Skoda Octavia facelift revealed

Skoda has revealed a first set of images and details of the refreshed Octavia sedan. The current-gen Octavia is globally on sale since 2013. 

The talking point of the updated sedan is the new-look front styling. Skoda has ditched the traditional headlight design and has gone with a quad-headlamp look, something which is not common with the brand’s other models but very reminiscent of the previous Mercedes E-class. The new Octavia gets LED headlamps and continues with the signature LED daytime running lamps in the new layout. A slightly tweaked bumper at the front completes the overall new-look of the car. 

Moving on to the sides, the profile mostly remains the same except that the updated car gets alloy wheels with a new design. The new Octavia sticks to the similar design at the back, with slightly reprofiled tail lamps and a mildly tweaked rear bumper. 

On the inside, the refreshed Octavia gets a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen display for its “Columbus infotainment system”. It is yet to be seen if Skoda updates the infotainment for India as the India-spec car comes with a “Bolero” infotainment system. The updated car also gets new capacitive-touch buttons on the centre console, which overall smoothen the console’s look as well. This feature will be available across the range, which means it may also make it to our shores. Additional equipment on the inside includes ambient lighting package, which is also available on the newly launched Superb sedan. Higher variants get foldable picnic tables mounted at the back of the front seats. 

Further, expect Skoda to continue with the current crop of engines on the updated Octavia. These include 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre turbo-petrols and a 2.0-litre diesel. The Skoda Octavia in India sits in the premium executive segment that also includes rivals like the Volkswagen Jetta and the newly launched Hyundai Elantra. The facelifted Octavia could become the automaker’s sixth model due in 2017 with Skoda likely to launch the Octavia RS, Octavia Black Edition, Rapid facelift, Rapid Monte Carlo and Skoda’s first seven-seater SUV, the Kodiaq.