Do we have a heads-up display? Yes. Do we have a two-spoke steering wheel like the S-Class? Yes. Do we have hybrid engines? Yes. So what don’t we have? Women… I mean, sales. Skoda Octavia IV.

Normally, I should be careful about what I write about the Skoda Octavia NX, just as I had to be careful about what I wrote in that Human Resources report regarding verbal, sexual, meta-sexual aggression, indecent exposure, and other things I don’t want to talk about, which the Human Resources department considers “confidential.” But I won’t do that.

Because the national car of eastern europeans who constantly look out for bargains, because they can’t afford more but still want to look wealthier than they are, changed its tune in 2019 and we were left with a sour taste. And with that, I have to write an article differently for the eastern europeans than for the international market because eastern europeans are a different species of human.

The basic idea being that the Skoda Octavia NX had to adapt to the times, and the VW Group threw features into the Octavia just like Gordon Ramsay and the chef at Clubway 41 threw insults at each other, including the famous “Plonka” and thus we have dual-zone automatic climate control… not voices. Zones. Heads-up Display. Two-spoke steering wheel. Matrix-LED headlights stolen from the Audi A6. Progressive steering. And here comes the biggest issue – it starts at 26,000 pounds at the moment I wrote this article. And that’s for a manual 110 horsepower 1.0 TSI. Which strongly ventures out of the low-cost car zone and with that, it chased away its core clientele. I mean, a Renault Megane IV saloon starts at 19,000 pounds and comes with a 140 horsepower 1.3 TCe turbocharged petrol, the Toyota Corolla saloon starts at 22,000 pounds and comes with a 125 horsepower 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol engine . Fudge it, the Suzuki Swace 1.8 gasoline hybrid and estate starts at 26,850 pounds.

 

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So is it worth buying the Octavia?

Yes, because things are starting to pick up just like you recover from a hangover 3 days after drinking. As a new buy, the Skoda Octavia NX is no longer as attractive as Sofia Boutella. But hae a look in the classifieds and the Skoda Octavia NX remains one of the last classic family cars – the classic estate. Personally, I wouldn’t bother with the Octavia sedan because it’s too expensive for what it offers and the competition is much better, but for the estate version, as a vacation and family car, the Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI manual estate remains one of the most solid options on the market, especially in these times like my eyes – murky and empty. The only real rivals are the Renault Megane, but the Megane is limited to the 1.6 diesel, and the VW Passat. But the Octavia does 80% of what the Passat does but at 70% of the price, and anyway, when you have an estate like this, you don’t want expensive features like leather and adjustable air conditioning for the rear seats or any kind of feature that can be reached and destroyed by toddlers.

 

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Skoda Octavia NX Engines

Petrol

  • 1.0 TSI with 110 horsepower – No.
  • 1.5 TSI ACT with 130 and 150 horsepower – Yes, there’s also the 130 horsepower CNG version, but if you can’t handle the pressure, I’d avoid it. In fact, I’d also avoid the 150 horsepower TSI because both this engine and the 1.0 TSI are oil enthusiasts. 
  • 2.0 TSI with 190 and 245 horsepower – Indeed, sensational engines, but the market for the Octavia 2.0 TSI is smaller than my budget for this online septic tank. Apart from the specific oil consumption of the VAG group, you shouldn’t have any concerns, and it doesn’t matter that much when you have 200 horsepower at your disposal.

Diesel

2.0 TDI with 116 and 150 horsepower – Honestly, this is the only engine they needed to sell the Octavia NX with because the old 1.6 TDI from the previous generation was retired. And they needed to keep a reason for people to buy the Passat, so you don’t get the 190 horsepower version on the Octavia. But for the average family buyer, the 116 horsepower version is all the engine they’ll ever need. It’s reliable, it’s decent, just don’t drive it too often in the city because the DPF will clog up, and the flywheel will fail more often than you expect.

Hybrid

1.4 TSI Plug-in Hybrid with 204 and 245 horsepower – I would talk about the hybrid engine, but unfortunately, everyone has turned to the 2.0 TDI because that engine makes the most sense. As for the hybrid engine, there are issues with the hybrid system’s charging, so I wouldn’t venture into it alone. You’ll regret it.

 

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Skoda Octavia NX Reliability Issues 

  • Unfortunately, VW threw options and sensors into the Octavia but forgot to test them, so get used to the Christmas tree on the dashboard. Constant issues with the infotainment and sensors, and the Octavia NX has sensors for sensors.
  • Currently, the model is too new to discuss this, but the Octavia has a long history of rust, so brace yourself for the future.
  • Yes, there are a lot of toys and options on the Octavia NX, but they all cost, because it’s VW and THE FLOOR MATS ARE OPTIONAL.

 

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Skoda Octavia NX Verdict 

It might be the last call, the final hurrah for the estate as a car and for the Octavia in general, so make the most of it. And I stick to the idea from the beginning, the Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI with 116 horsepower and a manual gearbox at it’s disposal, and estate bodywork remains one of the last classic cars of “I’m 45 years old, I have 2 kids, I’ve given up on my dreams, but at least we go for a ride every month.” It definitely doesn’t appeal to me, but for this category of buyers, it’s one of the last shouts of the industry.

Which engines do I recommend? For petrol, the 115 horsepower 1.0 TSI even if it’s underpowered and an oily boy, but all the interest revolves around the 2.0 TDI, and honestly, the 116 horsepower version is all the family guy needs.