Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI car review: Can a tiny engine really lug around a tonne of Skoda?

A pleasing car with some pleasing deals to match

If you’re looking for a comfortably, but classy family car, this is the ride for you

The Skoda Octavia is not a small car, yet now it can come with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. Is that enough to shift 1150kg? Well, its 113bhp is actually 9bhp more than the 1.2-litre four-cylinder that used to be at the bottom of the range, so this turbocharged triple is doing something right.

Not only that, but torque is also up, from 129lb ft to 148lb ft, a more substantial increase. The result is you can drive this car entirely normally, although faster overtakes may take a bit more planning. You need to rev it, but it likes the revs and it responds with that rather delightful offbeat triple growl. Even so, when you’re cruising and not loading the engine, it fades almost entirely into the background.

Handling remains the same, as there is only a 5kg drop in weight off the nose. That’s no bad thing as the Octavia handles very decently with fairly heavy and communicative steering. The ride is entirely adequate but it does let some vibrations and knocks through into the cabin.

That cabin remains the large, comfortable, classy place it always it. If you’re looking for family space then this is the class leader. That extends to the 590-litre boot, which is distinctly cavernous compared to its competitors.

Those competitors include cars like the Peugeot 308 1.2 Puretech, the Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Astra 1.0 Ecoflex. The Octavia has a roomier and better built cabin than any of them. It’s also right on the money when it comes to fuel consumption. Claimed consumption may be 62.8mpg, but in our Real World MPG test it managed a still creditable 46mpg.

Company buyers might want to look at a diesel version, but if it’s your money then it could be wisely spent here. You have a frugal engine with enough get up and go, safe and predictable handling, excellent build quality and the sort of cabin space and quality that makes this stand out at this price point.

Speaking of which, although this Octavia looks pricey compared to any of the competitors mentioned, you can offset that with the dealer contribution and low APR to come up with a pleasing figure to go with the pleasing car.

Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI 115 S

Price: £16,660
Engine: 3 cyls, 999cc, turbocharged, petrol
Power: 113bhp at 5500rpm
Torque: 148lb ft at 2000-3500rpm
Transmission: 6-spd manual
Kerb weight: 1150kg
0-62mph: 9.9sec
Top speed: 126mph
Fuel economy: 62.8mpg (combined)
CO2 rating/BIK tax band: 104g/km, 17%

Autocar