The new Skoda Octavia has arrived in Ireland, and that's big news. Not only is the model the biggest driver of Skoda sales in this country (taking up to 65 per cent of all Skoda-branded sales) but it's snapping hot on the heels of its senior partner, the Volkswagen Golf.
65,000 Octavias sold in Ireland
More than 65,000 Octavias have been sold in Ireland since the model was first introduced here in 1998. Now, with this fourth generation, the Octavia is taking a predictable step up in both size and classiness. But not, somewhat surprisingly, in price. In fact, the cost of a basic Active-spec Octavia, fitted with the 1.0-litre TSI turbo petrol engine, has gone up by €1,925 to €23,950 but, says Skoda Ireland, it now comes with €3,200 worth of extra standard equipment compared to the outgoing model.
That standard kit list includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lights front and rear, electric windows all round, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, air conditioning, keyless ignition, front collision assist and lane-keeping steering, and a hill-hold clutch.
The Octavia will launch with a choice of four engines. There are two versions of the 1.0-litre TSI turbo petrol three-cylinder unit, either a version with a manual gearbox, or a DSG automatic that also comes with mild-hybrid assistance. The MHEV version starts in Ambition trim and has a basic price of €28,250.
Two diesel options
There are also two diesels, both 2.0-litre units, with either 115hp or 150hp. €28,750 will get you a 115hp version in Ambition trim, while for a 150hp unit you'll have to trade up to a Style version, and an automatic gearbox, bringing the price to €35,250. In spite of the waning appeal of diesel, a majority of Skoda customers in Ireland still go for DERV power, and Skoda says that those customers appreciate both the engines' reliability and low-down grunt, and defends their continued development by pointing out their twin-dosing AdBlue systems (which dramatically cuts NOX emissions) and their low CO2 rating.
More engine options will follow on, including a 1.5-litre TSI petrol and a 200hp plug-in hybrid model. There will also be a full family of sporty RS versions, including petrol, diesel, and for the first time, a plug-in hybrid RS with 245hp.
The Octavia is being introduced to Ireland with a special 2.9 per cent APR PCP finance plan (or a 3.9 per cent Hire Purchase plan) and monthly repayments start from €239.
High-tech equipment
Options include a full ten-inch touchscreen, a fabric-trimmed dashboard, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections, and a 12-inch digital instrument panel. You can also integrate digital voice assistants such as Amazon's Alexa, or Apple's Siri into the system, or use Skoda's own, home-grown digital assistant; Laura. There's also a sat-nav that can be partly controlled with hand gestures, so if you're a person called Laura who likes to wave their hands around when talking, maybe consider your Octavia spec carefully.
Other high-tech options include active cruise control, a 'top view' parking camera system, a heads-up display, a traffic jam assistant, and emergency autonomous braking that can detect both pedestrians and cyclists.
The new Octavia is a little bigger than before - 19mm longer overall, and 15mm wider, with a 20mm longer wheelbase. The boot - and the Octavia has always been one of the most practical cars you can buy - has grown to a capacious 600 litres in the fastback saloon, and a positively humungous 630 litres in the Combi estate.
Skoda Ireland expects to sell 2,450 Octavias next year, in the car's first full year in Ireland, with a sales split of 54 per cent diesel, 40 per cent petrol, and six per cent PHEV. 89 per cent of customers are expected to go for the hatchback, with 11 per cent buying an estate. Style specification is set to be the best seller, with only three per cent plumping for the well-equipped basic Active model. For those customers who want to do as much of their car-buying online as possible, Skoda Ireland is updating its online configurator for the new Octavia, as well as introducing a function that allows buyers to look at what current vehicles each dealer has in stock.