It’s such an established part of the automotive landscape today that it seems bizarre to think of a time when the Skoda brand was a bit of a figure of fun in the UK.
In 1998, Skoda was a budget Czech brand with a relatively poor reputation. That image had started to soften in 1994 with the arrival of the Felicia, which was vastly better than its predecessor, the Favorit, but it was still a car you’d buy because it was cheap, rather than because it was good.
So when the Octavia came along, it was something we hadn’t seen for a long time. Here was a mid-sized Skoda with space and build quality comparable to most of its rivals, that not only looked fresh and modern, but was both comfortable and decent to drive.
The Octavia, in other words, probably did more than any other Skoda to change the company’s image in the UK. And today, it’s become a firm favourite with buyers, and a worthy rival to cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Seat Leon and Ford Focus. To find out just how it’s pulled off such a remarkable feat, here’s our guide to its history.
Generations: 4
- Skoda Octavia NX (2020-present)
- Skoda Octavia mk3 (2013-2020)
- Skoda Octavia mk2 (2004-2013)
- Skoda Octavia mk1 (1998-2004)
Skoda Octavia NX (2020-present)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Skoda Octavia mk4:
- Known by the codename NX
- Plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid models introduced for the first time
- More space than ever before
The fourth-generation Octavia was unveiled in November 2019, and this latest model may well represent the greatest leap forward yet since the ground-breaking first generation.
Not only is the styling of the new Skoda Octavia sharper than ever before, but there’s a new range of high-tech engines, which includes mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options to keep the MPG and emissions down, as well as TSI petrol engines and TDI diesels. The plug-in hybrid models, labelled as the Octavia iV, use an electric motor to do short journeys on battery power only, which does wonders for fuel economy.
Plug-in hybrid tech is also available in the sporty models, which are badged as the Octavia vRS, and are available in both Octavia Hatchback and Octavia Estate forms. If you want boot space at a very attractive price, it's hard to beat a Skoda Octavia Estate.
Inside, a new touchscreen-centred interior boasts higher quality plastics than ever before, while a longer wheelbase has ensured both passenger and boot space have been increased, too. There's a range of trim levels and the latest smartphone integration software, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and both hatchback and estate versions major heavily on practicality.
Incidentally, you may think by looking at it that the non-estate Octavia is actually a saloon; it's not, it's a hatchback, with a boot lid that hinges at the top of the rear screen for extra-wide access.
Read our expert review of the Skoda Octavia mk4 or search for a used Skoda Octavia mk4 on CarGurus
Skoda Octavia mk3 (2013-2020)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Skoda Octavia mk3:
- Known by the codename 5E
- Styling evolved and quality boosted
- Facelifted in 2017 with very different headlights and new engines
Skoda’s policy of careful evolution continued with the third-generation Octavia, which retained the same basic fastback shape as before, albeit with a more cubist air to the styling, in keeping with the company’s other models.
Inside, once again, the new car received a boost in quality, and while it couldn’t quite match the class leaders in this regard, it was better than most of the rest of its rivals, and felt slick and well finished.
Most of the engines that had been introduced with the second-generation facelift were retained, albeit with a few tweaks to boost efficiency and reduce emissions, and once again there was an upgrade in terms of equipment and space; for the first time, the Octavia was available with adaptive cruise control, as well as a slew of other driver assistance features.
Both petrol and diesel vRS versions gained a power hike, too, with the petrol version now kicking out a bhp figure of 217 and the diesel 181bhp. In nature they still offered the same benign, accessible performance as before. In 2015, a 227bhp version of the vRS model joined the range.
The mid-life facelift came along in 2017, and with it the Octavia gained controversial quad headlights at the front. As with the second generation, though, the rest of the car remained largely unchanged, save for some new engines.
At the same time, the 227bhp engine was made standard-fit in the petrol-powered vRS, with a 242bhp engine also available. Building on this, in 2019, the Skoda Octavia vRS Challenge model was added to the range, bringing with it lots of the vRS’s optional extras fitted as standard.
Read our expert review of the Skoda Octavia mk3 or search for a used Skoda Octavia mk3 on CarGurus
Skoda Octavia mk2 (2004-2013)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Skoda Octavia mk2:
- Known by the codename 1Z
- New model focused on increased quality and an evolution of styling
- Skoda Octavia Scout model introduced with mild off-road capabilities
- Facelifted in 2009 with new front end and more efficient engines
The second-generation Octavia took up where the old one left off. The styling was freshened and modernised, though the basic profile and shape of the car were largely unchanged. Inside, however, there was a better quality interior with more equipment and more space.
This Octavia’s handling was crisper, too, even if it still couldn’t offer the sort of enjoyment you might expect from its most involving rivals.
For most buyers, though, that wasn’t really important. What mattered more was that the Octavia retained the same sort of no-nonsense pragmatism as it always had, and combined this with a boost in equipment and updated technology.
The vRS was also upgraded. Featuring the same underpinnings and 197bhp engine as the much-vaunted mk5 Golf GTI, the new vRS was now a real hoot to drive. And in contrast to the petrol-only GTI, you could also have it with a punchy 168bhp diesel engine.
Also for the first time, the Volkswagen Group’s swift-shifting DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox was available across the range. There was a new Scout version, too, an off-road-oriented version of the Octavia Estate with a raised ride height, plastic wheel arch extensions and more rugged bumpers.
In 2009, a facelift brought a revised nose, though most of the rest of the car stayed the same. However, there were new, more efficient engines under the bonnet, and Skoda also took the opportunity to introduce a super-frugal Greenline variant.
Read our expert review of the Skoda Octavia mk2 or search for a used Skoda Octavia mk2 on CarGurus
Skoda Octavia mk1 (1998-2004)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Five-door estate
Notable features and facelifts of the Skoda Octavia mk1:
- Known by the codename 1U
- Introduced space and quality for a bargain price
- Facelifted in 2000 with revised exterior looks and interior as well as four-wheel drive
- Performance vRS version introduced in 2001
With the benefit of hindsight the first-generation Octavia might not look like anything special. But in 1998, it was a game-changer. Not only was it the best built and most upmarket-feeling Skoda for years, but it gave Skoda a brand new, up-to-date contender in the family car class, something it hadn’t really had since the arrival of the Estelle in 1977.
As with its successors, the Octavia was almost as big as cars like the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra, yet it was priced more in line with the smaller Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. It was underpinned with proven, dependable Volkswagen mechanicals, too, including an excellent 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine, and that made it great value.
And while it wasn’t as much fun to drive as some of its rivals, that didn’t matter too much, because it was still perfectly pleasant enough for most drivers: and far slicker than anything Skoda had hitherto come up with.
A facelift in 2000 brought with it minor styling tweaks and better-quality interior materials, as well as a four-wheel-drive version. And in 2001 came another Octavia first: the potent vRS, with its stiffened suspension, 178bhp turbo engine, and beefier styling, was launched, the first car to wear the vRS badge. For its blend of accessible performance and family-friendly practicality, it gained an instant cult following.