The best-selling Skoda in Australia has been given a head-to-toe makeover.
The 2021 Skoda Octavia touched down in local showrooms at the end of April 2021, with a choice of liftback or wagon bodies and three trim levels.
Power in the base model comes from the same 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine used in the outgoing car, but it’s paired with an eight-speed torque converter instead of a dual-clutch (or DSG) transmission for 2021.
A 140TSI Limited Edition model with a 2.0-litre engine and more standard equipment will join the range in the third quarter of 2021, and continue as part of the range until the start of 2022.
It’ll be replaced by the sporty-looking 140TSI Sportline at the beginning of 2022.
The RS shares its 2.0-litre engine with the Volkswagen Golf GTI, along with its dual-clutch transmission.
Octavia Ambition 
Octavia Ambition
Under the skin, the Octavia rides on the same MQB chassis as the latest Volkswagen Golf.
It debuts a range of new technologies for the Octavia nameplate in Australia.
At the bottom end of the range, even the entry-level Octavia Ambition has a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen and the latest version of the Volkswagen Group’s digital Virtual Cockpit binnacle instead of old-fashioned dials.
There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range, while high-end models gain LED Matrix headlights and the latest suite of driver aids from the Volkswagen Group.
UPDATE, 15/05/21: Skoda has revealed pricing information for the Octavia 140TSI Limited Edition. We’ve updated our coverage.
Octavia Style 
Octavia Style
Price
- 2021 Skoda Octavia 110TSI Ambition: $30,390 ($32,990 d/a)
- 2021 Skoda Octavia 110TSI Ambition wagon: $31,690 ($34,490 d/a)
- 2021 Skoda Octavia 110TSI Style: $34,890 ($36,990 d/a)
- 2021 Skoda Octavia 110TSI Style wagon: $36,190 ($38,490 d/a)
- 2021 Skoda Octavia 140TSI Limited Edition: $44,790 ($48,490 d/a)
- 2021 Skoda Octavia 140TSI Limited Edition wagon: $46,090 ($49,990 d/a)
- 2021 Skoda Octavia RS: $47,790 ($51,490 d/a)
- 2021 Skoda Octavia RS wagon: $49,090 ($52,990 d/a)
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Octavia RS 
Octavia RS
Engines
Power in the Skoda Octavia 110TSI comes from a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
It’s sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission, rather than the dual-clutch (DSG) transmission of its predecessor.
Moving to the 140TSI gets you a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with 140kW and 320Nm, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive.
The range-topping Octavia RS draws on a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque.
It’s also front-wheel drive, but uses a seven-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission and has an electronically-locking front differential to help it put the power down.
Octavia Ambition
Fuel Economy
The Skoda Octavia 110TSI sedan uses a claimed 5.7L/100km on the combined cycle, and the wagon uses 5.9L/100km.
The Octavia 140TSI sedan uses a claimed 6.1L/100km, the wagon uses 6.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
The Octavia RS uses a claimed 6.8L/100km across both body styles.
Dimensions
The 2021 Skoda Octavia measures 4689mm long, 1829mm wide and 1470mm tall in sedan guise, and 1468mm tall in wagon guise.
All Octavia models ride on a 2686mm wheelbase.
Boot space in the sedan (which is a liftback, or hatchback, despite the official billing) is 600L, and the wagon has 640L of space.
Servicing and Warranty
Maintenance in the Skoda Octavia is required every 12 months or 15,000km.
A three-year service plan costs $800, and a five-year plan will set you back $1400.
Like the wider Skoda range, the new Octavia is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Safety
The 2021 Skoda Octavia has a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
It scored 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 73 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 79 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety equipment includes:
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Rear parking sensors
Moving to the 140TSI Limited Edition or RS adds:
- Emergency assist
- Blind-spot monitoring and assist
Eight airbags are standard, including a central airbag, but moving to the Octavia RS or 140TSI Limited Edition takes that airbag count to 10.
Octavia Ambition
Standard Equipment
Standard kit in the 2021 Skoda Octavia Ambition includes:
- 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Paddle shifters
- Privacy glass
- Full LED headlights
- LED tail lights with dynamic indicators
- Ambient lighting
- Silver roof rails
- Rear centre armrest
- Dual USB-C ports
- Bluetooth phone connectivity
- Eight speakers
- Power tailgate
- Keyless start
- Umbrella in driver’s door
- Foldable luggage hooks
- Two tablet holders
- Rain-sensing wipers
Moving to the 2021 Skoda Octavia Style brings:
- Satellite navigation
- Keyless entry
- Alarm
- Semi-autonomous park assist
- Electrically adjusted, folding and heated wing mirrors
- Full Matrix LED headlights and side light
Over the 110TSI Style, the 140TSI Limited Edition adds:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Memory for exterior mirrors
- Leather seat trim
- Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
- Powered, ventilated front seats with electric lumbar and massage
- Under-thigh front seat extensions
- Heated front and rear seats
- Five USB-C ports
- DAB+ radio
- 12-speaker sound system
- Drive mode selection
- Tri-zone climate control
- Head-up display
Moving to the 2021 Skoda Octavia RS adds:
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Progressive steering
- Virtual Cockpit with RS logo and animation, plus sport layout
- Five USB-C ports
- Digital radio
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Red brake calipers
- RS leather and fabric upholstery
- RS sports seats
- Black exterior trim
- RS badging
- Sport chassis (15mm lower)
- Carbon dash trim
- Alcantara door panels
A range of options will be offered.
The first is the Tech Pack ($3200) for the Octavia 110TSI Style:
- Adaptive chassis control
- Head-up display
- Premium Canton sound system (12 speakers)
- Digital radio reception
- Three-zone climate control
There’s also a Luxury Pack ($5800) for the Octavia 110TSI Style:
- Leather upholstery
- Electrically-adjustable driver and passenger seat with memory
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Adaptive lane guidance
- Heated front and rear seats
- Traffic jam assist
- Emergency assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Three-zone climate control with control panel in rear
- Five USB-C ports
- Mechanical sunblinds for rear windows (standard on wagon)
- Electrically adjustable, heated and foldable door mirrors with memory and auto-dimming
Both options packs cost $7800 if ordered together.
The Premium Pack ($6500) for the Octavia RS adds:
- Adaptive chassis control
- Electrically-adjustable driver and passenger seat with memory
- Head-up display
- Kick-operated power tailgate
- Premium Canton sound system (12 speakers)
- Heated front and rear seats
- Park assist
- Massage function for driver’s seat
- Driver cushion depth adjustment
- Drive mode selection
- Three-zone climate control with front and rear controls
- Mechanical sunblinds for rear windows (standard on Wagon)
- Electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors with memory and auto-dimming
A $1900 panoramic sunroof option is available on the wagon, and a dealer-fitted tow bar costs $2100.
