That’s right, it’s the facelift time for the 4th gen Skoda Octavia lineup, because you know, you gotta keep things fresh to keep up with the competition. Pricing and availability information are not available yet, but your local dealer might be able to divulge. But in the meantime, let’s take a look at what’s all the hoopla.
As you might expect, the variants include the regular Octavia, the Octavia Sportline, and of course, the Octavia RS, all available in liftback and Combi (estate) bodystyles. The most obvious change you can notice is on the front of the car, where you’ll find new headlights with a more pointy running light signatures. The headlights featured here are the optional Matrix LED headlights featuring 36 segments instead of 24 in the past. Apparently, these new headlights are good enough to send the fog lights on the bumper home. So, what do those who don’t opt for these lights get on the bumper? Well, probably nothing.
The Octavia RS attempts to look even more sportier than before with more angular shapes that can put a Lamborghini to shame. I mean, don’t be surprised if Skoda poached one of the junior designers from Lamborghini for this. But anyway, as you can see, there are new wheel designs as well. The base model rides on 16-inch wheels, but for RS, the buyers can choose from 18-inch ‘Lerna’ or 19-inch ‘Elias’ wheels.
So, what’s new on the inside? Well, the buyers can opt for a larger 13-inch touchscreen, while a 10-inch unit is now standard. Dual-zone climate control, more powerful USB-C ports, and an improved Kessy keyless lock system are also part of the standard equipment. Buyers can choose from up to 9 interior themes, and there’s also an option to go for ergonomic seats with AGR certification and massage function. And, the leather material used inside is tanned with a special extract from the leaves of olive trees, as opposed to using chemicals. The use of this ‘Olivenleder’ supposedly makes Octavia’s interior more sustainable.
10-inch digital cluster called “Virtual Cockpit”
As for the ADAS upgrades, Skoda has included the new Intelligent Park Assist and Remote Park Assist. There’s also the new Driver Alert system which no longer works with data on steering wheel movements alone – it monitors information from multiple sources and can distinguish between short-term inattention and actual fatigue.
Skoda also said that the AI-based ChatGPT chatbot will be integrated into the Laura voice assistant as standard, introducing a variety of new capabilities that go far beyond the previous voice commands.
Powertrain options start with an 85 kW (115.5 metric hp) 1.5L TSI coupled with a 6-speed manual gearbox. But notice that there are two 1.5L TSI options with a mild-hybrid technology and a 7-speed DSG; here you can get up to 110 kW (149.5 metric hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft). From 2025, a 150 kW (204 metric hp) 2.0L TSI with AWD and 7-speed DSG will be available. Diesel options this time around will be a 2.0L TDI in two states of tune: 85 kW (115.5 metric hp) with a 6-speed manual and 110 kW (149.5 metric hp) with a 7-speed DSG.
The Octavia RS rides on a 2.0L TSI with 195 kW (265 metric hp) and 370 Nm (273 lb-ft), paired with a 7-speed DSG. The power is up by 20 horses, but the torque remains the same. The RS continues to be a front-wheel-drive model, but a sporty chassis setup, a front e-diff lock, progressive steering, and a sporty exhaust system should all compensate for it.
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