Well,
to be honest it isn't really like a Golf at all, it doesn't have a hatchback
for starters, it’s a sedan so it’s more like the sedan version of the Golf, the
Jetta. And what ‘It’ is, is the new Skoda Octavia. A honest, no frills family
sedan set to take on the Toyota Camry, Ford Mondeo and the new Mazda 6.
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| 2013 Skoda Octavia - Pretty isn't it? |
It’s
bigger in every possible area than the car it replaces so you, your children
and your dog, or cat – if that’s your thing – will be more comfortable. There’s
more space to put your knee’s, head, shoulders and a bigger boot that will accommodate
the mother in law superbly. All this added space in a car that was never really
a tight squeeze.
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| 2013 Skoda Octavia - Short overhangs suggest lithe handling. |
And
despite the extra space, the new Octavia weighs around 100kg less than the
model it replaces thanks to the new MQB platform that underpins it, and the Golf,
and a million other Volkswagen group models. The new Octavia will be available
with a range of petrol and diesel engines kicking off with the dull reading
81kw 1.6-liter TDI which is capable of delivering a very frugal 3.4l/100km, also
expected to form the engine line up are a 90kw petrol, 103kw petrol and a 110kw
diesel. These engines will be mated to a 6-speed manual or an optional 7-speed
DSG box to put all that raw power through the front wheels and to the ground in
a controlled and sophisticated manner.
A RS
all-wheel-drive model has also been confirmed to be in the works, and is
expected to make use of a slightly detuned version of the Golf GTI’s 2.0-liter
petrol motor which should make for a more thrilling drive, expect around
150kw/350nm and 7 second 0-100kph dash.
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| Front end takes subtle hints from the Jetta, but somehow looks ten times better.. |
The
new Octavia will come with a raft of new technology and safety equipment. The
new car can be optioned to have up to nine airbags, although we would expect
the standard specification for Australia
to include the nine airbags due to our strict safety requirements. There is
also a radar guided cruise control feature, touch screen infotainment system,
push button start, panoramic sunroof, high beam assist, traffic sign
recognition, lane assist, and a fatigue detection assist. That’s a lot of
assists. And the kind of assists you would normally only find in much more high
end cars double the price of the Skoda, and these are options from a brand that
not long ago offered a rubbish bin and floor mats as optional extras. It shows
that the brand is definitely trying to improve its global image and compete
more directly with its Volkswagen cousins. Skoda reckons its “customers
expectations have grown. And this is reflected in the values of the new Octavia
– it is a class of its own”. The interior certainly looks more up market than
it did before and shows that Skoda is definitely moving in the right direction.
Getting former Audi designer Jozef Kaban on board was clearly a good move,
because this new car despite focusing on practicality it is no doubt an
attractive looking car.
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| Interiors not bad either... |
So
back to my bold claim about the new Skoda Octavia being better than a VW Jetta.
It’s simple, the Octavia is better equipped, uses the same chassis, engines,
and gearboxes as the Jetta – in fact the current Jetta hasn’t yet been updated
to use the new MQB platform - it’s far less expensive, just as well built, and
to these eyes its prettier too. So if you can look past the badge snobbery and
give up that beloved Volkswagen badge for something that looks like a seahorse
head it really is a no brainer.
Expect
to see the new Octavia in Australian showrooms mid 2013 priced from around
$25,000, a wagon version will follow late in 2013, and a high riding ‘Scout’
version – similar to the new Audi A4 Allroad – is expected to be released in
2014.
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