• Two diesels, three petrols available
• Plus two mild hybrids, one PHEV
• All are economical and efficient
  

Petrol engines

The Octavia’s engine selection as huge. Currently, there is a 1.0-litre, 1.0-litre mild hybrid, 1.5-litre, 1.5-litre mild hybrid and 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine, as well as a 2.0 TDI diesel offered in 116hp, 150hp and 200hp forms. Depending on the engine, they will come with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission as standard.

The entry-level 1.0-litre is a three-cylinder producing 110hp and 200Nm of torque, taking 10.8 seconds to get from 0-62mph. Top speed is 125mph. Opt for the automatic gearbox and it gets there a little quicker, with its 10.6-second 0-62mph time.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine feels less responsive low-down in the rev range than the similarly powerful 150hp diesel, but in a brief drive, we found that it’s really smooth and feels more than fast enough for most situations. It’s also a great pairing with the six-speed manual gearbox, which feels solid and positive, which is quite a contrast to the obstructive manual gearchange in the 2.0 TDI.

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Hybrid engines

Skoda’s e-Tec mild-hybrid engine is available in both 1.0 and 1.5 TSI variants. At the heart of the e-Tec powertrain is a 48-volt lithium ion battery pack and a combined belt-driven starter-alternator. The car can effectively ‘coast’ with the engine completed switched off for extended periods. When this occurs, the car’s electric motor maintains power to crucial on-board systems.

The 1.0TSI e-Tec is a very impressive piece of kit. Barely are you aware that it’s a small three-cylinder, such is its refinement, acceleration and responsiveness. It’s well up-to the brilliant Peugeot PureTech or Ford EcoBoost engines you’ll find in the rival 308 and Focus. On the motorway, there’s enough mid-range acceleration to handle steep inclines, and it was just as capable of a long distance run as the diesel model.

As well as the mild-hybrid, you can also choose the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option. The Octavia iV features a 1.4 TSI petrol engine delivering 156hp and a 48-volt electric motor. Combined they produce a total output of 204hp and develop 350Nm of torque. The engine utilises a 37Ah, 13kWh lithium-ion battery, which results in a battery-only range of up to 35 miles in the WLTP cycle.

Diesel engines

Diesel is important to Skoda buyers and the company sells plenty. There are two 2.0-litre TDI units in the line-up, offering a choice of 116hp and 150hp – the 200hp variant is limited to the vRS. Drivers who do particularly high mileage or plan to load the vast boot up to max capacity will prefer the more powerful diesel version. It’s noisier than the petrol, though not by much, and the metallic edge to its sound disappears once you’re on the move.

We ran the the lower-powered 116hp 2.0 TDI over an extended period and found that it offers a great all-round mix of quiet refinement, long range (more than 600 miles on a tank is easily achieved) and relaxed performance. The only black mark was the gearchange action of the manual six-speeder (below), which is obstructive and quite unpleasant, although it’s definitely loosening off with miles.

Although it’s not as swift as the 150hp version, in most situations the 116hp TDI provides adequate performance, but load it up with people and luggage, and it will start to struggle. The 150hp version removes all of that lethargy when fully-loaded, and it’s usefully quicker without suffering much in the fuel economy stakes.

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What’s it like to drive?

• Body control and ride comfort are excellent
• Some bodyroll as expected for a comfortable family car
• …but this is no bad thing, as the handling is very good
  

Although it’s unlikely that many people will buy a standard Octavia to throw around B-roads, it’s good to know that should you find yourself in this situation, it’s actually very capable. Steering isn’t the last word in preciseness, but it’s well-weighted and gives the driver more than enough feel.

As for enjoying the corners, we’d say that’s possible thanks to supple suspension and well-controlled damping. It feels small and responsive enough to give the driver a great deal of confidence when the corners start to tighten up. It’s no sports car, but it gives a good account of itself in the bends.

Long-distance driving comfort is where the Octavia excels. The roomy interior, excellent driving position and low overall noise levels make this a great car in which to reel off a 500-mile day of driving. The 2.0 TDI version we’ve tested passes with flying colours, although the supremely quiet Golf just pips it with lower overall wind and road noise levels.

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