The updated and facelifted Skoda Octavia range brings changes to the popular mid-sized car’s lineup, including the new budget-friendly Select entry variant tested here.
Skoda has hit a run of form in recent times, with new Select entry-level grades added to its model lineup.
In every instance, the Select trim line almost hits the target spot on – and it’s the same case for the new Octavia Select variants of the facelifted mid-sized family car.
There’s still a liftback sedan and a more expensive wagon, but this turbocharged and easy-to-drive base grade brings some big revisions to its exterior and interior finishes and features.
However, there are still some elements that are missing, so it might be worth waiting for the higher-grade variants… unless you’re after a bargain.
How much does the Skoda Octavia cost?
Skoda revealed the midlife facelift for the fourth-generation Octavia back in February 2024, and the new base-spec Select variant is the first to arrive.
| Model | Drive-away price |
|---|---|
| 2025 Skoda Octavia Select LIftback | $41,490 |
| 2025 Skoda Octavia Select Wagon | $43,990 |
In essence, it replaces the previous Style, and it has assertive pricing to appeal to buyers looking for a European car with a Japanese price tag.
The better-specced and higher-priced Sportline and the flagship RS performance grades are due to arrive in the first quarter of 2025.
To see how the Skoda Octavia lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What is the Skoda Octavia like on the inside?
The interior of the Skoda Octavia Select doesn’t feel as cheap as the asking price. In fact, it feels about $10,000 more expensive.
That’s because of the use of interesting (not gaudy) cabin materials, stylish finishes, digital screens for the driver and a new 13.0-inch touchscreen media system in the middle of the dash.
All of it comes together beautifully, and it’s a terrific feeling place. It has a ‘premium airport lounge’ kinda vibe, with a mix of greys and copper tones, and honestly, the pebbled looking finish on the dashboard is very cool.
Now, back to the tech – the new 13.0-inch infotainment screen is a huge change from the outgoing model, and it is a pretty different thing to interact with. I can say that with unparalleled confidence, as I had a long-term Octavia for six months, and it was a bit of a problem-plagued experience.
This new system isn’t perfect either. I had some issues with my wireless CarPlay connection failing (and even disconnecting) while driving through toll gates, and while I appreciate the idea of it being more streamlined and having more things on the screen than in button form, I wish there were buttons…
Anyway, thankfully the controls are pretty agreeable, and there is a small group of buttons to allow you to quickly jump into, say, the climate menu to adjust the airflow or turn on the recirc, but there are also front and rear demister buttons.
The bottom section of the screen has a fixed climate adjustment bar, and there are multiple ways to use the menus on the screen, including a drop-down menu which you can configure to have some favourites in play.
There’s also the Laura voice control system (which I didn’t use) and a built-in sat-nav unit, not to mention heaps of functions and adjustments doable through the screen. And after a week of driving, I was used to it all.
The driver’s info screen is also relatively simple to get to terms with, and you can see trip info and more up there, as well as adjust things like lane-keeping using the steering wheel buttons.
As you’d expect, the Skoda smarts are evident – there are lined bottle holders in the doors (all four), and a set of cupholders between the front seats is mirrored by a flip-down armrest with cupholders in the second row.
Loose item storage is good, too, and yes, there’s an umbrella and a little rubbish bin in the driver’s door – brilliant.
The rear seat is easily accommodating enough for adults (three of me, perish the thought, could sit side-by-side), though there is a transmission tunnel intrusion that may limit foot room to a degree if you’re riding three-across.
For parents, there are ISOFIX child seat anchor points in the window seats and three top-tethers as well, and you can fit a child seat in facing either forward or rearward with space to spare.
There are rear USB-C ports for charging, directional air vents, and a set of map pockets too. Boot space is excellent as well.
The Octavia is super practical either in liftback (600 litres cargo capacity) or wagon (640 litres), and the difference is only minor on paper because of the measurement being to the tops of rear seatbacks. There is a more usable space if you need to load all the way to the ceiling in the wagon.
Smart stuff in the boot includes netting, lots of tie-down points, several shopping bag hooks for the weekly grocery run, and a reversible floor mat in the back that is rubberised on one side (great for swimmers or muddy bikes) and carpeted on the other.
There’s a space-saver spare wheel in the boot floor well, too.
| Dimensions | Skoda Octavia Wagon |
|---|---|
| Length | 4689mm |
| Width | 1829mm |
| Height | 1468mm |
| Wheelbase | 2686mm |
| Cargo capacity | 640 litres – seats up 1700 litres – seats down |
To see how the Skoda Octavia lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The existing Octavia’s base powertrain has carried over to this new-look model, with no changes made.
| Specifications | Skoda Octavia Select |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.4L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Power | 110kW |
| Torque | 250Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1465kg – tare |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.1-6.2L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 7.6L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 45 litres |
| Fuel requirement | 95 octane premium unleaded |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
To see how the Skoda Octavia lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Skoda Octavia drive?
As mentioned, we shared this car quite a bit as a family unit this week, and boy did it make a positive impression.
My partner said it was one of the simplest cars to drive in recent memory, because there was less faffing around at intersections than in other Skodas, thanks to the conventional auto transmission, and she described it as being “zippier than you’d think”, and “really easy to drive”.
My job might be under threat, because she basically nailed it. It is a superbly simple modern motor car, and that gives this convenient mid-sizer very broad appeal.
The 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four is zesty enough in its responses, with an eager reactiveness from standstill thanks to the fact it uses a traditional torque-converter auto, rather than a dual-clutch auto.
There’s no hesitation as a result, and it really does feel a bit more urban-friendly because of that. What it means is that you can jump into that gap in traffic with more surety than in a DSG-equipped model of yore.
And so seamless is the powertrain that I didn’t notice the idle stop/start system interrupting the drive – so much so that I queried if the car has it or not. But according to Skoda Australia, it does. This is a car that just, well, works.
But there is a bit of a downside: the eight-speed Aisin auto in this car is a touch less refined and not as intuitive at higher pace, meaning you can feel (and hear) the transmission hunting for the right gear at times.
There are paddle-shifters if you want to take matters into your own hands, but it’s still not as snappy an experience as in a DSG model.
But the chassis will please everybody, with steering that is sweet and easy to judge, offering terrific turnability at lower speeds and great confidence on the highway or in twisty situations.
You can hear the suspension working at times, but it really does handle lumps and bumps in the road surface commendably, with a surefooted feeling that some others can’t match.
It glides over smaller unpleasantries, and while sharp edges can be noticed, it’s a very well controlled ride and doesn’t exhibit too much body roll.
Just be mindful that if you spend a lot of time on coarse-chip roads, you may find the tyre roar to be a tad overbearing at times.
There is some advanced safety tech that might get on your nerves to a degree, like the active lane-keeping tech, but it’s easy to switch off (though you must do it each time you drive it).
The biggest bugbear, though, was having to use the key to get back in the car every time, which was a pain with a 3.5-year-old who can’t quite get her own way into her child seat.
To see how the Skoda Octavia lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
Just the base Select has been detailed thus far for Australia – Sportline and RS versions are coming soon.
Octavia Select equipment highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Space-saver spare wheel
- LED headlights
- LED fog lights with cornering function
- LED tail lights
- LED puddle lights
- Dynamic indicators
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Privacy glass
- Chrome window frame surrounds
- Silver roof rails (wagon only)
- Fabric upholstery
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Paddle shifters
- Rear door window sunshades
- Shift-by-wire gear selector
- Electric park brake
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- 10.25-inch ‘Virtual’ Cockpit digital instrument cluster
- 13.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Satellite navigation
- Two USB-C ports
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 8-speaker sound system
- Wireless phone charger with ventilation
- Dual-zone climate control
- LED ambient interior lighting
- Push-button start
- Driver’s door umbrella and integrated holder
- Tablet holders for rear-seat occupants
What’s missing? You don’t get proximity unlocking, which is a Godsend for parents who always have their hands full, and difficult to go without when you’ve gotten used to it.
It means you need to use the key fob to unlock and lock the car, like some 1990s pleb. There’s also no electric tailgate, but that’s not as big of an issue, in my opinion.
To see how the Skoda Octavia lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Skoda Octavia safe?
The Skoda Octavia received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2021, based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2019.
| Category | Skoda Octavia |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 92 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 87 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 73 per cent |
| Safety assist | 79 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 8 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection front and rear
- Cyclist detection
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go (previously adaptive only)
- Travel Assist (NEW)
- Lane keep assist
- Lane centring assist (NEW)
- Emergency assist (NEW)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Exit warning system
- Driver fatigue monitoring
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- Tyre pressure monitoring
Many of these new features were previously reserved for cost-option packs on the pre-facelift Octavia.
To see how the Skoda Octavia lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Skoda Octavia cost to run?
Skoda is the only European brand to offer a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia, and it deserves kudos for backing its products for so long.
| Servicing and Warranty | Skoda Octavia Select |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 12 months, then service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 7 years or 105,000 kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3650 – 7 years |
There is also roadside assistance when you maintain your car with a Skoda dealer, offering extra peace of mind and saving you about $100 a year.
And one other consideration for potential buyers – if you finance through Skoda you can lock in a Guaranteed Future Value for the car in advance, meaning you’ll know what the car will be worth rather than rolling the dice on resale.
To see how the Skoda Octavia lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Skoda Octavia
If you just want a great family wagon with a long warranty and liveable tech, the Skoda Octavia Select really is a walk-up start.
Put it at the top of your shopping list if budget is your main consideration, because there’s nothing better for the money.
But if it was me, I’d wait for the Sportline which promises a few more of those features I’d like, and it isn’t likely to be a whole heap more expensive, either.
Interested in buying a Skoda Octavia? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
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