Skoda Octavia - Engines, performance and drive

Being able to use tried and tested engines from the VW Group stable has helped the Skoda Octavia maintain its position as a dependable performer, with a focus on comfort rather than being the most dynamic car to drive.

The steering is light, but not so much that you aren’t able to feel a level of precision to your inputs. Skoda has focused a touch more in this area, as the Octavia now features Dynamic Chassis Control, which allows the driver to adjust the damping and steering settings via the individual on-board drive modes.

Skoda has also paid attention to refinement levels for the Octavia, with improvements in sound-deadening meaning less noise and vibration are felt through the cabin compared to the previous model.

Petrol power comes from 1.5-litre TSI units producing 114bhp and 148bhp or 2.0 TDI diesels with the same outputs. The larger-capacity diesels have more torque, although the petrols are smooth and nearly as economical, so they will likely be the more popular option. The diesels are great for motorway trips, though. The vRS model, which will join the range later, comes with a 261bhp 2.0-litre TSI engine.

When paired with a DSG transmission, the 1.5-litre petrol engines feature mild-hybrid technology to improve efficiency and deliver a small increase in performance. The 48-volt system uses a small battery and a starter/generator to help recover energy when coasting. When you accelerate, the hybrid unit gives a tiny boost to the driven wheels, reducing the engine load and saving fuel.

Although the mild-hybrid car can't run solely on electrical power, the setup can engage a coasting function at higher motorway speeds to further improve overall efficiency. The DSG models are nice and smooth when up to speed, but they can be a little jerky in traffic and at low speeds. The manual models have a slick, easy-to-use shifter.

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0-62mph acceleration and top speed

For 2024, the entry-level 1.0 TSI engine has been replaced with a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is smoother and more powerful (it has 5bhp more than the old 1.0-litre three-cylinder motor). This version goes from 0 to 62mph in 10.4 seconds and has a top speed of 126mph. The 1.5 TSI is also available in 148bhp form, cutting the 0 to 62mph time down to 8.2 seconds, while the top speed is 142mph.

Those seeking a diesel option can go for the 2.0-litre TDI unit. The 114bhp/300Nm version manages 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds, while the more powerful 148bhp/360Nm variant does the same in 8.7 seconds. The top speed in the former is 132mph, and it’s 141mph in the latter.

The sporty Octavia vRS is the quickest to 62mph, and while the 261bhp version isn’t out at the time of writing, the previous - and less powerful - model took 6.7 seconds to get to 62mph and on to a top speed of 155mph. We anticipate that the new one should be faster still, and we’ll update this section once we’ve driven it.