A 1.4 TSI petrol and a manual version of the 2.0 TDI will round up the new Skoda Octavia’s line-up, and we have just driven both.
The 1.4 TSI comes with a torsion beam axle suspension setup at the rear (similar to the diesel), but it does seem to be a softer setup, and that means you don’t get as much bump at low speeds as you do in the diesel. This and the Octavia’s accomplished chassis mean it can be quite a lot of fun to drive.
As for the 2.0 TDI manual, it’s easy to stall, especially when starting off on slopes, so your only option is to slip the clutch and rev the engine to get going. There is some initial lag as well, up to around 1,800rpm (the DSG version masks this well), and a strong spike in acceleration as all 32.6kgm kicks in. Otherwise it is a very nice engine – there is enough torque off boost for you to potter around town in third gear all day long, and it’s only when you need a quick burst of power that you snap down a gear on the quick, six-speed manual. The car feels quick if you keep it on boost and the engine’s power delivery will never make you wish you had more power.
The rest is the same – you get the same top-quality interiors, the fantastic rear seat, the spacious cabin and the massive boot. Speaking of which, we did notice that the high boot lid does make the Octavia a bit hard to reverse and it did make us wish that Skoda offered a reversing camera as standard.