Test of the Skoda Octavia Style 2.0 TDI 150 CV DSG

Skoda He has been working for a long time so that the Octavia, his best-selling model, stop associating himself with his past as a taxi driver. It must be said that, although from many points of view he had achieved it long ago, there were still some who called him the San Benito of a taxi.

In this generation of 2020, there is no longer a doubt that it does not fit not a trace associating him with his former profession. And less with the intense red and the two-tone wheels that our tested unit carries. It is a version with the Style finish and the 150 hp TDI engine, associated with the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.

A charming design

You only have to take a look at the pictures to see that it has been converted into an attractive sedan. The discreet and functional appearance that has always characterized Skoda has been diluted with the new grille and headlights of the nose. They have even dared to add a slightly descending line to the ceiling coupé type when it reaches the rear window. Some very welcome details, among which, even more so, the rear with a sharp edge of the trunk as a spoiler.

It must be recognized that in Skoda they have known, as always, combine functionality and designbecause the aerodynamics of the 2020 Octavia is very neat. They have managed to lower the aerodynamic coefficient Cx to 0,24, which slightly favors their consumption on the highway. An improvement that has also achieved in golf, but at the cost of a somewhat lower nose, which not everyone liked.

Under the veneer of the Octavia 2020

So far the bodywork, but if we dig a little deeper, we find the well-known MQB platform. Specifically, the same one on which the Volkswagen Group's compact cars are built: the Golf, Seat Leon and Audi A3. It may seem that, with the ways that the Octavia has of a midsize saloon, this architecture stay a little short. However, Could not be farther from the truth.

This modular platform has been very well used by Skoda to achieve the most spacious car in its segment. Both the trunk and the passenger compartment are more typical of a higher segment. In addition to that, in terms of ride qualityTo say that it looks like the Audi A3 and its siblings is more of a virtue than a defect. Above all, seeing the evolution they have experienced in their latest generations.

Exterior and interior dimensions

The new Skoda Octavia it is slightly bigger than the previous one, with a total of 4,68 meters long, 1,82 meters wide and 1,47 meters high. So, as you can imagine, the inside dimensions are very good both front and back. With the driver's seat adjusted to my height (1,86m), I had plenty of legroom in the back. And I wasn't short on headroom, either, despite that slightly sloping roofline.

El trunk, as is tradition in this car, has some huge dimensions: 600 liters in normal conditions and 1.555 liters with the seats folded down. Also has takes of current of 12V, various hooks y hollow generous on both sides. The latter have the possibility of extracting the barriers that delimit them, in case you want to expand the trunk space even more.

To this must be added the Simply Clever solutions that leads our unit, like the hanging bracket for coats and delicate objects, a fixing net of luggage and buffers to delimit areas within the load surface, which are attached to the floor with a Velcro.

He also wears some seat folding controls from the loading mouth and a protective rubber surface for the bottom of the trunk. As a final climax, a full size spare wheel instead of the typical puncture repair kit that is so common these days.

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The equipment of the Skoda Octavia

The unit we have tested carries the Style finish, which is one of the tall ones, only with the RS above it. The materials consist of good and very well coupled. Their appearance is of good quality and does not give the feeling that they are going to become out of adjustment over the years (as is the case with other brands). We especially like the fabric-like material of the dashboard, although we can't say the same for the Piano Black trim, which will be hard to keep clean.

As soon as you enter, they attract attention two fundamental details of its design: the first, the palanca of the DSG change mini size. So much so, that it should no longer be called a lever. More like a button or selector, which is the same type that the trio of compacts that we mentioned before carry.

The second is that the steering wheel just carry two spokes. Although it still has a trim in the lower part, which is where it would be attached, it does not have the characteristic lower central radius. Something that does differentiate it from its platform “brothers”, who have it double and very wide.

Other than that, it's a car with a few good holes to leave objects, as usually characterizes Skoda. In addition, our unit has wireless charging in the recess of the center console and two sockets USB Type C. Also has other mobile holder as an accessory to the cup holder, although this does not fit mobiles larger than 6 inches or more.

A detail that we also liked is that the door openings do have a coating. This ensures that objects do not make noise with the vibrations of the car. Something that can be seen in the Volkswagen Golf, but not in the Seat León, although it is in the same price category.

Technology up to the occasion

Moving on to the technological section, as is normal in recent times, the touch surfaces They are gaining ground on conventional controls. Although in the case of the Octavia, not as much as in other modern cars of the VAG group. From our point of view, it is something to be thankful for, for example, that the hands of the lights are not tactile.

La touch screen is 8 or 10 inches, depending on the equipment selected (ours is the large one) and the equipment of infotainment es the top for its fluidity and ease of use. In addition, it is compatible with Android Auto and Apple Car Play. The only problem with it is that by housing a lot of features that were previously out, you end up adding one or more steps to change something that was previously simpler.

For example, the climate control disappears on many screens and must be selected before changing the temperature or the fan. Luckily we do have voice control which is a solution to not lose too much attention behind the wheel.

Clear and customizable instrumentation

La instrumentation of our Octavia is the digital (10,2-inch screen) and it is very clear, configurable and customizable. The only drawback we have found is that to restart some measurements of the on-board computer, it is not enough to keep the Set button pressed, you have to navigate through the menus until, for example, restarting consumption measurement. Again, they add more steps to a previously straightforward operation. It's not a major defect because you can automate the button combination once you've gotten used to the car.

Going back to rear seats for a moment, there we find outlets for air with temperature regulation, two other ports USB Type C and in this case, as a bonus, a household type plug capable of supplying energy to devices of up to 150 W. Which is valid for low-power electrical devices, such as some laptops.

diesel engine

The Skoda Octavia that we have tested equips the 2.0 hp 150 TDI engine. We liked it better than the TSI gasoline or microhybrid eTSI of equal power. It may not be as refined in terms of sound and smoothness as those, but the diesel retains kick and thrust characteristic of this type of engine. In addition, as the TSI have lost their nerve at high revs (due to consumption and emissions), it is not so far from them in terms of elasticity to speed up the gears.

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Engine types

This is because it is capable of delivering the 150 CV that announces between 3.000 and 4.200 rpm and to offer his pair of 360 Nm between 1.700 and 2.750 rpm. More than enough to move freely in any circumstance. speed up from 0 to 100 km / h in 8,7 seconds and its maximum speed it is 227 km/h.

In addition, it is an engine with which the Volkswagen Group leaves behind the old 'Diesel gate' scandals, because it has double injection of Adblue and better particulate filters. Thanks to this, and to its reduced consumption, one must not think that it deserves less Green label (C) than a TSI.

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Driving the 2020 Octavia

When we get behind the wheel of the Skoda Octavia 2020 TDI, that is precisely what has stood out during the test: consumption. Before going into other considerations, we anticipate that it is a car very good for highway. Perhaps it is where it behaves best, because it allows you to travel with a good sound insulation and, in the case of this TDI unit, with a very low consumption.

We have obtained a record of 4,6 liters per 100km, circulating at 120 km / h, with several overtaking treading hard. The careful aerodynamics have clearly helped this with a Cx of only 0,24. In ring roads de 90 km/h we have achieved a consumption of 3,9 l / 100 km with little traffic.

In both circumstances, the DSG change also contributes notably, which has some long developments in the last marches. At 120 km/h it moved at only 1.760 rpm and, when traveling at 90 km/h, the rev counter marked just 1.700 rpm and even 1.300 rpm when the gearbox opted for seventh gear when flat. As is logical, in the city the record has risen to 6,5 liters, also in low traffic conditions.

The change DSG 7-speed has a smooth and fast behavior, as expected in this type of transmissions. Although ECO mode tends to run the car so low on revs that the car feels too lazy.

We prefer Normal mode, which already saves a lot and responds better when we sink the pedal a little more. We didn't particularly like the Sport Mode either, because in reality it is a mid-range engine (like all diesels) and the 'kick down' at the end of the accelerator travel already offers us full power at any time.

Driving comfort and dynamics

The 2020 Skoda Octavia is a car very well balanced although, due to the use for which it is intended, tends more to comfort than to dynamism. In addition, its larger body and weight make it a less agile car than the León, Golf or A3. You can not have everything.

Even so, its cornering behavior is good and it only accuses path loss if we look for the tickling with swerves and very sudden mass changes that are not part of normal driving. The hardness-adjustable DCC suspension or the sport suspension are recommended if the owner likes to go a little more cheerful.

Tuned driving aids

The driving aids for this car are very complete, with lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, emergency braking assistant, blind spot control, signal detection, automatic lights... But at the heights we are at, having them is no longer enough, they must have a comfortable and refined demeanor. That is the case with both this Octavia and the Skoda Karoq which we also tried a while ago.

The aids are effective and do not give the feeling of being very invasive. Corrections in trajectory or speed are soft and pleasant. The only one who sometimes acts something out of place is collision warning, which detects obstacles that are not really going to be in our way because we are going to turn. An understandable and very common error, which Skoda also alleviates because the time it takes to skip the warning is completely configurable on the center screen.

Conclusions

Forget the old taxi that you may have caught on more than one occasion. The New Octavia 2020 looks more like a Passat, than those compact with a lot of trunk and low cost. It is a vehicle perfect for a family with children, who also does some other road trip. Even more so with this TDI engine that moves it comfortably.

still a car comfortable and spacious, which is also now engaging and and it comes with a very complete standard equipment. Especially in terms of security. In addition, Simply Clever solutions are a detail that always adds something of value to the Czech brand's cars. Currently part of the 17.300 euros with the basic finish and brand discounts. Although to access Style with this TDI engine You have to pay at least $29.110.

The only thing we would miss at fault in this model is the eco label, so that you have to opt for a mechanical gasoline. They are the only ones that at the moment can carry the 48V microhybridization in the Octavia. Although this is important only for those people who require a label of this type, due to traffic or parking restrictions that may exist in their city.

Skoda Octavia standard equipment

Active

• Touch screen of 8 inches
• Radius Swing
• SMART LINK function: ŠKODA Connectivity Package compatible with MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• Keyless start and central locking
• Cruise control with speed limiter
• Fatigue detector
• Front Assist with warning and braking function for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles
• Lane departure warning system
• E-Call Emergency call
• Exterior mirrors electrically adjustable and heated glass
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• 205/60 R16 92V tires
• LED main headlights
• LED taillights
• Gear lever knob in leather
• 12 volt socket in the trunk
• External, USB Type-C Data
• Covering of doors and sides in foam layer and fabric
• Leather steering wheel

Ambition

• Climate
• Radius Swing
• Audio pack: 8 speakers
• Hill Start Assist
• Front and rear sensors for parking assistance.
• Light and rain sensor
• Exterior mirrors with automatic anti-dazzle position adjustment, electrically adjustable and folding and heated
• Storage compartment in the trunk
• Leather multifunction steering wheel

Style

• Infotainment MIB III
• Voice control
• Smart link +
• Hill Start Assist
• reversing camera system
• Keyless start and lock system
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 205/55 R17 91V tires with optimized rolling resistance
• Multiple Matrix Beam
• Fog lights
• LED main headlights with variable light distribution
• Indirect lighting for indicators and control units
• Decorative inserts Silver Squares Haptik
• LED taillights, animated light functions, special design
• Interior light in the footwell front and rear

RS

• Drive mode selection and conventional dampers
• Dashboard Black, with decorative insert and stitching in Red
• Black 18-inch light-alloy wheels
• sports bumper
• Exhaust tailpipe rear, to the side
• Registration
• 225/45 R18 91Y tires
• Entry moldings on door edges
• aluminum pedals
• Sports leather multifunction steering wheel with tiptronic

Skoda Octavia prices (without discounts)

Editor's opinion

Skoda Octavia Style Gallery