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Skoda Octavia hatchback (2013-2020) - Reliability & safety

The Skoda Octavia performed well in our Driver Power survey and was awarded five stars by Euro NCAP

Carbuyer Rating

3.8 out of 5

Owners Rating
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Reliability & safety Rating

4.0 out of 5

More than 200 owners have posted a review of their Skoda Octavia on Carbuyer, and almost all of them are very pleased with their cars. Topping the list of positives is reliability – only a handful of owners reported faults, and most of these were rectified under warranty.

Skoda Octavia reliability

The Skoda Octavia finished 34th overall in our 2020 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK, while Skoda itself finished a more credible fifth in the same poll. Skoda drivers weren’t impressed with their sat-nav systems, safety features or the ride and handling. They did however find their cars impressed in many other ways, such as hands free phone connectivity, interior space and practicality, reliability, build quality, stereos and touchscreens. Child friendly features and engines and gearboxes all scored well too.

Safety

The Skoda Octavia received the full five stars in Euro NCAP’s crash tests, so it’s an intrinsically safe car. While it used to lack some of the more advanced safety features found in its rivals, cars built from February 2017 are available with blind-spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alert, which warns you of obstacles when reversing.

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All models get seven airbags, electronic stability control and a system that applies the brakes after a collision, while a driver fatigue warning is standard on SE models and above. Skoda also fits the eCall system to all Octavias. This contacts the emergency services for you in the event of a collision. 

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Which Is Best?

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.5 TSI SE Technology 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £26,775

Most Economical

  • Name
    2.0 TDI SE Technology 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £29,320

Fastest

  • Name
    2.0 TSI vRS 5dr DSG
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £38,670

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

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