Skoda Octavia hatchback (2013-2020): owner reviews

"Not only does it have lots of space, the Skoda Octavia is also well built and affordable to run"

Carbuyer Rating

3.8 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.1 out of 5

Advertisement

Reviews

Owner Reviews

  • 5 out of 5
  • 4 out of 5
  • 3 out of 5
  • 2 out of 5
  • 1 out of 5
thumbs up79%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

  • Other (4 cases)
  • Brakes (1 case)
  • Engine, Other (1 case)
  • Brakes, Electrics, Engine (1 case)
  • Suspension (1 case)
  • Engine (1 case)

Review 1 of 14

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.4 TSI

Year

2015

Owned

1 - 2 years

Bought Car

New

Typical MPG

54
Tell us what you think about your car?
Having never owned a Skoda before I didn't know what to expect but after doing some research and taking the car for a test drive I thought it would be a good car to own and so far it has not let me down. I've done just over 30,000 miles with no mechnical issues. The only issue I've had is with the rear washer where the water jet nozzle got blocked. Easy to fix though. Lovely car to drive. Very smooth and quiet and feels very stable on the road at all speeds. Very spacious inside, the biggest boot I've ever seen. Cheap to run. I'm still in love with the car and would happily buy another one in a few years, though I would probably get one of the new Skoda SUVs as they are easily to get in and out with my bad knees.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.4 SEL DSG hatchback

Year

2015

Avg annual mileage

5,000 – 9,999

Owned

Less than a year

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

51
Tell us what you think about your car?
Bought the car on the Internet from Happynewcar who gave excellent service , full makers warranty and no-hassle, no-haggle discount of about 20 per cent. The combination of 1.4 petrol engine and dsg is excellent, smooth and very quiet. It is a pleasure to drive particularly on long journeys where the gearing of 32 mph per 1000 rpm makes it extraordinarily smooth at 70 mph. The seats are very comfortable and the boot is fantastic. Over 4000 miles the true mpg is 51 mpg - the dashboard readings are about 7 per cent optimistic! The rear extra camera has a poor picture. The only problem has been an intermittent (and alarming) failure of the brake servo which took a while to diagnose, find the right part and fix. Simpsons of Colne have been good to deal with. It is the best car I have owned, and would buy another.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

4 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.6 TDI CR SE 5dr HATCH DSG

Year

2013

Avg annual mileage

5,000 – 9,999

Owned

1 - 2 years

Bought Car

New

Typical MPG

55
Tell us what you think about your car?
Love the car, best ride and handling I have known in over 50 years motoring - knocks spots off Volvo ( I had Volvo Estates for 25 years ). Brilliantly low fuel consumption in all conditions and when the MOT was done this week emissions were so low that the test machine could barely give a reading!! Only minor complaint is that road noise is a little high and the rear window wash is U/S - had it repaired once but now failing again. What is not good is the Skoda after care because they act as if they don't care! They sent me a reminder that the 1st MOT was due and I phoned the dealer 3 weeks before the due date to be told they couldn't find a free appointment until a week after due date; what happened to customer care? Also they sent me an invitation to extend the warranty for a year - seemed a decent deal so went online but Skoda website did not allow viewing of the support T&C etc. I used the website to send a suitable message to Skoda 10 days ago and have still not had a reply. Whilst I recommend the car the Skoda support experience is offputting.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

1 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.6 tdi

Year

2012

Avg annual mileage

More than 20,000

Owned

2 - 3 years

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

45
Tell us what you think about your car?
Had this car for just over two years from new and it's a right lemon, been back into Skoda 14 times! Yes, fourteen! Now the warranty is over I'm left high and dry. Avoid this 1.6 tdi engine at all costs, EGR valve will cost you over £1,000 to replace! Would I buy another one, well there is more chance of me walking from Lands End to John O' Groats, with broken glass in my shoes!
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.4TSi Elegance DSG

Year

2013

Avg annual mileage

0 – 4,999

Owned

Less than a year

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

47
Tell us what you think about your car?
My second Skoda. Chose petrol this time as there are too many DPF problems on diesel for low mileage users. Great spec and a definate improvement over the 2009 model I had prior to this car. Seriously quick for a 1.4 with 140PS, drives like a 2 litre. (Check the spec) Plan to keep it for five years. I ordered mine with a spare wheel and tools as it comes with can of foam otherwise. Good looking car in metallic grey and also very roomy. Liverpool dealer very customer orientated nothing too much trouble.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.2 TSi S

Year

2013

Avg annual mileage

10,000 – 14,999

Owned

Less than a year

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

51
Tell us what you think about your car?
I've done 10000 miles in this entry-level version with no issues at all. It's comfortable and spacious and does everything I need. Huge boot. Not the most rapid car I've driven but excels on the motorway and the payback comes at the pump.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.6 TDI Elegance DSG

Year

2014

Avg annual mileage

5,000 – 9,999

Owned

2 - 3 years

Bought Car

New

Typical MPG

49
Tell us what you think about your car?
I have enjoyed owning and driving this car - my 3rd Skoda Octavia. Good points: Fabulous automatic gearbox; great space; very comfortable; very reliable; economical; great load lugger with rear seats folded down; quiet for a diesel; clever features - rear wiper starts automatically when reverse gear is engaged; handy clip for displaying parking tickets; reasonably priced fixed price main dealer servicing; excellent on-board computer. Could improve: 18" wheels are a menace - too easy to 'kerb' the wheels and low profile tyres give a hard ride; cooling system gave trouble
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

1 out of 5

Car Details

Model

2.0 tdi cr

Year

2013

Avg annual mileage

More than 20,000

Owned

1 - 2 years

Bought Car

New

Typical MPG

49
Tell us what you think about your car?
This car should have replaced the excellent 54 plate model that I owned for 7 years. After 3 months it was in and out of the dealers being "repaired" after 18 months ownership and several limp mode occurrences I had to decide to return it to the dealer and get what they would give me for the car.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

ambtion 2.0 tdi 150

Year

2014

Avg annual mileage

15,000 – 19,999

Owned

Less than a year

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

5.5
Tell us what you think about your car?
I liked the interior of the car for being spacious and practical especially the boot space.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.4 TSI Elegance DSG

Year

2014

Avg annual mileage

5,000 – 9,999

Owned

Less than a year

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

40
Tell us what you think about your car?
This is my third Octavia and definitely the best yet. It's spacious and very comfortable, the petrol turbocharged 1.4 engine is nippy and well paired with a smooth 7 speed DSG automatic gearbox which makes it very easy to drive. Fuel consumption is a bit far from what Skoda declares, however I can't complain at all. In town it easily returns 30mpg while at motorway speed it's not difficult to obtain 48-50mpg. The Elegance trim is very generous and the car looks and feels much more upmarket than what the price tag may suggest. I can't really think of anything I dislike about this car. Oh yeah, perhaps the door cards are a bit too "plastic", although in general the level of quality and comfort are really good. Seats are also comfortable, however tend to be a bit hard on long journeys. I've had this car for almost 10 months and it still puts a big smile on my face every time I get a chance to use it.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

3 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.5 TSI

Year

2017

Bought Car

Used
Tell us what you think about your car?
I like the styling, the driving position is comfortable, it has good visibility and plenty of space for passengers and luggage. Unfortunately the 1.5 TSI engine, including when used in VW and SEAT models, has a fault that causes the car to jump like a kangaroo, most noticeably in first gear. In my experience it's worse in colder conditions. I have been waiting 12 months for a fix, having initially been told there is no fault. Now I am told Skoda knows about the issue. Until there's a fix, I can expect a very unpleasant drive in colder conditions.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

4 out of 5

Car Details

Model

2.0Tdi CR Elegance

Year

2014

Avg annual mileage

15,000 – 19,999

Owned

2 - 3 years

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

60
Tell us what you think about your car?
I have owned several deisel Octavias and this is definitely the best yet. I did consider other makes such as Audi and VW when I came to renew the car but they dont give the same value for money as the Skoda. Skoda have improved the quality of the interior in particular. I have only had one problem a registration plate light came loose but this was fixed under warranty. The economy has been outstanding for such a large car and on long journeys I can achieve up to 65mpg. The car is very roomy too and regularly takes a large amount of luggage, although with the seats down the step can be a little annoying when trying to get large items in. The dealer support has been first class as always. The Elegance comes well fitted but I did have the heated front seats and heated Windscreen option fitted. I also had the Race Blue metallic paint option which really looks good. The only minor downside is the fitted Sat Nav which is dreadful. I have had messages where it says "there are traffic problems on your route and an alternative cannot be recommended" ; not what you expect a Sat Nav to say!! Overall I am very pleased with this car and would definitely consider another one on renewal.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

4 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.2 SE Automatic

Year

2014

Avg annual mileage

5,000 – 9,999

Owned

2 - 3 years

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

55
Tell us what you think about your car?
Spacious, comfortable, quiet and reliable with a great auto gearbox. No problems in 20,000 miles, just one service costing £146.00 and next service not due for TWO years. Plus £30 Road Tax and average 55 mpg - what more does a driver need? Then there's the smart, unfussy interior with everything working as it should. Auto heating/ventilation, cruise control, rear parking sensors all excellent. Any criticism? Well, the suspension is not the best as it rumbles a bit on uneven surfaces but that is a minor irritation far outweighed by the rest of this brilliant, cheap to run car.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

5 out of 5

Car Details

Model

1.6 tdi DSG

Year

2013

Avg annual mileage

15,000 – 19,999

Owned

2 - 3 years

Bought Car

Used

Typical MPG

60
Tell us what you think about your car?
excellent car economical and reliable with loads of space love the 7 speed DSG would recommend it to anyone so smooth and comfortable to drive, originally considered a VW Golf diesel but after a test drive I found it a lovely car to drive the problem was the lack of space and high price for less money I got the octavia with much higher spec and a better warranty including 3 year servicing.
Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Recommended

Skoda Octavia review – the most practical family hatchback
Skoda Octavia
In-depth reviews
19 Apr 2024

Skoda Octavia review – the most practical family hatchback

Top 10 best motorway cars 2024
Top 10 best motorway cars 2023
Best cars
4 Jan 2024

Top 10 best motorway cars 2024

Top 10 best hatchbacks 2024
The best hatchbacks 2023 hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best hatchbacks 2024

London ULEZ: what is the Ultra Low Emission Zone?
ULEZ Zone
Tips and advice
21 Aug 2023

London ULEZ: what is the Ultra Low Emission Zone?

Most Popular

Engine management light: top 5 causes of amber engine warning light
Engine warning light
Tips and advice
17 Apr 2024

Engine management light: top 5 causes of amber engine warning light

Car tax rates 2024: VED explained and how to tax my car
road tax
Tips and advice
22 Apr 2024

Car tax rates 2024: VED explained and how to tax my car

The best cheap fun cars from under £5k to over £10k
Best cheap fun cars
Best cars
23 Apr 2024

The best cheap fun cars from under £5k to over £10k

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
best electric cars
Best cars
28 Mar 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024