Skoda Octavia First Edition Estate | Expert new car review at MotorBar

“Something that sparks more
partisanship than even Brexit is
the Crossover versus Estate debate.
As we go into 2021 let’s settle it by
saying that a decent estate wins —
it’s equally practical, cheaper to buy
and run, and nicer to drive...”

A PRIME EXAMPLE of a 'decent' estate car would be Skoda's new for 2021 family-friendly can-do (it all!) Octavia Estate. After a hard-driven week in this new Octavia there's only one thing to be said — it's almost impossible to fault.

Where to start? Looks-wise it's a classy act. 'Debonair' is a word usually associated with prestige-badged Audis but it fits this latest Octavia like a glove — styling highlights include the coupe-like rake of the rear screen with its 'sharp'-cut tail treatment while at the nose it's all rounded off harmoniously. For a family 'wagon', it's one very sleek looker…

While outside it's an eye-catcher, inside is where the real show takes place. Swing open a door and you'll discover a sophisticated and attractively-styled upscale cabin that's decidedly Audi-esque. The tastefully done slim dash gives off a premium looks, as does the classy two-spoke multifunction steering wheel with its nifty rock 'n' roll-style scroll-wheel controls, the 'floating' 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen, and the microsuede-skinned fascia bordered by satin aluminium trim (that's echoed on the doors), and the Virtual Cockpit 10.25-inch display filling the instrument panel directly ahead of the driver.

“Added to the roominess
is a feelgood driving
position that provides
first class forward vision;
rearward vision in the
frameless auto-dimming
rearview mirror is also
excellent. As is the norm,
physical buttons and
dials have been minimised, and control
of the dual-zone climate
system migrated to the
infotainment touchscreen
— not a problem as the
climate display is clear
and logical and the ‘soft’
temperature switches
are permanently on show
along the base
of the screen...”

The chairs are just that: chairs. Supportive in all the right places and upholstered in microsuede they're also effectively bolstered — as in not at all pushy but they nevertheless keep you located — and come with three-stage heating. The driver is favoured with full electric adjustability including powered lumbar support and a three-setting seat memory recall. The seats and belts are also height adjustable.

And then there's the space, starting with a full fist of headroom (even with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted) along with excellent elbow and shoulder room both inboard and outboard so either front seat occupant can enjoy the height-adjustable centre armrest. Bigfoot and his twin brother could get comfy in here!

If you've got kids (and even if you haven't) the optional (Ł1,150) full-length panoramic sunroof is a must-have item. With its powered sunblind retracted to the rear the already airy cabin is flooded with light. Better still, the large front section powers back for a real sense of bringing the outside in.

Added to the roominess is a feelgood driving position that provides first class forward vision; rearward vision in the frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror is also excellent. As is the norm, physical buttons and dials have been minimised, and control of the dual-zone climate system migrated to the infotainment touchscreen — not a problem as the climate display is clear and logical and the 'soft' temperature switches are permanently on show along the base of the touchscreen showing their current settings.

In-cabin storage is frequently on the mean side in many modern cars; but not in Skodas — special touches you rarely find in other brands include the holsters built into both front doors for compact umbrellas and neat pockets incorporated into the backs of the front seats for smartphones; yet another great touch is the USB-C slot alongside the rearview mirror for charging windscreen-mounted dash-cams and the like.

And then there's the door-length front bins wide enough to accommodate bottles, a drop-down lined dash-box to the right of the steering wheel that's perfect for compact camera-sized valuables (or just coins!), a deep front tray, dual-use siamesed cupholders, a large chillable glovebox, plus a 'jumbo' box beneath the central armrest that can also cool your snacks. Odds and ends? Bring it on!

This latest-gen Octavia's new Connect system has been designed to keep you fully connected to your online world. Featuring intelligent gesture control, the Columbus infotainment and navigation system is accessed via the large central touchscreen. Not only does it look decidedly swish but, more importantly, it displays all the information you need without any visual clutter. Graphics are bright, sharp, and logical plus there's a new voice assistant ready and eager to do your bidding.

“You don’t have to go far
to appreciate that this
Octavia has been set up
for comfort. The ride is
fluent and well insulated
from road noise — on
motorways (and in
concert with the
extremely comfortable
seats) it’s an effortless
and polished cruiser as
it wafts along at the
UK’s legal limit.
Hassle-free, long-
distance journeys are a
real pleasure in this
Skoda. B-roads are
travelled with equal
stability and grace, with
bumps and secondary
road blacktop ironed
out gracefully.
Even with the music
playing it seems quiet in
the rear cabin and
nodding off is as easy for
the humans as it is
for the family pooch...”

You also get plenty of USB ports (5 x Type C), a reassuring e-Call SOS button lets the car contact the emergency services in the event of an accident to get you the help you need, wireless Apple CarPlay (plus wired Android Auto) and the fine-looking digital Virtual Cockpit driver's instrument panel that can be customised in the blink of an eye to show exactly what information you need, from full-width live 3D mapping to digitised trad-style dials to active safety and driver assist features, with each different layout showing your driving range, roadspeed, and current rate of fuel consumption. Also fitted is a DAB radio with eight speakers.

The SE L First Edition model comes well specced and in addition to all that mentioned throughout the review you also get the latest-gen infotainment and navigation system, keyless entry (all four doors), dual-zone climate control, Drive Mode Selection, rear privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors with Manoeuvre Assist, electric parking brake with autohold, a stop-start engine button on the side of the steering column (logical given that's where most drivers are used to inserting a blade key), four one-shot (up/down) powered windows, powerfolding heated door mirrors, LED ambient cabin lighting, and a set of smart 17-inch alloy wheels.

The First Edition version bags you plenty of active safety tech starting with Front Assist with predictive pedestrian protection and emergency braking, adaptive cruise control (with 'follow to stop'), speed limiter, blind spot detection, lane assist, hill-start assist, a comprehensive suite of airbags (plus one for the driver's knees), LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED front foglights, LED rear lights, auto lights and wipes, headlight washers, and tyre pressure monitoring.

You'll find generous space for adults in the Octavia's rear cabin where, despite the sunroof reducing headroom there's still generous space on offer above your passenger's heads; leg- and knee-room are also conducive to relaxing. And when a fifth must come too, three side-by-side is definitely doable. A clever touch is the provision of eye-level smartphone storage pouches built into the front seatbacks.

Other comfort enablers include a wide, padded drop-down central armrest with pop-out cupholders, central air-vents, real-life door bins, pouches on the lower front seatbacks, comfortable backrest angles and large windows that let in plenty of light alongside widescreen views of what's going on outside the comfort zone that's the rear cabin.

You don't have to go far to appreciate that this Octavia has been set up for comfort. The ride is fluent and well insulated from road noise — on motorways (and in concert with the extremely comfortable seats) it's an effortless and polished cruiser as it wafts along at the UK's legal limit. Hassle-free, long-distance journeys are a real pleasure in this Skoda. B-roads are travelled with equal stability and grace, with bumps and secondary road blacktop ironed out gracefully. Even with the music playing it seems quiet in the rear cabin and nodding off is as easy for the humans as it is for the family pooch.

Beneath the First Edition's profiled clamshell-style bonnet lives a 1.5-litre 148bhp TSI petrol engine that's also good for a strong 184lb ft of torque — ample to endow it with agreeable punch from low revs (exactly as you'd want in an estate or when towing). The benchmark 0-62 sprint is done and dusted in a fuss-free 8.3 seconds; top speed is an autobahn-capable 139mph.

“For many choosing the
estate version, the boot
is its trump card:
you’ll be very hard
pressed to find a bigger
boot that this Octavia’s.
Accommodating a
whopping and best-in-
class 640 litres of
whatever you might want
to stuff in your boot is
just the lesser part of its
appeal — pull the release
levers in the boot to fold
down the 60:40-split rear
seats and you’LL create
a seamless loadbay that
can swallow an über-
practical 1,700 litres
of cargo...”

Once in the cruise the petrol unit is barely heard and helps make the refined Octavia an effortless cruiser. The 1.5 engine is lean and mean — officially this unit should return between 42 and 49mpg in the combined cycle but going by our hard week's testing average of 50.7mpg there's every reason to believe that less pressured drivers will regularly see numbers in the mid-fifties.

Worked by a slick and accurate six-speed manual stick-shift, this 1.5 makes a reliable and undemanding companion for lazier drivers, who prefer to Do It Themselves when it comes to cog-swapping, thanks to its ability to run uncomplainingly in higher gears at lower speeds without any juddering while still picking up willingly when asked.

You will of course be expecting decent dynamics even though you're not buying a premium-badged sportily fettled shooting brake (although this latest Skoda can give cars in that class a strong run for their money); and that's what you'll get. Just because it's predictable and safe — as you'd demand of any car that carries your family — doesn't mean it can't also be satisfying to drive. And this new Octavia is definitely up for some press-on get-me-to-the-church-on-time driving if that's what's needed.

Response to the helm is nicely progressive and precise even if the steering is a tad on the light side (which you'll give thanks for every time you park and when fighting through busy traffic) plus grip from the front is plentiful. But then the Octavia's platform-chassis is based on the one used by the latest Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf, and Seat Leon.

The chassis and suspension may be biased towards compliant comfort rather than sporty handling but it nonetheless feels planted and reassuring on both B-roads and back roads and will hold its line faithfully though the twisties. So while it can be flung around, that's not really what it's intended for — better to ratchet down the rush and simply enjoy the ride while the Octavia nonchalantly gets on with the job of delivering you to your destination refreshingly stress-free.

For many choosing the estate version, the boot is its trump card: you'll be very hard pressed to find a bigger boot that this Octavia's. Accommodating a whopping and best-in-class 640 litres of whatever you might want to stuff in your boot is just the lesser part of its appeal — pull the release levers in the boot to fold down the 60:40-split rear seats and you'll create a seamless loadbay that can swallow an über-practical 1,700 litres of cargo.

You'll also find a variable boot floor, luggage restraint system, extra pockets at the rear boot corners for smaller items, a helpful full-depth ski-hatch in the rear backrest, smooth-acting roller blind luggage cover, and a 12v power socket. Externally the versatility continues with roof bars and a 1,500kg braked towing ability. If you spend a lot of time around the back of the car then you might like to spec the optional (Ł640) automatic hands-free tailgate.

Given how much you get, this handsome Octavia 'wagon' really does punch above its weight — not only with its load-carrying abilities but with its quality, refinement, comfort, and kerb appeal. The truly big surprise, that this fine-riding, good to drive and satisfying to own family estate doesn't cost thousands more to buy, will keep you laughing all the way to the bank. ~ MotorBar

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