comfy
The front seats are large and supportive and comfort is very good even for long drives. You get electric adjustment for the driver’s seat only and the driving position is spot on! The instrument cluster now gets a colour MID which is also packed with info. Getting in and out of the rear seat isn’t the most comfortable. The rear bench is also decently spacious but the seat back is upright. Knee room is good while head room and shoulder space are average. The Octavia continues to get the notchback design like before. The boot is well-shaped and humongous at 590-litres which can be expanded to 1580-litres with the rear seats folded.
