What We Like
Very quiet on the go
A punchy engine despite its small capacity
Wide and deep boot space of 590 litres
Cabin is a pleasant place to be in
What We Dislike
It's not a fun car to pilot, but it's certainly very comfortable
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Czech carmaker Skoda has equipped a couple of its models with the Volkswagen Group's tried and tested 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. After all, engine downsizing is a common occurrence and the minute engine has performed well in cars like the Audi A3 Sedan, the Seat Ibiza as well as the Volkswagen Golf.
One such model is the Skoda Octavia that you see here.
Is there even enough power for the Octavia?
The Octavia here may be equipped with this small engine, but outputs are respectable. Nicely paired to the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it tosses out 114bhp and 200Nm of torque - from as low as 2,000rpm - to the front wheels. This makes for an acceleration that feels a lot faster than what the spec sheet may suggest.
Still, in reality, while the 1.4-tonne Octavia isn't going to win drag races with its 10-second century sprint timing, straining the engine isn't necessary to keep up with the pack.
1.0-litre three pot engine is capable of pumping out 114bhp and 200Nm of torque with easeYou get up to speed quite easily and effortlessly, but it's sudden overtaking manoeuvres that will have you break into a sweat. You floor the accelerator and the gearbox doesn't drop enough gears for you to garner the overtaking power.
Thankfully, the car comes with paddle shifters as standard, allowing you to manually drop a few more gears should you see the need to pass the pesky vehicle in front of you.
What else should we know about this car?
But more than just overtaking cars, the Octavia impresses with its cargo-hauling capabilities and well-insulated cabin.
The generous 590-litre boot space is wide and deepThe car will swallow five occupants with ease, thanks to a wheelbase of almost 2,700mm. Its boot, too, is enormous. At 590 litres, you can throw in a couple of Callaway and grocery bags. To put this into perspective, the Octavia's boot space supersedes even the bigger Toyota Camry's (550 litres). Knock the rear seats down and the space increases to a mind-boggling 1,580 litres.
Also mind-boggling is how quiet the drive is. Even at speeds of up to 120km/h, wind and road noise seem to be kept well at bay.
One such model is the Skoda Octavia that you see here.
Is there even enough power for the Octavia?
The Octavia here may be equipped with this small engine, but outputs are respectable. Nicely paired to the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it tosses out 114bhp and 200Nm of torque - from as low as 2,000rpm - to the front wheels. This makes for an acceleration that feels a lot faster than what the spec sheet may suggest.
Still, in reality, while the 1.4-tonne Octavia isn't going to win drag races with its 10-second century sprint timing, straining the engine isn't necessary to keep up with the pack.
Thankfully, the car comes with paddle shifters as standard, allowing you to manually drop a few more gears should you see the need to pass the pesky vehicle in front of you.
What else should we know about this car?
But more than just overtaking cars, the Octavia impresses with its cargo-hauling capabilities and well-insulated cabin.
Also mind-boggling is how quiet the drive is. Even at speeds of up to 120km/h, wind and road noise seem to be kept well at bay.
Pleasing car with pleasing features
It seems Skoda has done pretty well with its Octavia, really. Not only has it succeeded in making the car a quiet one on the go, everything in here feels good to the touch and pleasant to the eyes.
Everything is nicely laid out in here and feels good to the touchIt even comes standard with a large high-definition user-friendly 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which makes you wonder why the brand even bothered with an optional 9.2-inch one.
As if that's not enough, the Octavia also comes with features that are mostly associated with premium models. In the glovebox, for instance, air-conditioning vents are available to cool your drinks, which isn't such a bad idea in sunny Singapore.
Plus, a compartment under the passenger seat is incorporated just so you can store a foldable umbrella.
Road noise barely intrudes the cabin with its 17-inch shoes
Sounds like loads of fun, peace and laughter
There's a lot of peace and laughter about the Octavia but we wouldn't go as far as to say it's fun. You see, the car has been structured to be more comfortable and casual rather than exciting and entertaining.
Of course, we say this in an assumption that drivers are associating fun with sportiness but just because the Octavia isn't sporty, it doesn't mean that the car is incompetent. For drivers looking for something sporty, the 2.0-litre Octavia RS could be right up your alley.
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment is crisp and clearRegardless, the Octavia is certainly a car that's bang for the buck. At $112,400 (as of 19 July 2018), it's more affordable than, say, the Honda Civic Turbo. It may not be faster (on paper) but it certainly feels like it can take on cars that have larger displacement capacities.
And that's really saying a lot for a car with only a litre under its bonnet.
It seems Skoda has done pretty well with its Octavia, really. Not only has it succeeded in making the car a quiet one on the go, everything in here feels good to the touch and pleasant to the eyes.
As if that's not enough, the Octavia also comes with features that are mostly associated with premium models. In the glovebox, for instance, air-conditioning vents are available to cool your drinks, which isn't such a bad idea in sunny Singapore.
Plus, a compartment under the passenger seat is incorporated just so you can store a foldable umbrella.
Sounds like loads of fun, peace and laughter
There's a lot of peace and laughter about the Octavia but we wouldn't go as far as to say it's fun. You see, the car has been structured to be more comfortable and casual rather than exciting and entertaining.
Of course, we say this in an assumption that drivers are associating fun with sportiness but just because the Octavia isn't sporty, it doesn't mean that the car is incompetent. For drivers looking for something sporty, the 2.0-litre Octavia RS could be right up your alley.
And that's really saying a lot for a car with only a litre under its bonnet.
