It’s not been that long since Octavia, the much popular sedan from Skoda, got a thorough refresh in India, as to not talk about it here on VroomHead…
The Octavia is undoubtedly that one model from Skoda, which had introduced the then-ignorant Indians to the fascinating European driving culture back in 2001, and had thus given the brand robust recognition here in the country.
The numerous introductions and abolitions of its various generations over time have all but missed out in hampering Octavia’s rising popularity among the Indian motoring community. This time-proven machine had gotten the latest of its makeovers sometime last year and we are now to drive one of these, to shed more light on the changes…
DESIGN
What has happened is not anything close to wee tweaks over the skin, but a comprehensive rework of the overall design. The new car has a sharper design with more prominent body lines and a front end that now looks way too radical for an Octavia, thanks to the ‘weird yet catchy’ split headlamp design and the pronounced butterfly- shaped ‘family grille’ that flaunts the elegance of black puissance! The headlamps are adaptive all LED units and get an auto-dimming feature on the higher trims. The LED fog lamps on the well-sculpted bumper, get integrated cornering lamps and have a strip of chrome running between them.
Save for the new 16 inch wheels, the side profile seems untouched. At the rear, changes are confined to a slightly revised bumper and a new pair of tail lamps.
INTERIOR:
Hop in and you will see a plush cabin flaunting all the flair of a typical European model all around. Finished in a dual tone scheme of beige and black, the cabin has bits of chrome and glossy black surfaces to give it the elan that it deserves.
The infotainment system that comes with modern-day connectivity bits like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link, now hosts touch sensitive controls instead of conventional switchgear. The electric sunroof lets more light into the cabin, making it more pleasing a place to be in.
The steering wheel and the instrument cluster have been revised on the new car and an 8 colour choosable ambient lighting system, has also been introduced into the cabin. Ample numbers of cubby holes, cup holders and a spacious boot are all helpful in the daily commute and special mention here goes to one of Skoda’s signature ‘clever bits’- the easy access door to the boot that the rear passengers get to make use of, as well.
DRIVE:
There have been just minimal tweaks on the mechanical front and the three familiar powerhouses from the previous generation, viz, 1.4 TSI petrol, 1.8 TSI petrol, and 2.0l diesel have all been carried forward to the new car. The car that we have here comes powered by a 2.0l diesel motor that churns out as much as 143 PS and 320 Nm. The peppy engine along with the 6 speed DSG (There are also a 6-speed manual box on offer on the lower trims, and a fun to drive 7 speed DSG as well) ensures state of the art driving pleasure. The suspension has been tuned for increased ride comfort without hampering the high-speed stability much. The brakes work really well in helping the car shed speeds real quickly.
The 2017 Skoda Octavia offers you an efficiency of as much as 19.5 kmpl and you can grab yours at around 25 lakhs (Ex.showroom).
VH NOTE:
With added equipment and pronounced cosmetic upgrades, the new Octavia has definitely succeeded in getting past its age pretty much unharmed!
Testdrive vehicle provided by: Manikandan Skoda, Kochi. 04842334030
Before you move on to our Mercedes Benz C43 AMG review, have a look at this video of the 2017 Skoda Octavia.
