Skoda Octavia Hatchback (04 on) - Review Review by David Ross on 17 July 2008 Last Updated: 15 February 2011 The Skoda Octavia is one of the best family cars around. Spacious, reliable, well built and good to drive, it also comes with a great range of engines. But the Skoda's biggest strength is its value for money - it's priced competitively against the likes of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf but able to offer more interior space and impressive levels of standard equipment with all cars getting climate control and electric windows. The Octavia has been a major force in helping the growing reputation of the Czech brand. Skoda dealers have a superb reputation for customer care and the Octavia regularly tops owner satisfaction surveys. A clean and economical Greenline II version that averages 74mpg and emits 99g/km of CO2 emissions is available – making it exempt from first-year and annual road tax. It’s not just about the environmentally friendy folk though, and there's also an excellent pefromance-focused vRS version - which is covered in a separate review. It was given a bit of a refresh in 2009 with a number of styling changes to differentiate it from the previous car. These included newly shaped headlamps, new grille and bumper. The rear got a revised bumber and new lights. The interior was given a well-deserved update too, with more modern VW Group audio and sat-nav system, new steering wheel and a white backlit instrument panel. A new 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine was included in the range which, along with the existing 1.8-litre TSI enghine, was made available with the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. There’s an excellent mixture of small and efficient petrol engines as well as more economical and low-emitting diesel engines on offer. The value-for- money factor was ramped up further in 2011 with the addition of the SE Plus trim. This added 16-inch alloys, upgraded upholstery, touchscreen sat-nav, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and multi-function steering wheel – all for a substantial saving when you take into account the extra cost. Efficiency, excellent value, reliability and comfort were the factors behind the Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI S winning the 2011 Parkers Cost of Motoring New Car Award in the family car sector. The 1.6-litre TDI S model then went on to win the 2012 Parkers Cost of Motoring New Car Award in the family hatchback category. Read on for the full Skoda Octavia review… 4.5 out of 5 Other Skoda reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Owners' Reviews Gallery Company Car Costs P11D Value The price of the car excluding road tax and first registration fee. This is used to calculate company car tax. CO2 g/km The carbon dioxide emissions of the car, which decides the company car tax band into which the car falls. BIK Band The percentage band used to calculate company car tax, determined by CO2 emissions of the car. 20% Tax / 40% Tax The annual amount of company car tax payable based on the drivers income tax level, either at the basic rate or the higher rate. S 2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014 Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax 1.4 16V S 5d £13,195 149 15% £395 £791 £395 £791 1.4 TSI S 5d £14,480 148 15% £434 £868 £434 £868 1.4 TSI S 5d DSG £15,640 147 15% £469 £938 £469 £938 1.6 TDI CR S 5d £16,445 119 13% £427 £855 £427 £855 1.6 TDI CR S 5d DSG £17,605 123 18% £633 £1,267 £633 £1,267 SE 2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014 Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax 1.4 TSI SE 5d £15,490 148 15% £464 £929 £464 £929 1.4 TSI SE 5d DSG £16,650 147 15% £499 £999 £499 £999 1.6 TDI CR SE 5d £17,455 119 13% £453 £907 £453 £907 1.6 TDI CR SE 5d DSG £18,615 123 18% £670 £1,340 £670 £1,340 Elegance 2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014 Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax 1.4 TSI Elegance 5d £16,590 148 15% £497 £995 £497 £995 1.4 TSI Elegance 5d DSG £17,750 147 15% £532 £1,065 £532 £1,065 1.6 TDI CR Elegance 5d £18,555 119 13% £482 £964 £482 £964 1.6 TDI CR Elegance 5d DSG £19,715 123 18% £709 £1,419 £709 £1,419 2.0 TDI CR Elegance 5d £19,795 126 18% £712 £1,425 £712 £1,425 2.0 TDI CR Elegance 5d DSG £20,955 138 18% £754 £1,508 £754 £1,508 GreenLine II 2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014 Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax 1.6 TDI CR GreenLine II 5d £17,920 99 13% £466 £932 £466 £932 SE Plus 2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014 Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax 1.4 TSI SE Plus 5d £16,450 148 15% £493 £987 £493 £987 1.4 TSI SE Plus 5d DSG £17,610 147 15% £528 £1,056 £528 £1,056 1.6 TDI CR SE Plus 5d £18,415 119 13% £478 £957 £478 £957 1.6 TDI CR SE Plus 5d DSG £19,575 123 18% £704 £1,409 £704 £1,409 2.0 TDI CR SE Plus 5d £19,655 126 18% £707 £1,415 £707 £1,415 Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. 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