Kilometres travelled
50,000 - 75,000 km
Did you buy this car new or used?
New
How much did you pay? (including all on-road costs)
47500
What were your needs when you bought this car? Has it fulfilled those needs?
I've always liked fast(ish) wagons, and was looking to downsize a bit from the Mondeo wagon we had, but with a bit of extra oomph, but without going too crazy (e.g. Audi RS6). I wanted the practicality of a big-enough car for decent loads, & an occasional tow vehicle (like the Mondeo), new technology and better economy. To date, the Octavia has done everything I wanted of it.
What were your initial thoughts about the car? Tell us why it appealed to you.
I'd been curious about Skoda RS models going back to the two earlier generations, so I had already decided I liked the concept. The combination of needing to buy a replacement wagon and having the new, even better-looking Octavia model arrive around the same time was very serendipitous. After the initial demo by the dealer I was reasonably hooked, and the test drive, plus taking the car home overnight, sealed the deal for me.
What have you discovered since owning the car?
It's a great long-distance cruiser that gets good economy (typically under 7l/100km, even fully packed), but always has enough power for hills & overtaking. It's very roomy with the back seats folded away, so it carries plenty for my needs. Skoda has nice touches like standard cargo nets, a reversible floor mat in the boot, plus details like the ice scraper/magnifier in the fuel door and the Velcro-equipped corner widget that you stick to the mat to hold boxes, etc. in place.
What do you like/dislike about the car?
Missed out on newer technology like Android Auto by a couple of years, so the navigation isn't up to modern standards & is completely out of date with respect to any new roads built in the last 4-5 years. Looks-wise, I've always had a slight issue with the size of the rear overhang on the Octavia. These are pretty minor quibbles, though; overall I think it's close to perfect for my needs.
Reliability
5
Features/technology
4
Performance/economy
5
Value for money
5
Overall rating
5
Lastly, would you buy this vehicle again?
Yes
Why would/wouldn't you buy it again?
The only reason I wouldn't buy it again is that the one I've got should last me years. We have an EV that gets used for almost all of our shorter-distance trips & I have been consciously trying to minimise my usage by cycling to work when I can. Consequently the mileage is pretty low for 7 years of ownership at around 50k. The new PHEV version of the Octavia definitely appeals; just couldn't really justify the upgrade yet - let's see what the next generation brings & I might change that view...