It should come as little surprise that Skoda has now sold more than seven million Octavias since the 1990s. Even as the SUV continues its inexorable rise, there’s been little to touch the Skoda for sheer usability and usefulness. They’ve always been good value, they never offend anyone and, in vRS format, have offered up a good glug of performance as well. No wonder they keep getting sold.
This update for the fourth generation car focuses on the car’s key attributes, so there are even more places to store stuff (including a tablet holder for rear seat passengers), useful tech upgrades like USB-C charging and a couple of feel-good features like the ice scraper and umbrella being made from recycled materials. The keyless entry is said to be more convenient, that sort of thing. As with the related VW Golf, this Octavia gets a larger central screen (10 inches, or optionally 13), and ChatGPT will come to it soon enough. Cognac leather makes its debut in an Octavia, and very suave it looks too.
Though familiar from before (Skoda doesn’t really do radical updates to the Octavia), there are a few differences for this new version. It’s now 4,698mm long, with ‘a more dynamic look’ to the redesigned front end, a tweak to the grille, reprofiled bumpers and a fresh design for the lights. Hyper Green is still available for the more expensive Octavias.
Along with that 265hp headline output, the new vRS gets 273lb ft of torque; the seven-speed DSG is now the only transmission option, again as per the Golf. Notable upgrades this time around include ‘genuine sports exhausts’ rather than the falsies of before, engine software that ‘supports the car’s powerful sound’ (with more revs on start-up and a racier Sport mode) plus new designs of 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels.
This vRS is identifiable through a few familiar changes, including high-gloss black accents and new logo badges. The top-of-the-range model is the only one to get Matrix LED lights as standard. Inside, buyers can choose from the standard vRS Fabric Design Selection - cloth seats, red stitching, neoprene on the dash and non-animal leather door cards - or the optional vRS Suite Design Selection. This upgrades the seats and doors to Suedia microfibre and non-animal leather, with electric movement, massage and lumbar support for the former. In both interior packages, there’s Black Middle Carbon Trim, a three-spoke leather wheel (it’s two on standard Octavias), and stainless steel pedals. It’s standard vRS fare, because that’s what works (and also because 2.0-litre turbo flagships probably aren’t priority number one right now).
Klaus Zellmer, Skoda Chairman, said: “Our customers rightly expect a lot from the Octavia and this refresh takes our best-selling model to the next level. Innovations such as a fully redesigned infotainment system, new safety systems, increased use of sustainable materials and more powerful headlights make it an even better fit for everyday explorers. I’m confident our latest Octavia will surprise and delight its drivers and passengers, confirming its place as our most popular car.” Expect the facelifted car here not long after that new Golf, and potentially some good deals on old ones ahead of that arrival - this 2023 car gets the Hyper Green paint and sneaks in under £30k before negotiation.
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