New Skoda Octavia review, test drive

What’s even better is the updated and uprated 177bhp 1.8 TSI direct-injection, turbo-petrol motor. Under the hood of the Superb and the Laura, this is already one of our favourite engines, and now with more power and torque and greater responsiveness, it feels even better. It’s really smooth, it enjoys a bit of stick, and it integrates so well with the twin-clutch gearbox that it’s an absolute joy to pull up and down the rev band. And it’s punchy too. Peak torque on this motor starts as low down as 1250rpm, which is nuts for a petrol, so you can either pull the left-hand-side paddle and ask for explosive performance or just sit in a higher gear and let all that torque do the work. In fact, if anything, this motor feels punchiest in the mid-range, and that spurs you on even further. What we’ll miss is the six-speed manual – Skoda plans to launch this car in India with only the DSG automatics.

What Skoda has on its hands is a potential winner. Its freshly chiselled looks will appeal to most, space and comfort are from a segment above, and the cars are likely to be well specified and priced as well. The 1.4 TSI (not driven here) is likely to start at Rs 12.5 lakh (ex-showroom), the 1.8 TSI will cost a bit more, and you should be able to get a decently specified diesel for Rs 14 lakh. The clever bit is that the diesel and petrol versions each have different characters, perfectly suited to their use. The 2.0 TDI is more comfort oriented and not as fun to drive. The 1.8 TSI, on the other hand, is agile, exciting and comes with an engine that can deliver explosive bursts of power. All Skoda India has to do now is cross the T’s and dot the I’s and make sure it improves its aftersales service experience.