We raise a tall glass of pivo to Škoda’s versatile facelifted Octavia Combi, now with Cat A power
Singapore – Ask any auto journo, and they’d probably tell you that an estate car is amongst the top of their list of favourite body styles. I mean, what is there not to love? They have fuller road presence, and err… they have fuller road presence.
Škoda’s story about versatility is deeply intertwined with the need by owners in the brand’s home country, for vehicles which could simply carry and do more than the average car.
And where versatility is king, the Octavia Liftback, a result of this need for added room and flexibility, already impresses with its glorious class-leading 600 litre boot, generous legroom, and rear doors which open to almost 90-degrees. The Octavia Combi takes all the good things the Liftback already stands for, and adds another 40 litres of cargo space… and in my opinion, it even has bettererrer good looks.
The Octavia range has recently received a mid-life refresh, and for Singapore, Škoda have done away with the original 150hp 1.5 litre MHEV powertrain (which is one of my personal favourite engines), and also the 1.0 litre three-cylinder. While the then 1.5 powered both the liftback and the estate, the 1.0 in my books, could barely squeeze enough to get the liftback going; and you also had to deal with its start-stop shudders.
For the new model year, the bread-and-butter Octavia receives the more sensible 1.5 litre MHEV powertrain in a lower state of tune, which now makes it Category A COE friendly. Output has been adjusted from 150hp and 250Nm down to 114hp and 220Nm respectively. The maximum torque band has also been whittled down from 1,500–3,500rpm to 1,500–3,000rpm.
I like that the (re)freshfaced Octavia Combi does not deviate too far from its predecessor. It has a reworked front, with larger lenses to see you better with, and cleaner front and rear bumpers.
Nothing beats a cost-effective interior
I note that Škoda has become quite the expert in building a cost-effective interior. While most brands have their ‘Start’ button somewhere more visible on the dashboard, the Octavia’s, like their other ICE models, has it located on the steering column. This would be a logical location to have it, considering that Škoda would build cheaper variants of the same car for other markets. In some quarters, these lower-end cars would be known as the “Poverty Spec”; where some would still rely on a key fob.
As for the rest of the new Octavia’s interior, its sports a pleasant variety of textures, which adds life, while the scratchy black plastics, which Škodas are known for seem to sink a little more into the background.
The new, larger wireless Apple and Android-friendly 13-inch navigation touchscreen display, is powered by the latest iteration of the MIB system, which features voice-assisted control named ‘Laura’. A wireless mobile charger sits at the base of the centre console, accompanied by two USB-C ports for charging mobile devices. The infotainment’s new, simpler menu structure is a plus, as it is now easier to browse its features. However, I can never fully get around remembering how to use the steering wheel’s buttons and scroll wheels.
I like that Škoda has also bucked the trend of lumping all menu features into its infotainment touchscreen, and have insisted on keeping the Octavia’s crucial functions available on a series of physical buttons.
Remember the bit where I said that Škoda is apt at building a cost-effective interior? They have incorporated many compartments within the car’s plastic mouldings. One of the two bottle holders within the centre console even has rubberised bumps at its base, designed specially for you to open a 500cc PET bottle with just one hand. All door cards are also able to accommodate 1.5 litre bottles, great if hydration is a priority of yours. On the inside of the driver’s door, there is also a self-draining holder for a small umbrella, just in-case our sunshine egg weather turns for the worst.
At the rear, you can trust that an adult with a height of 180cm will have little difficuilty with head and knee room. If I were to fuss, I’d rather do without that full-sized sunroof, as the sun does radiate into the cabin on warmer days.
Of course the highlight of the Octavia Combi is its 640 litre boot. Improvements include an automatically-retractable cargo cover, which is an improvement over the previous “two-touch” mechanical retractor – which was in itself a very good system. For greater flexibility, Škoda has designed the boot with a variable floor. And to keep things in their place, the boot also has its own organisers, including two foldable velcro-securing brackets. For those occasional IKEA runs, the Octavia Combi’s cargo space can be expanded by dropping the rear seats, increasing capacity up to 1,700 litres.
A little milder
In a previous life, I have driven the pre-facelift Combi with the more powerful 1.5 litre MHEV powertrain, and I’d admit that I have been somewhat spoiled by how it delivers. With this powered-down unit, I can immediately feel the need to work the accelerator more to bring the estate car to speed. Acceleration from zero to 100km/h takes significantly longer, at 10.4 seconds, versus the 8.6 seconds on the previous Category B iteration. Thus you might need to plan your moves when overtaking.
The Vega Aero 18-inch rims which come equipped with wind-cheating panels, which are designed/supposed to reduce drag, can sacrifice some driving comfort, due to their size. While they might seem less pretty, a set of 17s might do more favours here, especially on longer journeys.
The Octavia’s suspension is often seen as the softest of the lot of MQB-Evo derived non-SUVs, which includes the VW Golf and Audi A3. Over here, the Škoda feels generally more malleable over bumps and ruts, and as you can expect, there is more roll around turns. The torsion rear-end does occasionally reveal itself over lumpier corners, though I am not really complaining, as the cabin is already quite the pleasant place to set camp in. For longer distances, those Comfort Seats in my humble opinion, are one of the most err… comfortable in its class.
Like in the 150hp iteration, the 115hp engine’s MHEV tech does aid in fuel economy and also provides a small boost under acceleration. Upon lifting off the throttle, the transmission decouples, allowing the Octavia Combi to glide over distances. However, unlike the Volkswagen Golf or Audi A3, the engine seemingly prefers staying on idle more often, rather than shutting-off. On lighter loads, Active Cylinder Technology (ACT), deactivates cylinders 2 and 3, further reducing fuel consumption. With its fuel sipping tech, I managed 18.9km/l combined, which is significantly better than Škdoa’s lab tested 16.4km/l.
Would this then be The Best Estate in its Class?
Well, strictly speaking from an authorised distributorship point-of-view, it actually is, because the Octavia Combi is the only compact bread-and-butter estate car available in Singapore. It looks like Škoda Singapore have found their white space.
But the more important justification is, that an estate vehicle offers similar versatility to an SUV, without the need of being one (and often at a slightly lower price point). However in the Octavia Combi’s case, where its boot is even larger than that of the Executive BMW i5 Touring, it certainly speaks for itself.
Text & Photos: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fuel-sipping four-cylinder 1.5 litre engine | Interior quality could still be a bit better |
| Versatile and comfortable | Engine still needs more puff with that body |
| Well-equipped |
2025 Skoda Octavia Combi Mild Hybrid 1.5 TSI Selection
| Drivetrain | Petrol-electric mild hybrid |
| Layout | 1,498cc, inline 4 |
| Power / torque | 114hp / 220Nm |
| Transmission | 7-Speed Dual-Clutch |
| Efficiency | 16.4km/l |
| Fuel Capacity | 45 Litres |
| 0-100km/h | 10.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 203km/h |
| VES Band | B |
| Dealer | Škoda Singapore |
| Price | S$191,900 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Who says you MUST buy an SUV? |
