Skoda Octavia Euro NCAP 4 stars
First things first ditch all those preconceptions!
Skoda cars may well have deservedly been the butt of many a joke during the 1980s, but make no mistake the Skodas of today must not be tainted with the same brush.
As if to prove the point, more than 56,000 Top Gear readers, who rated 152 cars in the magazines annual owner satisfaction survey, voted the Skoda overall number one car manufacturer of 2006, with the Octavia itself (which Top Gear described as a masterpiece of
dependability) placed third.
Adding to the accolades, the Octavia was winner of the prestigious WhatCar? Best Small Family Car 2005 and 2006 and Best Hot Hatchback 2006 with its sporty Octavia VRS
Available in hatchback, estate and hot hatch RS the Octavia's superb build quality is an example to all. This is a practical and stylish family car with a plush ride and agile, capable handling. Shaming many more
expensive cars for its fit and finish you will be left believing youre driving a car several classes up.
There are three trim levels: Classic, Ambiente and Elegance. All models get electric windows, heated and electrically adjusted wing mirrors, CD player and adjustable steering wheel. The upper two trim
levels also come with a six-CD autochanger, electric rear windows and electrically operated door mirrors. The top-spec cars also include cruise control.
Parent company Volkswagen has made a number of its engines available for Skoda, including four petrol units, a 1.4, a 1.6 a 1.6 FSI and a 2.0 litre FSI. There are also a couple of diesels in 1.9 and 2.0 versions. Most units come with a five-speed transmission, with six-speeds on the 2.0 litre units. A tiptronic automatic is optional on the all petrol units above the 1.4 and the diesel units can be specified with the DSG twin clutch automatic system.
The cost conscious will appreciate the Octavia 1.9 TDI with its combined 57.6 mpg and 67.3 extra urban fuel consumption figures. It should even appeal to those concerned about the planet with its meagre 130g/km emissions and its VED C banding.
The Octavia estate, big enough to carry five adults- and their luggage in comfort, is robust, practical and, above all, affordable
The vRS blends performance and practicality by offering more of both. Its practical because it is big and safer, yet the 2.0 litre turbo charged engine positively sparkles as it sprints from 0 to 62mph in 7.3 seconds
and has a top speed of 149mph.
The Octavia scored four stars in the Euro NCAP crash test and comes with driver, passenger and side airbags as standard, whilst curtain bags are optional as are active headrests. ISOFIX child seat mounts, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, and electronic stability control also come as standard. All models get central locking and an immobiliser, an alarm is standard on Ambiente or Elegance trim levels otherwise it's an option.
Every Skoda comes with a 2 year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, with a third year of warranty valid up to 60,000 miles, as well as a minimum 10 year anti-perforation warranty. Despite the brands top
ratings for Mechanical Quality in JD Powers 2006 industry report, for your peace of mind Skoda also provides 3 years roadside assistance (thought provokingly called Skoda Assistance) via RAC.
It is available 24 hours a day every day of the year and as it is vehicle based anyone driving your koda may take advantage of the service. All new vehicles supplied by kodaAuto in the UK are automatically entitled to koda Assistance both in the UK and when travelling in
Europe.
About the manufacturer
Skoda say they designed their cars to have a minimal impact on the environment at all stages of their lives from manufacturing stage, usage and ultimately at the end of the vehicles life. All engineers involved in the development process are given internal guidelines and extensive information as the basis for creating
recyclable products. In addition to avoiding the use of hazardous substances, Skoda are also increasingly using recycled materials as well as labelling materials of all applicable vehicle components with their material types, to aid identification and subsequent
recycling. Documentation is prepared and made available to recycling companies to ensure environmentally friendly recycling at the end of a vehicles life. Parent company, VW Group Uk, has
formed a partnership with Cartakeback.com to provide a Government approved national network of certified dismantling companies to receive and take care of the environmentally friendly recovery of used skodas.
A large range of used parts from vehicle repairs are taken back by Skoda every year and remanufactured on an industrial scale The remanufactured parts are sold across the world with a full manufacturers guarantee under the Genuine Parts scheme. Valuable metals like platinum and rhodium are extracted from old catalytic converters and used in ones. To further increase the economic recycling of end of life vehicles, koda has developed and tested the VW-SiCon process. This allows the shredder light fraction to be processed and put to optimal usage. The first large-
scale industrial plants to use the VW-SiCon process are being built or are in the planning stages. When operational Skoda believes a recovery target of 95% for end-of-life vehicles is attainable
Skoda has also been working on reducing servicing requirements. The servicing intervals for modern models are currently up to 50,000 km, with extended servicing intervals depending on the model and the usage of the vehicle. This means the disposal of old oil and other used parts is therefore much lower
Introduction of modern FSI and TDI engines as well as the automatic DSG® direct shift gearboxs are helping to reduce fuel consumption and emission levels. Skoda is also working to increase the longevity of its vehicles as longer a vehicle can be used, the less burden there is on the limited raw material resources of the plane. It should also give owners a financial gain as well!