Škoda Octavia

Škoda Octavia
Overview
Manufacturer	Škoda
Production	1996–
Body and chassis
Related	Volkswagen Golf Mk V Volkswagen Caddy Volkswagen Passat Volkswagen Touran Audi A3 SEAT León

The Škoda Octavia is a medium family car introduced in 1996 by the car manufacturer Škoda.

Mk1 - 1996 to 2004

The first generation Octavia was manufactured from 1996, and was built on the same chassis as the Audi A3 I, VW Golf IV, VW Bora/Jetta IV and SEAT León I.

The first generation Octavia had a facelift in 2001, and is still manufactured and marketed in some markets. In those markets, the first-generation Octavia is still known as Octavia, and the newer model is referred to as the new Octavia. In India, the newer model is marketed as the Laura. In Germany, and other parts of West-Europe, the older model is marketed as the Octavia TOUR, while the newer model is marketed as the Octavia. The major difference between the two is the interior. The newer one had interior that is, most people claim, way better laid out and designed with more sense, and much more resembles VW cars, rather than the dull interior of the old Škodas, that the first model has.

Mk2 - 2004 onwards

A new model was introduced in 2004 -- it is based on the platform also used by VAG cars like Audi A3 II, VW Golf V, VW Golf Plus, VW Touran and VW Passat VI. Along with a new engine range, body changes included more legroom for rear seat passengers (a weak point in the original model) and increased ground clearance at front and rear to reduce the risk of grounding on steep ramps or facing kerbs.

A SUV-version of the Octavia is expected to come on the market in 2006, under the name Octavia Cross. The estate version of the Octavia can already be delivered with four wheel drive - using the Haldex-system - which is based on a computer-controlled clutch-based center-differential.

Engines

The engines used are the same as for many other cars in the Volkswagen Group. For the 1996-2004a-versions of the Octavia, the most common engines are:

• 1.4 - 75 hp
• 1.6 - 75 hp
• 1.6 - 102 hp (8v)
• 1.8 - 125 hp
• 1.8T - 150 hp (180 hp for RS-version)
• 1.9TDI - 90/100/105/110/115/130 hp
• 1.9SDI - 75 hp
• 2.0 - 115 hp

For the second generation Octavia (2004b-):

• 1.4 MPI - 75 hp
• 1.6 MPI - 102 hp (8v)
• 1.6 FSI - 115 hp
• 2.0 FSI - 150 hp
• 2.0 FSI Turbo - 200 hp (Octavia RS 2006)
• 1.9 TDI PD - 105 hp
• 2.0 TDI - 140 hp
• 2.0 TDI - 170 hp (due 2006)

Reliability

The German automobile TV Magazine Show Auto Motor und Sport compared the Škoda Octavia with its cousin, the Volkswagen Golf Mk.5 and concluded that the Škoda Octavia was a tad better than the Volkswagen Golf owing to a little more interior space and other specific ergonomics and a relatively cheaper price.

Along with other Skodas, the Octavia has been a markedly reliable vehicle, more so than the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf with which it shares a platform. In 2006 Warranty Direct, a UK-based provider of mechanical warranties for used cars, rated Skoda the top manufacturer (above Mazda and Honda), while Audi came seventh from bottom. The Octavia specifically had a reliability index of 32.74 (lower being more reliable) while the Golf produced over the same period was 87.28 and the Audi A3 99.43.

A funny detail is that Warranty Direct said that a Lexus GS300 is like a 2VC compared to a Skoda Octavia.