Skoda Octavia facelift revealed

Skoda has revealed the Octavia’s mid-life facelift, bringing technology and sustainability upgrades to its sedan. The Octavia was on sale in India for over 20 years, officially selling over 1 lakh units before it was taken off the market due to strict RDE norms. But Skoda has not confirmed whether it will bring the facelift to the Indian market.  

Skoda Octavia facelift design, interior and features  

The new look is distinct from the rest of the Skoda line-up, with more angular LED headlights nestled above a bold crease in the front bumper – producing a reference to the Czech flag.

The most notable refinements come inside the new Octavia. A new 13-inch infotainment touchscreen (shared with the recently updated Volkswagen Golf) has been added as an optional extra. Regardless of which screen is fitted, ChatGPT artificial intelligence is integrated into the infotainment software’s voice assistant.

The options for charging devices have also been upgraded, with the new ‘Phone Box’ providing up to 15W wireless charging – and, crucially, air conditioning to help mitigate the heat generated in the process. Moreover, the USB-C connections now deliver 45W, triple what they provide in the outgoing Octavia.

The three ‘smart dial’ controls introduced on the new Kodiaq and Superb – which provide a physical interface for various functions, such as the air conditioning, sat-nav zoom and drive mode – have not been included. As such, the only way to adjust the temperature in the new Octavia is to use the touchscreen.

Skoda Octavia powertrain 

Under the skin, the Octavia’s tweaks are primarily aimed at boosting efficiency. The entry-level 116hp 1.5-litre powerplant’s turbocharger has been reworked to minimise thermal losses and boost economy. It’s paired with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but it can be had with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox which adds a 48V mild-hybrid system that does not add any additional power or torque but allows the car to coast with the engine completely off – boosting fuel efficiency.

The 1.5-litre unit can also be had with 150hp, offering the same combination of manual and auto gearboxes, with the latter once again getting the mild-hybrid treatment. The range-topping vRS gets the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot as the new VW Golf GTI, sending 265hp and 370Nm through the front wheels. The lone gearbox option remains the seven-speed auto after the manual was dropped last year.

The Octavia facelift is also available with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, which produces 116hp when mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and 150hp when mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 

Skoda in India 

Skoda currently has three models on sale in the country, the Slavia sedan, Kushaq midsize SUV and the Kodiaq SUV. Skoda is set to launch the Enyaq iV electric SUV in the second half of this year and the brand is also working on a compact SUV, which will go on sale next year.