Quick, reliable, comfortable and cheap
A few minor issues with rattles, but nothing major.
A good car with great performance at the price.
The handling could be improved, but is more than adequate for my limited ability.
VW Audio group quality is very apparent throughout.
So far reliability is flawless.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th July, 2005
It does nothing badly and most things well
Air conditioning needed filling but was fixed under warranty.
Throttle body slightly sticky so it revs sometimes stay at 1,000RPM instead of 850-900RPM
Rear washer pipe detached filling boot with washer fluid. I fixed this while sitting in the huge boot.
The rear seat back was rattling but I fixed it with some sticky felt pads.
I can't think of anything this car does badly.
There have been niggly little problems, but nothing that has left me stranded. After 15,000 miles it is still showing no indication of requiring a service - absolutely remarkable!
It is comfortable, easy and relaxing to drive. It is easy to park with the reversing sensors too.
Space inside is excellent and the boot is enormous. It's so big you can sit inside it comfortably which was useful when I was fixing the rear washer pipe! The Octavia boot swallows 2 shopping trolleys full of stuff with no need to fold the rear seats. I've managed to get some 1.8m interior doors in the car with the rear seats down too.
The engine is slightly noisy at tick-over when the diesel clatter is obvious, but when driving it just makes a muted hum in the background. It is not as refined as the more modern diesels like the 130 BHP TDi PD. There can be some wind noise from around the front pillars, but it only becomes intrusive at higher speeds.
The gearbox (4 speed auto) is good most of the time, and kicks down quickly enough when needed.
The brakes are good and the handling is OK as long as you remember the car is more of a cruiser than a sprinter. If you push VERY hard you can provoke slides and understeer, but it is predictable and controllable. This isn't a performance trait, more of a safety one.
I'm averaging around 48 mpg and the car has used virtually no engine oil in 15,000 miles. The front tyres are about 50% worn and the back tyres are down just a few millimetres.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th February, 2005
Good value. But - it is not as big as it looks!
After 500 km, battery warning lamp started to flash nervously. This was checked at the dealer, because we were heading 500 km east to Sweden the same day, he told us to go ahead because this had to be a minor fault, but could not tell us what it actually were.
Car went flawlessly 1000 km, problem disappeared, appeared again a few weeks later. Back to the dealer, solution found, repaired the same afternoon.
Seat belts are often slow at retracting.
Otherwise, nothing at all!
The long story written here about the flashing battery warning lamp is typical. This car seems so well built that a warning lamp makes you scream!
The ride is firm, and the road feel is good.
Small 90bhp TDI engine gives enough acceleration in all legal speeeds here in Norway.
Rear seats are not the biggest, but...
The boot is huge! Remember, it is a VW Golf with a big behind...
Good stereo system and speakers.
Fantastic mileage/diesel. Long trips to Sweden with average speed 100km/h and fully loaded car gives average 4.4 liters/100 km!
BTW: stay away from Swedish diesel. It is really lousy...
Xenon headlights, wonderful. You feel like you are lighting up an airport in the night!
Cold mornings (-25!) gives the engine a really hopeless sound, but after 5 minutes, it is ticking nicely again!
Small diesel heats cabin slowly. (wastes no energy though!)
That amount of extras (cruise control, automatic aircon, board computer, good stereo, xenon bulbs, rain sensor + + +) at that price... wow!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd February, 2005
2nd Feb 2006, 06:05
At the end of the day, you have made an excellent choice. The Skoda represents real value for money. The marque has a century old tradition of manufacturing unique and technologically advanced vehicles. The latest batch of Skoda models are ALL winners.