Skoda Octavia (2013-2016)

By Jonathan Crouch

Models Covered

5DR HATCH, 5DR ESTATE (1.6 MPI, 1.2 TSI, 1.0 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 2.0 TSI PETROL / 1.6 TDI, 2.0 TDI DIESEL)

Introduction

A Skoda Octavia was once the least sophisticated of all the Volkswagen Group’s family hatchback products. That wasn’t the case by the time this MK3 model Octavia came along on 2013. Almost nothing was held back for this third generation version. It was still bigger and better value than most of its rivals, a Mondeo-sized medium range hatch for the price of a Focus-sized one. But the difference with this third generation design was that it was finally clever enough to change the way that cynics thought about Skoda. Let’s Czech it out as a used buy.

The History

You can trace the Skoda success story of the last few decades back to the original launch of one model: this one – the Octavia. Right from its very first appearance in 1996, this has been a car that’s always super-sized its value proposition, offering more space than the class norm. For first and second generation versions, that class saw competition amongst Focus and Astra-class family hatches. This MK3 model though, took a step up in the world, virtually big enough to compete with Mondeos and Insignias in the larger medium range segment.

An Octavia then, that was usefully larger than ever before – and cleverer too – as it had to be to distance itself from the simpler, smaller Skoda Rapid model that hit the market a few months before this car arrived in the Spring of 2013. The Rapid is the car to choose for Skoda motoring as it used to be, light on frills and cutting-edge technology but solid, reliable, value-laden and built to last. This Octavia, in contrast, was more of a signpost to the kind of direction the Czech brand wanted to go in the future: one sharing the very latest technology with more luxurious brands in the Volkswagen Group stable.

There was a price tag to go with that of course, but it was one that still offered an affordable way into state-of-the-art thinking, most notably the hi-tech ‘MQB’ platform this car shares with SEAT’s Leon, Volkswagen’s 7th generation Golf and even the pricey Audi A3. Underpinnings that allow the kind of technology and roadgoing dynamics that back in 2013, buyers had simply never seen in a Skoda before. An Octavia then, that was guaranteed to surprise those familiar with the brand and others new to it. This car sold until 2017 when it was facelifted inside and out. It’s the pre-facelift 2013 to 2016 hatch and estate models we concentrate on here.

What To Look For

Skoda had ironed out quite a few problems common to earlier Octavias by the time it came to this Mk3 model but inevitably, a few issues have persisted and we found a few of them during our ownership survey. One owner complained of an acoustic resonance over rough surfaces and said his car had an engine vibration that could be felt through the steering wheel at around 3,500 revs. Another recognised problem is the way that this MK3 model collects water that gets trapped at the bottom of the front doors.

Other issues? Well one owner complained that the sat nav kept locking up and had to be continually restarted. Another reported a door controller failure. There were air conditioning compressor/pump problems and on one car, the rear door seals came apart. There was an issue for one owner with the front headlamp washers – they had to be re-set in order top work properly. On another car, the dual mass flywheel had to be expensively replaced and the gear selector kept sticking in reverse gear.

On The Road

As with the Volkswagen Golf and the SEAT Leon, the German engineers who created this car took a pragmatic approach to driving dynamics, deciding that drivers opting for lower order engines wouldn’t care too much about cutting edge handling response. So the sophisticated multilink rear suspension is reserved for the performance-oriented vRS models, the most powerful of which uses the 2.0-litre TSI petrol unit borrowed from the Golf GTI.

Most used car buyers will focus though, on the mainstream variants that are all suspended with a much humbler torsion beam arrangement. It’s disappointing to find such a simple set-up in lower order Golfs but it seems to matter a lot less in this Octavia. Partly because you’re less likely to approach this car and want to throw it about. And partly because the simple suspension set-up isn’t detrimental to ride quality: on the contrary, it’s very good, even over very poor surfaces. As a result, this is a restful car to use and a great long journeying companion.

Overall

This third generation Octavia was an altogether more sophisticated thing, a car you can electronically tweak to suit both your mood and the road you’re on. A Skoda that can automatically park itself, brake itself or dip its own headlights. A Skoda in fact that can do everything you’d expect a comparable Audi to do – at a substantial price saving.

There’s a cost for that of course: don’t expect one of these to be super-cheap on the used market – in the way that family-minded Skodas used to be. But you’re getting a lot more for your money with this MK3 model Octavia. If you doubt that, then try one. It might surprise you.