Skoda reveals facelifted Octavia 28 | 10 | 2016
SKODA HAS REVEALED ITS 2017 Octavia, which is scheduled to go on-sale at Scottish dealerships in February next year, with prices starting around £17,000. Order books open on February 1, with first deliveries scheduled for March.
Skoda’s bestselling model has undergone a midlife facelift, including refreshed styling — mirroring aspects of the company's Kodiaq SUV — and updates to its interior and infotainment system; the improvements apply to both the hatchback and estate.
Still based on one of the longer versions of the VW Group’s MQB chassis, the updated models keep all of the same mechanicals as before, including the three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol model which was added to the line-up earlier this year.
Related: Skoda Kodiaq to start at £21,495
The UK market will get two petrol units and two diesels. The petrols are the 1.0-litre turbo delivering 114bhp, plus a 1.4-litre turbo producing 148bhp. The diesels are a 1.6 and a 2.0 offering the same respective power figures.
Later in 2017, the range will be boosted by the addition of the Scout and vRS editions of the car; both will get their own more powerful engines.
Externally, the changes are focused at the front where the car gets revised ‘split’ headlights which closely mirror the latest family look pioneered by the Skoda Kodiaq SUV. There’s also crisp horizontal lines designed to emphasise the car’s width incorporated into a neater, lower bumper section.
Inside the new Octavia’s cabin, the developments first seen in the Kodiaq can be seen with a major overhaul to the Octavia’s infotainment system.
The range-topping Columbus, which includes satnav as standard — as does the Amundsen — gets a 9.2-inch display, the largest screen ever seen in an Octavia. Offering a wireless hotspot, it can also be ordered with a SIM card module to share high-speed broadband across the car’s occupants.
It’s also expected the new Octavia will also get the ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital instrument panel — already seen in various Audis and the VW Passat — later next year.
Skoda has also revealed the new Octavia range will include a number of all-new features, including a heated steering wheel, a removable torch in the estate’s boot, a customised key that can store multiple driver preferences, and folding tables in the backs of the front seats. Some of these will be standard, while others will be options.
The new Octavia will also feature a new trailer assistant. First featured on the VW Passat, the system takes over the steering when the car is reversing slowly while towing. The new mode will also have the option of upgrades to the Octavia’s parking systems so they can now warn of oncoming traffic when reversing out of a space.
The Octavia has always had a reputation for being a big load-carrier, and the latest model will continue that. The hatchback can stow 590 litres with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1580 litres with them down. The standard bootspace in the estate, which now has the option of an electric powered tailgate, is 610 litres, rising to 1740 litres.
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Jim McGill