2007 Škoda Octavia 1.9 TDI Elegance Full Review,Start Up, Engine, and In Depth Tour
For more in depth reviews check my channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/avtomobil...
Filmed by: Tomaž Kožar Jesenice
The Octavia's controls are all well-weighted and gearboxes generally have a slick, robust shift. There's a wide range of engines, but smaller 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines can struggle. That's why the TDI diesels prove so popular; the 2.0-litre unit, for instance, has punchy performance and deep reserves of torque. It performs well in-gear, though the power delivery is rather sudden and engine noise is noticeable. An alternative is the 1.8 TSI, and the turbocharged 160bhp unit is a smooth, free-revving gem. Drawing from the Volkswagen Golf's platform, the Octavia handles well. The set-up is soft and there's plenty of compliancy, which gives it a decent ride. Yet the Skoda always remains composed, and body control in corners is good. Roll is contained, grip levels are high and, crucially, the steering is well weighted and communicative. The brakes are effective too - and many Octavias feature ESP stability control as standard. The ride of Sport models can provide a firm edge on some surfaces though, due to the low-profile tyres and 17-inch wheels.
Marketplace
The Octavia has long been commended in Auto Express's New Car Honours, so its ability is without question. If you're looking for a car that falls in the middle ground between the VW Golf and Ford Focus, and the Passat and Mondeo, the Skoda is the main contender. There's an attractive solidity about this car, and the design is clean and well proportioned. Details such as indicator repeaters in the mirrors give it a stylish look, while Sport models add bold bumpers and large alloys. Both five-door hatchback and estate models are available. Trim levels include Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde, plus that Sport variant which is a UK-specific model. Prices are very keen, undercutting the Golf it's based upon by some margin. But equipment levels on some models reflect this and are a bit mean.
Owning
The sense of solidity you get with the Octavia isn't just an illusion, as the panel gaps are tight and the doors shut with a reassuring thud. Inside, the simplicity and ergonomic excellence of the interior impresses; it's very easy to get on with. The driving position has a vast range of adjustment, cabin storage is well laid out and the chunky switchgear is easy to use. What's more, rear passengers have plenty of space. Roomy, robust and well designed, the Octavia's interior takes some beating. Both hatchback and estate variants are noted for their exceptionally large boots, too. The estate is bigger, seats up, than a Volvo V70! Variable service intervals reflect other VW Group cars and help stretch pitstops, while insurance ratings are one or two groups above the comparable Golf or Focus - and a little below Passats and Mondeos. Economy is good; our test 2.0 TDI averaged 43.3mpg, while the powerful 1.8 TSI returned just under 30mpg. But the best measure of how Skoda has turned around its fortunes is retained values; some Octavias retain nearly 50% after three years!The first generation Octavia put Skoda on the map, and its successor continues the good work. As before, it's based on the same set of mechanical components as the Volkswagen Golf but with a considerably larger body that offers significantly better practicality.
It looks pretty reasonable, too. The amorphous aesthetics aren't going to set pulses racing, and the hatchback's rear end looks a bit too high from some angles, but overall it's a handsome machine. The interior is well equipped and well finished, with lots of quality-feeling Volkswagen Group switchgear and reasonable quality plastics. There's plenty of room for both front and rear seat occupants, and the Octavia is a very comfortable place to spend time. The hatchback's boot is massive, the (better looking) estate version's even more so.On the road the Skoda manages to offer a good combination of comfort, refinement and performance. Granted, the chassis isn't the most involving drive in the segment, but it copes well with twisty roads and keeps the pilot well informed about what it's thinking. The compliant ride quality helps to take the edge off longer journeys, too. The only real complaint is with a bit too much wind noise finding its way into the cabin at motorway cruising speeds.
A very underpowered base engine is offered to justify the attractively low entry-level pricing. Avoid the 1.4 litre petrol unless you're happy to spend life in the slow lane. Other models give respectable performance, especially the 2.0 litre TDI diesel and the range-topping 2.0 litre TFSI turbocharged petrol engine in the vRS.
Skoda Octavia
La nuova Octavia rinnovata in estetica e prestazioni.
2007 Škoda Octavia 1.9 TDI DPF AMBIENTE Review,Start Up, Engine, and In Depth Tour
For more in depth reviews check my channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/avtomobili001?feature=mhum
Filmed by: Tomaž Kožar Jesenice
On the road price: £13,855 - £23,820
For : Robust build, simple cabin layout, punchy diesels, handling, compliant ride, huge boot
Against : Sudden power delivery of TDI models, notable omissions in spec of lesser cars
Driving
The Octavia's controls are all well-weighted and gearboxes generally have a slick, robust shift. There's a wide range of engines, but smaller 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines can struggle. That's why the TDI diesels prove so popular; the 2.0-litre unit, for instance, has punchy performance and deep reserves of torque. It performs well in-gear, though the power delivery is rather sudden and engine noise is noticeable. An alternative is the 1.8 TSI, and the turbocharged 160bhp unit is a smooth, free-revving gem. Drawing from the Volkswagen Golf's platform, the Octavia handles well. The set-up is soft and there's plenty of compliancy, which gives it a decent ride. Yet the Skoda always remains composed, and body control in corners is good. Roll is contained, grip levels are high and, crucially, the steering is well weighted and communicative. The brakes are effective too - and many Octavias feature ESP stability control as standard. The ride of Sport models can provide a firm edge on some surfaces though, due to the low-profile tyres and 17-inch wheels.
Marketplace
The Octavia has long been commended in Auto Express's New Car Honours, so its ability is without question. If you're looking for a car that falls in the middle ground between the VW Golf and Ford Focus, and the Passat and Mondeo, the Skoda is the main contender. There's an attractive solidity about this car, and the design is clean and well proportioned. Details such as indicator repeaters in the mirrors give it a stylish look, while Sport models add bold bumpers and large alloys. Both five-door hatchback and estate models are available. Trim levels include Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde, plus that Sport variant which is a UK-specific model. Prices are very keen, undercutting the Golf it's based upon by some margin. But equipment levels on some models reflect this and are a bit mean.
Owning
The sense of solidity you get with the Octavia isn't just an illusion, as the panel gaps are tight and the doors shut with a reassuring thud. Inside, the simplicity and ergonomic excellence of the interior impresses; it's very easy to get on with. The driving position has a vast range of adjustment, cabin storage is well laid out and the chunky switchgear is easy to use. What's more, rear passengers have plenty of space. Roomy, robust and well designed, the Octavia's interior takes some beating. Both hatchback and estate variants are noted for their exceptionally large boots, too. The estate is bigger, seats up, than a Volvo V70! Variable service intervals reflect other VW Group cars and help stretch pitstops, while insurance ratings are one or two groups above the comparable Golf or Focus - and a little below Passats and Mondeos. Economy is good; our test 2.0 TDI averaged 43.3mpg, while the powerful 1.8 TSI returned just under 30mpg. But the best measure of how Skoda has turned around its fortunes is retained values; some Octavias retain nearly 50% after three years!The Octavia range of liftbacks and wagons is Skoda's mainstay, essentially a VW Golf underneath a body that's larger and, according to European quality and reader surveys, better-built. Regarded over there as VW's budget brand, so far it's had but a token local presence under $30,000.
The whole range is getting extra fruit, including standard sat-nav in models from the 118TSI on up, but that's the next rung. Most of us with less than $30K of our own money to spend are after a Mazda3 or Hyundai i30 -- and that's where the new 90TSI comes in.
VALUE
At $24,990 for the entry six-speed manual liftback, this is, on a metal for money basis, the best value European car Australian money can buy. As in "made in Europe". It's near twin, VW's Golf Wagon comes out of Mexico and starts $2K dearer.
That's where the wagon version of the Octavia starts too, with the same direct-injection turbo petrol engine but a load space (580 litres backseats up, 1620 down) almost 200-litres greater than the VeeWee. That's important, because when you get to the car we drove last week -- the $29,290 Wagon with DSG - the Skoda's price advantage is a matter a few hundred bucks.
The 90TSI is no stripper, with Pyxis alloys in its chunky 15-inch Dunlop tyres, semi automatic air-con, multi-function steering wheel, trip computer, cruise control, remote locking and MP3. Essentially it's compatible with Golf's Trendline trim. A six-speed manual is standard; DSG adds $2300.
Audi R8 V10 vs Skoda Octavia 1.4 by autocar.co.uk
Audi R8 V10 or Skoda Octavia 1.4TSI. Which is faster on our wet handling circuit? It's closer than you'd expect... More videos, car reviews and news and hi-res pics at http://www.autocar.co.uk. Read the in-depth Audi R8 V10 road test at http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsHistory/Audi-R8-5.2-V10-FSI/241153/. And compare it with the Audi R8 (V8) here http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsHistory/Audi-R8-4.2-V8-FSI/225712/.
