Apr 09, 2005 09:35 PM
19546 Views
(Updated Apr 11, 2005 01:45 PM)
In a country where the fuel economy is the deciding factor for even the richest customers, a car like the Octavia TDI is bound to be popular. It is luxurious, and its fuel efficiency is among the best in the country. Besides this it has many other positives, like solid build, and a luxurious interior. In India, in its segment, there are just three other players on the field; Corolla, Elantra, and the Optra. All are extremely competitive. The Octavia has an edge over the rest because of its diesel fuel economy. But is it better than its rivals in other areas also? Here is a detailed review on the Skoda Octavia TDI.
Aesthetics- Simple but elegant design, solidly built.
The instant appeal of the Octavia’s styling can be attributed to its understated elegance. The front is simple but its elegance and ‘vintage’ look is unmatched. It has the traditional Skoda grille flanked by two rectangular multi reflector headlamps. On the L&K version you have an option of power headlamp washers. The Octavia’s alloys also are plain and simple, with a solid feel to it. This goes in tune with the rest of the car. The Octavia is actually a hatchback, and so its boot appears small from the outside. But is capacity is actually the biggest in its class and beyond. The tail lamps are Euro-centric and is very elegant. Even if the Octavia’s looks don’t excite you, the build quality is sure to. The Octavia is built like a tank and everything fits just in place. The finish is also good. So on the whole, it is a very elegant design scheme backed up by solid build quality. My personal color preference would be black.
Comfort- Good comfort levels, great quality.
The Octavia’s interior is a nice place to be in. The neat simple layout of the dashboard is in my opinion better than many new garish schemes. The speedo and tacho dials look good enough. The steering wheel of course is wrapped in leather. The space in the front is good. Some of the features on the Octavia include auto air con, headlamp washers, power side windows, auto transmission as an option and a CD changer. The quality inside is just too good, and the materials feel like they are built to last. The seats are upholstered with a combination of leather and fabric, which is a good idea. One of the main weaknesses of the Octavia is the bad rear space. Though the seats are comfortable, the legroom is nowhere as good as its competitors. This is one con, which might have changed many a mind about buying this car.
Engine and performance- Punchy diesel engine, decent performance.
The engine is the best point of the Octavia. It is a 1.9-liter indirect injection turbo-charged diesel engine. It pumps out a decent 90 bhp of power at 4000 rpm. Torque is a formidable 21 kgm, at as low as 1800 rpm. The engine isn’t very refined at idle, but is okay at higher speeds. It is a little clattery, but vibrations are minimal. This engine is among the better diesels in this country, with decent performance as well as rocking economy.
The Octavia accelerates eagerly. The low range torque is not bad, but you may have to shift down for overtaking. The 60-km/h mark comes in less then 5 seconds, touching the ton in around 11-12 seconds, which is quite good for a diesel. The Corolla still remains the quickest in its class. Refinement is okay at high speeds, and there is no shortage of power even though the engine is a tad underpowered. The Octavia goes on confidently to hit its peak at 180-odd km/h. if you compare this to its rivals, the Octavia somewhat loses out, but it more than makes up for this with its fuel economy.
Ride and handling- Decent ride, above average handling.
The Octavia’s suspension is a little tightly sprung, giving it a harsh ride quality at low speeds. The ride quality at higher speeds is okay, swallowing minor irregularities easily. The body roll is not much. Moving over to the handling, the alloys help in better cornering. But the Octavia is a front wheel drive sedan, so high-speed maneuvers around corners will not be easy. Since the average driver won’t mind this, this doesn’t matter.
Running costs, service backup- Unbeatable economy, good after-sales service.
As I already mentioned, the Octavia is very economical in fuel efficiency. In fact, it beats even smaller cars like the Zen. The Octavia can run almost 13 km/l in city conditions, which is amazing. On the open road it increases to as much as 18 km/l! The overall efficiency figure of 15 km/l is the best not only in its class but also among all the cars in India (with the exception of Indica). Combined with the low prices for diesel, the running cost is extremely low. Cost of spare parts for the Octavia is a little expensive. The service is supposedly very good. The Skoda workmanship is definitely good, though the dealer network isn’t great. Anyway, you will have good after sales service, and you won’t find much reason to complain.
The Octavia is a very good car overall. Of all the cars in the lower D-segment, the Octavia is my favorite. The TDI variant is the one of the most economical cars in the country. Its elegant looks and solid build is surely one of its advantages. Then the quality is class leading. Interior comfort is okay, but rear legroom is one major con. Its performance is good, but at the same time it manages to be very efficient in fuel consumption. So the Octavia will be interesting for all. It is a very good package on the whole, and it is a well-balanced car. It costs 11 lakhs for the elegance version, matching the class.
Competition- The Octavia mainly faces competition from the Corolla, Elantra and Optra. Here the Octy has an edge over the others because you have many variants to choose from. The best driver's car goes to the Octavia RS, most luxurious to the Octy L&K, then most economical ofcourse to the TDI. I would say the Corolla is a very good car, and that is the best overall car, Optra doesn't have much of an identity except maybe for its comfort and looks, Elantra is basically for its CRDi engine. So the Octy TDI is for the cost conscious, Octy RS for those seeking performance, L&k for those seeking full luxury.
VERDICT- Overall a good luxury car, with its selling point being fuel economy.
LOOKS- 9/10
BUILD QUALITY- 9.5/10
FIT AND FINISH- 9.5/10
INTERIOR- 8.5/10
ENGINE- 9/10
PERFORMANCE- 9/10
RIDE- 9/10
HANDLING- 9/10
FUEL ECONOMY- 10/10
VALUE FOR MONEY- 9/10
THE GRAND TOTAL- 91.5/100
