The fourth-gen Skoda Octavia is one of the most anticipated launches from the Czech carmaker in India. However, Skoda recently announced the postponement of the Octavia’s launch due to the current COVID-19 situation in India. With its launch now expected to take place later this month, we have put together a few key details you should know about the executive sedan.
1. It will have a more modern and sleeker design
An area where the all-new Octavia quite evidently differs from the model it replaces is the exterior styling. Skoda has refreshed the design to bring the sedan more in line with the carmaker’s current design language. Gone are the older model’s split headlight design. In its place is a more conventional and sleek single-piece unit. The front also features a wide grille that extends out to connect the headlights. On the sides, you can see the sedan’s well-proportioned silhouette that comprises a strong shoulder line, along with a tapering roofline that ends in the fastback-style boot. The rear is also fairly uncluttered, with standout design elements including the striking LED tail-lights and the Skoda lettering on the tailgate.
2. The interiors will be high quality and feature-rich
Much like the exterior, the interior styling is also neat and minimalist in design. In the model sold abroad, Skoda has used soft-touch materials throughout the cabin in order to make it feel more premium. The dashboard is dominated by the 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. There is plenty of other kit on offer in the international model including ambient lighting, three-zone climate control, connected car tech, a digital assistant (named ‘Laura’) and wireless smartphone charging, to name a few. Majority of this equipment is expected to make its way to the India-spec model. Additionally, the India-spec model is also expected to come with a beige-on-black interior colour scheme, instead of the international model’s all-black interior.
3. It will get a larger, more powerful engine
Powering the 2021 Octavia will be the 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol engine producing 190hp (like in the new Skoda Superb). The engine will come paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. In comparison, its predecessor came with two smaller and less powerful turbo-petrol engines - a 180hp, 1.8-litre TSI and a 150hp, 1.4-litre TSI unit. Additionally, the 143hp, 2.0-litre TDI turbo-diesel engine offered on the previous model will not be available on the new Octavia, as Skoda has decided to focus on the petrol segment since the transition to BS6 norms.
4. It will be larger than the previous Octavia
The new fourth-gen Octavia is based on the modular MQB platform, which has resulted in the executive sedan growing in certain dimensions. For instance, the new Octavia is 19mm longer and 15mm wider than the model that came before it. This bodes well for the amount of cabin space the new Octavia will have on offer.
5. It will have just one rival in our market
In recent times, the executive sedan segment in the Indian market has been shrinking, with both the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla Altis having been discontinued. The reduction in the segment size can be attributed to the fact that customers’ preference in recent years has moved towards SUVs. This means that when it launches, the new Skoda Octavia will solely compete with the Hyundai Elantra in this segment. Skoda is expected to price the Octavia competitively, in the Rs 18-24 lakh (ex-showroom) range.