There appears to be three main reasons why people choose four-wheel drive. The first is simply that they like the reassurance of being ‘in control’, sitting high and mighty in an off-roader – even if they never go off-road. Then there are those who do – and all-wheel drive enables them to keep on going, when others get stuck. The third reason is why the original Audi Quattro set a trend – big, powerful engines can become a handful, in terms of wheelspin and steering response, when all the driving force is applied to one end of the car.
This is where this Octavia scores; its ground clearance is only marginally greater than the ‘ordinary’ front-wheel drive version and its cabin and seating are identical, too – so no sitting tall in this one. However, the significant power and low-speed urgency of one of our favourite engines (seen also in all VW Group’s brand-names) is harnessed impressively by the fully automatic, centre differential. It feeds the torque to whichever axle has the more traction and prevents unwanted torque-steer and fight at the steering wheel.
Probably because such a set-up demands fully independent rear suspension, this Octavia’s ride over all except the sharpest road faults feels unflurried and the equal to any Octavia’s we’ve sampled.
Admittedly, there’s some whirring and minor tremors from the drive line (underneath the centre tunnel) at times, but this engine’s silky flexibility and hush at any steady speed, from below 30 to over 70mph in top, are a sheer delight. So too, is its exceptional lower-speed acceleration.
Of course, all that extra rotating hardware and its weight, sap some power. Our rivals table shows the performance and economy penalties are modest, however, and illustrates that ‘proper’ taller-built SUV’s tend to suffer an even higher deficit.
Inside the rear load area there’s some loss of height – the normal Elegance’s ‘dummy’ load platform removes to reveal a fully trimmed, second level, which is the same as in the Ambient version. In effect, both load height and resultant interior load-sill intrusion of this 4x4 are midway between these other two levels. This is no real hardship because the Octavia has about the biggest load deck of any Focus/Golf-sized car. So long, in fact, that many people consider it (wrongly) as an upper-medium contender, whereas the reality is that it’s a Golf with an extended load area, but modest back seat legroom.
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LIKES ...
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- lumbar and height adjusters on both front seats
- rear cushion easily removed to take longer objects
- replaceable bumper/door nudge strips (unpainted)
- restraining net and hinged anchors for cargo/shopping
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and GRIPES
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- sunroof's shade rattles - all Octavias' seem to
- some background feel and hum from drive line
- driver's left footrest too close for comfort
- fore-and-aft seat adjustment notches too coarse
- head restraints block rear view
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VERDICT
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We sampled this Octavia between the departure of a new Renault Megane and the arrival of an Audi A4. With six years experience of building Octavias in a state-of-the-art factory, Skoda’s workers have now established themselves as the producers of a reliable car of real quality. Living with the Octavia, despite some features that are beginning to date, feels a very reassuring experience, after the capricious Megane. As reassuring as the Audi, in fact, but for two-thirds of the asking price. And when the weather turns nasty, this 4x4 will be even more reassuring.
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Car Test
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