Review Skoda Octavia 2022: 110TSI sedan

Remember midsize sedans? Once quite popular with small families, they have largely gone the dial-up internet route, thanks in no small part to our insatiable appetite for SUVs in Australia, which shows absolutely no sign of slowing down. 

There are just seven options left in the once-crowded segment, one of which is the Skoda Octavia, which is also available in station wagon bodystyle - another body style left by the wayside, according to the latest release of car sales data. in the crush of an SUV.

So are we rushing to SUVs and not cars like this right? Or should you reconsider the Skoda Octavia before choosing a high rider?

Let's find out, okay?

Skoda Octavia 2022: Ambitions
Safety Rating
engine's type	1.4 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	5.7l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$31,690

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

The Skoda Octavia Style 110TSI sedan starts at $37,790 per ride and is pretty well equipped for the money. It also has a station wagon sibling available for $39,260, or for more fun, a fire-breathing RS version costs $51,490 (wagon for $52,990).

Let's focus on style for a moment. Outside, it rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and gets LED headlights, sat-nav, keyless locking, LED DRLs and heated mirrors, while inside it has cloth seats, dual-zone climate control, air-conditioned glove box, push-button start. , sleek gear selector and interior lighting.

But where Skoda really shines is in the technical department, which really impresses. It starts with a 10.0-inch touchscreen equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity, allowing you to freely attach your phone to the wireless charging pad. Joining the whole package is Skoda's very nice virtual cockpit, which digitizes the driver's binnacle and adds some serious premium air to the cabin. 

Behind the wheel is an impressive Skoda virtual cockpit.

Security? There are many. But we'll get back to that in a moment.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

This is always a controversial segment. The eye of the beholder and all that. However, let's dive in. 

To me, the Skoda looks crisp and beautiful, with clean, crisp lines and a certain premium feel to the overall design language.

But…whether it's just the white tint of our test car, or the fact that midsize sedans are a little out of favor, it manages to look a bit bland and like a car that can be wholesaled for fleets from the outside.

By the way, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Many cars are redesigned and, as such, age horribly. Skoda's design, while not heart-pumping, feels timeless.

Skoda looks stylish and beautiful.

On the outside, a sort of domed "V" runs through the center of the bonnet, leading to thin headlights made up of individual clusters framed by sleek LEDs. 

The Skoda grille is a series of three-dimensional slats that protrude from the front, while the lower section is made up of black plastic mesh, giving this Octavia a slightly sporty look.

The sides of the car are adorned with two sharp creases, one at the shoulder line and one at the waistline, which also run the length of the Octavia and into the rear, and you'll find a fairly plain trunk area with sharply defined edges. corner brake lights and clear lettering on the trunk.

Skoda's design, while not heart-pumping, feels timeless.

Inside, some of the interior materials may leave something to be desired, but this is a truly modern, clean and tech-savvy space.  

The steering wheel is thick and chunky and nice to hold in your hand, the dials in the cabin make a nice tactile click when you turn them, and there's a sort of textured, layered effect on the dash with a nice mix of materials, including metallics. look at the instrument panel that goes from the passenger's side to the driver's side.

Here's the attention to detail you'll notice - even the used black plastic panel has been perforated to elevate it slightly above the standard saloon fare.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

This is a smart Skoda Octavia and the story begins in the trunk, which opens to reveal a very large and very usable 600 liter space. While it's not as deep, it's wide and long, and without our test machine equipped with a web of mesh, it had plenty of room and storage options for everything we needed to carry. 

Short answer? For me, that's all the space and memory I need. Fuck SUVs.

Ahead, the center screen is clear and easy to use, as is the secondary digital screen behind the driver's steering wheel. And there are a few other little surprises and nice features, like a panel that adjusts the volume with a touch, or Smart AC settings that offer "warm feet" or "bring in fresh air."

The central screen is clear and easy to use.

Your comfort features are up to par too: two USB ports in the front, two cupholders, plenty of headroom and plenty of shoulder room between you and the passenger next to you. 

The rear seat is impressive too, though the swept roofline does start to get in the way of headroom a bit, but knee, leg and shoulder room is really good and I suspect you could even fit a third person. this middle row of seats without too much drama. 

The back seat is impressive.

The Skoda Simply Clever has many features, such as a cell phone pocket in the seatbacks, which is part of the larger seat pocket, so you won't lose your device. There are also two ISOFIX child attachment points and two cup holders on the back.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

Skoda Octavia Style is equipped with a 1.4-liter TSI petrol engine with a power of 110 kW at 6000 rpm and 250 Nm at 1500 rpm.

According to Skoda, this is enough to accelerate to 100 km / h in nine seconds, and the top speed will be 223 km / h.

This power is fed through an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission and sent to the front wheels.

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

Skoda says its Octavia consumes 5.7 l/100 km on the combined cycle (5.9 l/100 km for the station wagon) and emits 131 g/km of CO02.

Our test car averaged 8.8L/100km over the 200-odd kilometers with the car, but I was accused of having a heavier than average foot.

It consumes 95 octane fuel and its tank holds about 45 liters of good fuel.

What is it like to drive? 7/10

Sit in the driver's seat, hit the start button, and use the cool but slightly cheap electronically controlled gear selector to select Drive, and you'll almost immediately remember why we all loved lower-riding cars. much larger than those large and often wavy SUVs of yesteryear.

This Octavia doesn't pretend to be a sports car - there's an RS for that - but the fact that you're sitting lower makes you feel closer and more connected to the road surface below you, not like you. rise above him.

You also feel like you're sitting in a Skoda and not on it, and all of this - combined with a stiffer (but not overly stiff) suspension setup, good steering and low-1500 rpm peak torque - ensures that The Octavia delivers a more engaging driving experience than its exterior design probably suggests.

However, there are some downsides, one of which is that the engine is not as smooth and quiet during takeoff as it could be, and because the power is delivered so quickly, it can also feel like it is bouncing. a bit in slow moving traffic. The downside to this, however, is that the car feels responsive, and when you're racing around a slow moving car to overtake, the power is always there when you need it. 

We took to the freeway to see how the small petrol engine handled at legal speeds, and I can tell you that long trips are also right in the Octavia's wheelhouse.

It picks up speed quickly and smoothly to 110 km/h, and although the noise in the cabin increases at speed - mainly from tires and wind - it is not too annoying and is well isolated from the sounds of other cars. Freeway driving is fantastic, and the steering feels weighted and direct, which inspires more confidence at speed.

There are more powerful cars, including those in the wider Octavia range, but to be honest, you don't need more grunt than what's on offer here, other than to show off.

A comfortable and usually thoughtful offering from Skoda, this Octavia is sure to tick a lot of boxes.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

The Skoda Octavia received a five-star ANCAP crash test rating in 2019 and comes with a host of active and passive safety features. 

The story starts with eight airbags and the usual braking and traction aids, but then moves on to more advanced stuff like AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, and a self-parking feature. .

If you want really advanced features like Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert or Lane Assist with Lane Guidance, you'll need to shell out for the optional Luxury Pack, which also comes with plenty of other goodies.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Your Octavia is covered by a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and you get five years of free roadside assistance when you have your car serviced at a Skoda dealership.

Speaking of which, service should be done every 12 months or 15,000 km, and the Skoda Service Calculator will tell you how much each service will cost. To save you the trouble, you're looking at $301, $398, $447, $634 for the first five services. 

Verdict

These are cars in their simplest form. Powerful but not too powerful, rugged but not too rugged, equipped with all the cabin technology required in 2021 and more. 

We wish it had extra safety kits as standard and reduced engine noise in the cabin under hard acceleration, but if you're buying a midsize SUV, the Octavia Style sedan has earned its place in the market. your review list before you sign these papers.