Review: Skoda 5E Octavia (2013-on)

Review: Skoda 5E.I Octavia (2013-17)

Overview

Released in November 2013, the Skoda 5E Octavia was available as a mid-size liftback or wagon. Manufactured in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, the front-wheel drive 5E Octavia was initially available with three engines (the 103TSI, 132TSI and 110TDI) and in three editions: Ambition, Ambition Plus and Elegance.

In May 2015, the Skoda 5E Octavia range was revised:

• The 132TSI was withdrawn from the Australian range;
• The 103TSI was replaced by the 110TSI (which had a ‘Start/Stop’ function to reduce fuel consumption);
• All Octavia Elegance editions were discontinued; and,
• The Octavia 110TDI Style was introduced.

In May 2016, the Octavia Ambition Plus was discontinued.

Please note that the Skoda 5E Octavia RS has been reviewed separately.

Engines

Of the engines,

• For the Octavia 103TSI, the 1.4-litre EA211 four-cylinder petrol engine had an alloy block and cylinder head, a single-scroll turbocharger, direct fuel injection, double overhead camshafts (belt-driven), four valves per cylinders, variable intake and exhaust valve timing, and a compression ratio of 10.5:1;
• For the Octavia 110TSI, the 1.4-litre EA211 four-cylinder petrol engine was upgraded for Euro 6 emissions compliance and a ‘Start/Stop’ function was introduced which enabled the engine to shut down when the vehicle was stationary in traffic;
• For the Octavia 132TSI, the 1.8-litre EA888 four-cylinder petrol engine had a cast iron block, an alloy cylinder head, a BorgWarner K03 water-cooled turbocharger, direct fuel injection (also known as Fuel Stratified Injection or FSI), double overhead camshafts (chain-driven), four valves per cylinder, variable intake valve timing, a variable length intake manifold and a compression ratio of 9.6:1; and,
• For the Octavia 110TDI, the 2.0-litre EA288 four-cylinder diesel engine had a cast iron block, an alloy cylinder head, common-rail injection operating at up to 1850 bar, a variable geometry turbocharger, double overhead camshafts (belt-driven), four valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 16.2:1, exhaust gas recirculation and a diesel particulate filter. The 110TDI engine also had a Start-Stop function.

Body and dimensions

Like the Volkswagen Mk.7 Golf , the 5E Octavia was underpinned by Volkswagen’s MQB platform which had a higher proportion of high- and ultra-high tensile steel for greater rigidity and reduced mass (around 100 kg lighter for comparable variants). Compared to the 1Z Octavia , the 5E Octavia was 87 mm longer (at 4659), 45 mm wider (1814 mm) and had a 108 mm longer wheelbase (2686 mm); for 132TSI variants, however, the wheelbase was 2680 mm long.

Suspension and steering

The Skoda 5E Octavia had MacPherson strut front suspension with lower triangular links and a torsion stabiliser. The 103TSI and 110TDI variants had a torsion beam rear axle, though 132TSI variants had independent, four-link rear suspension. Furthermore, the 5E Octavia was fitted with an electronic differential lock and had electromechanical steering.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Skoda 5E Octavia included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters. The Skoda 5E Octavia was also fitted with a multi-collision brake function which would apply the brakes after an initial collision to a residual speed of 10 km/h in order to prevent a secondary collision.

The Octavia Ambition Plus, Elegance and Style editions were further equipped with rear side airbags, a driver fatigue monitoring system based on steering inputs (‘Driver Activity Assist’) and ‘Passenger Protect Assist’ which, in a potential accident situation, would prime the vehicle’s brakes, tension the front seatbelts and close any open windows.

The Skoda Octavia Ambition Plus and Elegance editions were initially available with an optional ‘Tech Pack’ which included the following safety technologies –

• Adaptive Cruise Control: used radar sensors to maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front;
• Front Assist: provided a series of warnings as the Octavia closed in on the vehicle ahead. Initially, a visual warning would be provided; this would be followed by visual and acoustic warnings, and preparation of the braking system. The third stage would trigger a brief jerking of the brakes and then initiate partial braking. In the final stage, braking assistance would be maximized for automatic application of the brakes and, if the driver did not respond, emergency braking would be activated automatically; and,
• City Emergency Braking Function: between 5 km/h and 30 km/h, Front Assist would work in conjunction with the City Emergency Braking Function to bring the Octavia to a full stop automatically if the driver did not react to an obstacle in the vehicle’s path.

From May 2016, however, these technologies were fitted as standard for the entire Skoda 5E Octavia range.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , a 2013 Skoda Octavia – fitted with a 1.6-litre petrol engine – received a five star safety rating which included a 93 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 86 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the offset crash test, occupant protection was generally rated as good, though lower leg protection for the driver was assessed as adequate. Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test though, in the more severe pole test, chest protection was adequate and thorax protection was weak.

Under ANCAP’s methodology , the Skoda 5E Octavia received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 35.87 out of 37.

Features: Octavia Ambition

Standard features for Skoda Octavia Ambition editions included 16-inch ‘Tecton’ steel wheels (including a full-size spare) with 205/55 R16 tyres, a four speaker ‘Swing’ sound system with a CD player, MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/SD card), air conditioning, front and rear fog lights, daytime running lights, 40/60 split and folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift lever, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, a height adjustable driver’s seat, tinted windows, front and rear floor mats, front and rear reading lights, tyre pressure monitoring, 12 volt power sockets, a storage box behind the left rear wheel well, a soft-touch electro-mechanic boot opening, trip computer and an immobiliser.

Furthermore, wagons models featured a rear seat centre armrest with cupholders, load through mechanism, luggage cover, foldable hooks in the luggage compartment and black roof rails.

In May 2016, standard features for the Octavia Ambition were extended to include 7.0J x 17-inch ‘Teron’ alloy wheels a Bolero sound system with eight speakers and a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a rear view camera, rear parking sensors and a front armrest.

Features: Octavia Ambition Plus

Compared to the Octavia Ambition edition, Ambition Plus editions were further equipped with 17-inch ‘Denom’ alloy wheels (including a space-saver spare) with 225/45 R17 tyres, eight speaker ‘Bolero’ sound system with a 5.8-inch touch screen, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a height adjustable front passenger seat. From July 2015, the Bolero audio system had a 6.5-inch display.

As noted above, the Skoda Octavia Ambition Plus was withdrawn from the Australian market in May 2016.

Features: Octavia Elegance

The range-topping Octavia Elegance editions were distinguished by their 18-inch ‘Golus’ alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres, ‘Columbus’ satellite navigation system with an eight-inch touch screen, 64 GB storage, two SD car slots and Apple connectivity, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, leather seats, directional front fog lights, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front parking sensors, power retracting door mirrors, privacy glass, ambience lighting, front door warning lights, courtesy lights, storage box under the front passenger seat, storage box behind both rear wheel wells. Wagon models were also fitted with silver roof rails. From July 2015, the Columbus navigation had WiFi connectivity and Skoda’s ‘SmartLink’ system.

For the Elegance editions, sedan models featured a rear seat centre armrest with cup-holders and load through mechanism, and two folding hooks in the luggage compartment; the 132 TSI Elegance sedan was also fitted with a rear spoiler.

October 2014 update: Octavia Ambition Plus and Elegance

Compared to the post-May 2016 Octavia Ambition, the Octavia Style was further equipped with 7.5J x 18-inch ‘Golus’ alloy wheels, Columbus satellite navigation system with an eight-inch colour display, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, front seat lumbar adjustment, bi-xenon headlights with adaptive front lighting and integrated washers, LED daytime running lights, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front parking sensors, power folding door mirrors with puddle lights, an auto-dimming rear mirror, interior ambience illumination, rear privacy glass, chrome-plated window frames and rear LED lights.

Octavia Tech Pack

For Octavia Ambition Plus and Elegance editions, an optional ‘Tech Pack’ included –

• Adaptive Cruise Control;
• Front Assist;
• City Emergency Braking Function;
• Rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and courtesy lights;
• LED tail-lights;
• Driving Mode Selection;
• Automatic Parking Assist (automated steering for parallel parking) with front and rear parking sensors;
  Advanced keyless entry including smart start (Skoda’s ‘KESSY’); and,
• A 570 watt Canton sound system with ten speakers and a digital equalizer.

Brochure

• Brochure: Skoda 5E Octavia (December 2013)
• Brochure: Skoda 5E Octavia (September 2015)

Related links

• Press Kit: Skoda 5E Octavia (November 2013)
• Technical Specifications: Skoda 5E Octavia (November 2013)
• Specifications: Skoda 5E Octavia and Octavia RS (October 2014)
• Specifications: Skoda 5E Octavia and Octavia RS (June 2016)

Review: Skoda 5E.II Octavia (2017-on)

Overview

Released in Australia in April 2017, the Skoda 5E Series II (5E.II) Octavia range consisted solely of 110TSI variants that were offered in standard and Sport editions. Visually, the Skoda 5E.II Octavia could be identified by its quad headlight design ‘with a crystalline look’, wider radiator grille and more prominent Skoda logo on the bonnet. Furthermore, the Skoda 5E.II Octavia hatch and wagon were 11 mm and 8 mm longer, respectively; the wide of the rear track was increased by 20 mm or 30 mm (depending on engine and rear axle).

Inside, the Skoda 5E.II Octavia introduced new infotainment systems which had capacitive displays and revised air conditioning controls.

Safety equipment

Compared to the post-May 2016 Skoda 5E.I Octavia, standard safety equipment for the Skoda 5E.II Octavia was largely unchanged. For the Skoda 5E.II Octavia, however, a ‘Predictive Pedestrian Protection’ function was introduced for Front Assist. Operating at speeds between 10 km/h and 60 km/h, Predictive Pedestrian Protection would initiate an emergency stop if a pedestrian attempted to cross the Skoda Octavia’s path. At speeds above 40 km/h, an additional collision warning would be issued.

While the standard Skoda 5E.II Octavia was fitted with seven airbags as standard, the Octavia Sport was also fitted with rear side airbags, driver fatigue monitoring and Skoda’s ‘Passenger Protect Assist’ (also known as ‘Crew Protect Assistant’). Operating at speeds above 30 km/h, Passenger Protect Assist could detect when an emergency manoeuvre was being performed and would use the electrical front seatbelt pre-tensioners to remove slack from the seatbelts. In cases where high lateral accelerations were detected, Passenger Protect Assist would also close the side windows and sunroof (where fitted) to prevent objects coming into the passenger compartment in the event of a collision.

The Skoda 5E.II Octavia could be specified with an optional, extra-cost ‘Luxury Pack’ which included the following active safety technologies –

• Lane Assist: used a camera positioned within the rear-view mirror to detect lane markings. If the system detected that the Skoda Octavia was about to depart from its lane, corrective steering torque would be applied to direct the Octavia back to the centre of its lane; and,
• Blind Spot Detection: used two radar sensors in the lower part of the rear bumper to monitor the area beside and up to 20 metres behind the Skoda Octavia. If a vehicle was detected in the driver’s blind spot or approaching from behind, an LED symbol in the door mirror would illuminate to alert the driver. If the driver indicated in the direction of the detected vehicle, the LED would flash as an additional alert.

The Luxury Pack also included leather seat upholstery, heated seats (front and rear), auto-dimming door mirrors and, for the standard Octavia, rear side airbags and Passenger Protect Assist.

Features: Skoda Octavia

Standard features for the Skoda 5E.II Octavia included 7.0J x 17-inch ‘Trius’ alloy wheels with 225/45 R17 tyres, ‘Bolero’ audio system with eight speakers, an eight-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming with voice control, 3.5 mm auxiliary and USB inputs, two SD card slots, dual-zone ‘Climatronic’ air conditioning, halogen headlights, front fog lights, LED daytime running lights, rear view camera, rear parking sensors, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 60/40 split folding rear seats, remote central locking, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, power windows, height adjustable front seats with lumbar support, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, 12 volt power sockets (centre console and luggage compartment), a trip computer and an immobiliser.

Skoda Octavia wagons were also fitted with roof rails, an LED torch in the luggage compartment and a rolling cargo cover.

Features: Skoda Octavia Sport

Compared to the standard Skoda Octavia, the Octavia Sport was further equipped with front sport seats with integrated headrests, LED headlights with adaptive front lighting, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, three-spoke sports steering wheel and rear privacy glass.

Visual cues for the Skoda Octavia Sport included 7.5J x 18-inch ‘Turini’ black-finish alloy wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres, and black finishes for the door mirror caps and rear spoiler.

Brochure

• Brochure: Skoda 5E.II Octavia (April 2017)

Related links

• Skoda Australia: Skoda Octavia
• Wikipedia.org: Skoda 5E Octavia