Skoda Octavia review – the most practical family hatchback

Verdict – is the Skoda Octavia a good car?

In similar fashion to the 'marginal gains' approach employed by the cycling teams Skoda tends to sponsor, the latest Octavia has improved in numerous small ways. These small tweaks, along with a design that arguably makes this the best-looking Octavia yet, add up to a very strong package. The plentiful kit list for the entry-level SE Technology trim, along with the fact that it’s the most comfortable to ride in, make that version the most compelling choice of the range. It’s also incredibly practical, so if you need the most space a family hatchback has to offer, look no further.

Skoda Octavia models, specs and alternatives

Gone are the days that Skoda would be the constant butt of jokes – take for example the Skoda Octavia hatchback, one of its most popular models. It’s closely related to the well-known Volkswagen Golf, but it’s slightly bigger so it offers more practicality and it’s ever so slightly less expensive (by a few hundred pounds at the time of writing.)

While it may not be hugely cheaper than its Volkswagen counterpart like Skodas of old, the brand no longer has to make up for a budget reputation, because the Skoda Octavia has had quite the glow-up over the years. It feels well-built and spacious – so much so that it could rival cars from the class above, so the Skoda Octavia really isn’t joking.

The Octavia starts from just over £27,000 and is offered in a range of trims from base SE Technology to SportLine, so if you want yours to feel a little more special, you’re well catered-to. There’s even a hot vRS performance version to give the model some kudos.

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The Skoda Octavia underwent a facelift in 2024 that brought tweaks to the exterior. These have been more evolutionary than revolutionary, but have done a good job of keeping the Octavia modern and up to scratch without damaging its accessible appeal. More dramatic changes made it to the interior where the Octavia’s technology was modernised.

While there was once a plug-in hybrid version of the Octavia hatchback, this has long since been discontinued. If you want a plug-in hybrid Skoda you’ll now have to go for the Skoda Superb Estate or Skoda Kodiaq, while the Enyaq EV caters for those after an all-electric option – all three of those models will appeal more to company car buyers given their low (or zero in the case of the Enyaq) CO2 emissions putting them into low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax brackets.

The Octavia’s increased size used to come at the cost of quality and refinement, but that’s no longer the case. While the price gap between the two has shrunk, buyers are now also much more likely to weigh up the Octavia and Golf on their respective merits, rather than settling for any compromises with the Skoda. Indeed, anyone sitting in the back of the Octavia should enjoy its class-leading legroom, and its 600-litre boot beats those of cars from the class above.

Passengers in the front seats have never had it so good in an Octavia, especially so far as technology is concerned. There's been a push within the Volkswagen Group to make its latest interiors ‘digital’, so gauges and most physical buttons have been replaced with displays, touch-sensitive controls and improved voice recognition.

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Even the entry-level SE Technology comes with a 13-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android and MirrorLink along with heated front seats. SE L is seriously well equipped, gaining adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and 'Microsuede' upholstery as well as scrolling rear indicators. A new-for-2024 Sportline trim is likely to prove popular, looking almost indistinguishable from the vRS, but without the higher running costs and bills. 

The turbocharged engines on offer are efficient, with power spanning from 114bhp to 148bhp. Petrol engines used to start with a three-cylinder 1.0-litre TSI, but the facelift ushered in an entry-level 1.5-litre TSI, while high-mileage drivers are catered for with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine in two power outputs. Power is sent to the front wheels, and either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox is available on mild-hybrid versions. Even the petrol engines can manage around 50mpg, while the 114bhp diesel can return an impressive 66.2mpg in its most efficient guise – a figure that appeared realistic when we tested it. A plug-in hybrid Octavia iV version with an electric range of up to 43 miles was an appealing alternative, particularly for company-car drivers, however, it doesn’t appear the PHEV will make a comeback for the facelifted model.

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The Octavia isn't exactly a car you'd jump in for a Sunday drive – unless you buy the Octavia vRS we've reviewed separately – with steering that lacks feel and a touch less agility than the smaller Golf. It is comfortable though, with suspension that takes the sting out of rough roads. Even its diesel engine is refined, too, emitting relatively little noise.

Skoda owners tend to be a content bunch, consistently giving the Octavia and the brand competitive scores in our Driver Power survey. Safety should be reassuring for families, because the Octavia was awarded a five-star score from Euro NCAP in 2019, and then again in 2022 under stricter testing conditions.