Used Skoda Octavia Hatchback 2004 - 2013 review

While it may not be the most exciting car in its class to drive, the Skoda Octavia does offer a very well rounded set of credentials that make it an appealing used buy.

Its handling and road holding qualities are safe and dependable and it offers a very comfortable ride, both on the motorway and around town. The Octavia was based on the Volkswagen Golf of the same era, and its roots show through in the quality and feel of the interior which, while not quite in the same class as a Golf, aren’t that far behind.

The Octavia’s trump card, though, is in the amount of interior space it offers, with as much, if not more, rear legroom as cars from the class above. In addition, its boot is cavernous, with more room than a contemporary Ford Mondeo could muster, despite the Octavia actually being priced in line with the smaller Ford Focus.

The model range was facelifted in early 2009 with restyled lights and bumpers, plus an improved interior with better quality trim and upgraded audio and navigation options.

With a nine-year production run and a good range of petrol and diesel engines from the fuel-efficient Greenline economy model to the sporty vRS, there’s an Octavia to suit almost every budget.

If you’re not put off by an older car with higher mileage, then Skoda Octavia prices start at less than £1000, but this will buy a tired example with well over 100,000 miles on the clock.

Up the budget to £3000 to buy a 1.9 TDI with 70,000 miles, or for £5000, you can get a facelifed 1.8 TFSI with 60,000 miles.

A well-equipped 2.0TDI CR Elegance with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox will cost upwards of £6500 while the overtly sporting vRS can be bought in facelifted form for £8500, which gets you a 2010 model with 40,000 miles.

With a wide range of engines the Octavia’s official economy figures vary from 35mpg for a pre-facelift vRS petrol all the way to an impressive 74.3mpg for the Greenline II 1.6TDI CR.

Skodas also tend to perform well for real world economy; expect 45-50mpg for either the 1.9- or 2.0-litre diesels, 35-40mpg for the 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrols and an impressive 55mpg for the later 1.6-litre diesel. The smaller 1.4TSI petrol engine the can achieve more than 40mpg, too.

Road tax is free on the Greenline version, but ranges up to £270 for an older vRS model, while the vast majority of the 1.9- and 2.0-litre diesels are £110 a year to tax, though the later 1.6-litre diesels cost just £30 a year. Non-vRS petrol models range from £145 for the 1.4 TSI to £230 for an older 1.8-litre, so it’s wise to check the emissions figure for any prospective purchase before you buy.

Servicing is cheaper than many rivals, and Skoda has a fixed price scheme under which you’ll pay £149 for a minor service (10,000 miles or every 12 months) and £269 for a major service (every 20,000 miles or 24 months).

It’s worth noting that all diesel Octavias and most petrols have a timing belt that needs to be replaced every four years at a cost of £385 at a Skoda dealer, and it makes sense to replace the water pump at the same time for another £100.

Insurance costs are slightly cheaper than an equivalent Volkswagen due to Skoda’s cheaper repair costs.

With a nine-year model life there’s a host of Skoda Octavias to choose from, but our pick would be a facelifted car from 2009 onwards. An S comes with climate control, central locking, a CD player and electric front windows, while SE adds a remote alarm, alloy wheels and split-folding rear seats. Elegance has bigger alloys, cruise control and parking sensors, while the Laurin & Klement adds electric leather heated seats and metallic paint. In 2011, SE Plus was added and this is worth having for its navigation system.

Petrol engines in the facelifted models range from a 1.2- to 2.0-litre, although the latter is only fitted to the sporty vRS while diesels are either a 1.6- or 2.0-litre. However, our pick of the range is the 1.4TSI petrol which offers a great blend of performance and economy.

Our favourite Skoda Octavia: 1.4TSI SE Plus.

The most obvious competitor to the Skoda Octavia is the evergreen Volkswagen Golf, on which the Skoda is based. However, you’ll sacrifice some of the Skoda’s size and need to increase your budget for a car of the same age, spec and mileage.

For driver involvement, the Ford Focus is the obvious choice with its class-leading ride and handling. However, keep in mind that the boot is small, so you won’t have as much space as you will in many rivals, let alone the Skoda

The Vauxhall Astra betters the Focus for space, but it can’t live with the Octavia. Nevertheless, it’s quiet, smooth to drive and has a good ride, if still not up to Golf standards. Most models are well equipped, too.

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