The fourth generation of the Skoda Octavia was unveiled outside of an auto show and several months before actually going on sale.
With a lineage that make its by far the most successful Skoda model in history, the new Octavia is now larger in almost every respect compared to its predecessor, while new connectivity and assistance systems have found themselves being part of its new package.

The hatchback sedan is now 19 mm longer and 15 mm wider than the old Octavia. Thanks to the larger dimensions, the already gigantic luggage compartment space has also improved to 600 liters, or 10 liters more than before. The entirely new exterior design now features narrower headlights with LED technology for the low beam, high beam and daylight driving lights as standard and the sculpted shape makes way for a drag coefficient of just 0.24, one of the lowest in its segment. Its newly designed interior features a multi-level dashboard with LED ambient lighting and features a free-standing central display. A head-up display system is optional for the first time in a Skoda model. A new two-spoke steering wheel can be customized depending on trim level with heating and/or new control buttons with knurled scroll wheels, making it truly multi-function.

Skoda continued the Octavia saga in 2017 by introducing the third-generation facelift, which surprised the customers with its design.
The Octavia was one of the most successful cars built by the Czech carmaker Skoda, and it used the MQB platform, which Volkswagen used for many other vehicles within the group, such as the Golf VII, the Audi A3, or the Seat Leon.

One of the most controversial parts of the car was its front, where Octavia featured a split headlight design. Some considered that it resembled those installed on the Mercedes-Benz’ E-Class from the same period, but Skoda claimed it followed the cubist-design style. A wide grille with black vertical slats filled the space between them and featured a small dent on its top for the badge. Even though it looked like a sedan, the Octavia was still a hatchback with a long and sloped tailgate. Its clear-cut rear taillights featured smoked lenses.

Inside, Skoda installed new infotainment units with up to 9.2” touch-screen displays, depending on the trim level. It also allowed 4G/LTE connectivity and featured a 64Gb internal flash memory. The Czech carmaker made a significant step forward on car connectivity by adding the Skoda Connect app, which allowed the driver to remotely check the windows or the fuel level from a smartphone. The 2017 Octavia also featured improved active and passive safety systems, such as traffic sign recognition or City Emergency Brake, including Pedestrian Protection.

Under the hood, Skoda replaced the former 1.2-liter gasoline units with an even smaller, 1.0-liter turbocharged engine. For turbo-diesel units, it limited its offer to just two instead of five as the non-facelifted version.

Skoda Octavia 2013 is set to go on sale in March 2013, and prices are expected to go up slightly, when compared to the current car, yet the difference will not be huge.
The increase in price is justified, though, as the Octavia is a very modern car, with great quality interior, great engines, a surprisingly stylish and well-proportioned body and lots of equipment.

It measures 4.65 meters in length, and is about 90 mm longer than the outgoing model, despite the fact that with the new styling, it looks to be as big as Skoda’s flaghsip, the Superb. Still, it is considerably shorter than that car, and 125 mm shorter than the Ford Mondeo, for instance. One of its many positive attributes is the sheer amount of interior space, an area where it trumps all of its rivals without a second thought.

The engine range will be carried over from the Golf, with some exceptions probably, but it will get most of the good stuff. Also, a hot vRS model is also set to make its debut next year, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, in July. The estate version, which you can see here, will arrive in May of 2014, along with optional four-wheel drive, yet we do not know if it will only be available on the estate, like on the old model.

Skoda, part of the VW Group that was one of the most respectable car maker in Europe, decided it was time for a refreshed designed of their best-seller.
Both the exterior and the interior were redesigned, as well as new technologies became available for the facelift version.

From the front, the headlamps became bolder, the radiator grille was restyled and made more robust. At the rear, new lamp covers and a new bumper were the major changes.

For the interior, a new better audio system was offered altogether with a new navigation system.

The quality of the materials used was increased and the steering wheel with the dashboard and the HVAC controls were redesigned. New fabric upholstery was available.

Safety wise, the experience was enhanced with the new adaptive xenon headlamps and the addition of the WOKS headrests for a rear impact better protection.

A new engine was brought in 2009, a 1.4-liter TSI developing 90 kW. The other engine options were the 1.4-liter turbocharged powerplant and the 1.6-liter gasoline, both optionally mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The Octavia, while it was not the most stylish car on the market nor the most equipped with advanced technologies, it was one of the roomiest and most economical, comfortable and easy to live with vehicle, all at a good price.

Skoda unveiled the second generation of the Octavia at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, and it proved that the success recorded with its predecessor was not an accident.
Built on the PQ35 platform used by the Volkswagen Golf V, the Octavia II was a significant step forward for the Czech carmaker. While the first generation looked more like a budget car, its successor was already in a different league. Volkswagen already prepared Skoda to compete against more notorious carmakers such as Renault, Opel, or Fiat. Skoda was no longer the Cinderella of the VW group.

The Octavia featured a bolder front fascia with a tilted backward grille with vertical slats. Its wedged-shaped headlights followed the cubism design trend and created a corporate identity to the Czech carmaker. Like its predecessor, it featured a hatchback-style bodywork with a sloped liftgate at the back. Its taillights sported a clear C-shaped reversing light, which stood from “Clever”.

Inside, it was bigger than some mid-size sedans on the market. At the front, the new dashboard featured curved lines and aluminum trims on the door panels and the center stack. Its center console was tall and sported a decent storage compartment and the gear-stick (or the gear selector for the automatic transmission version). The Octavia offered seating for five with two bucket seats at the front and a split-folding bench in the rear, which expanded the trunk from 560 liters (19.8 cu-ft) to 1,420 liters (50.1 cu-ft).

Under the hood, Skoda offered a choice of seven engines carried over from Volkswagen. The carmaker paired them with either a manual or an automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox, depending on the trim level and power.

The first generation of Skoda Octavia was born in 1997 and was entirely based on the Volkswagen Group A4 platform, similar to Audi TT, Audi A3, Volkswagen Bora, Volkswagen New Beetle, Seat Leon or Seat Toledo.
This first range of Octavia models was equipped with almost the same engines as the ones installed on Volkswagen’s cars, ranging between 1.4 and 2.0 liter gasoline and diesel. These engines could produce between 59 and 180 horsepower. The 5-door liftback received a facelift in 2000 when the Czech manufacturer modified a couple of interior and exterior elements.