New Skoda Octavia review

The brand-new Skoda Octavia has landed and we’ve been to Portugal so see if it’s as good as the VW Golf on which it is based.

By using the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, the new Octavia shares its underpinnings not only with the Golf, but the upmarket Audi A3 and forthcoming SEAT Leon.

With prices starting at only £15,990, it undercuts the VW by almost £400. Standard kit is good, too, with all cars getting alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and a DAB radio. Mid-range SE cars add automatic air conditioning, body coloured trim and front fog lights.

Engine choice is limited to a pair of petrols and two diesel motors, with a super-frugal Greenline model set to join the lineup in the near future. The most efficient model until then will be the 1.6 TDI, which claims an average 74.3mpg and emits just 99g/km of CO2.

So check out the video to see whether or not the all-new Skoda Octavia can finally trump the all-conquering VW Golf.