New 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift has finally gone on sale in India at a starting price of Rs 15.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Pan India). The new Skoda Octavia 2017 carline is spread across three trim levels – Ambition, Style and Style Plus. While the sedan receives comprehensive updates inside and out, the engine setup remains unchanged. The 2017 model year continues to source its power from the 1.4-litre petrol, 1.8-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines, paired to a manual and automatic gearbox. The new Octavia shares its underpinning (Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform) with the upcoming Skoda Kodiaq 7 Seater SUV. Most of the design changes have been made on the front fascia of the saloon including new LED headlamps and wider and angular signature grille, wider chrome slat, new fog lamp assembly and remoulded bumper.
On the contrary, the new Skoda Octavia 2017 looks largely similar to the old model. Though, the new pair of alloy wheels marks a distinction. Towards the rear, one can notice the revised bumper with new LED tail lamps. Updates are minimal inside the cabin. Material quality of the new Octavia facelift has been classed up. A new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and WLAN connectivity for smartphone integration also make their ways to the 2017 facelifted model. Features such as dual-zone climate control with rear AC vents, power adjustable wing mirrors, include height adjustable driver’s seat and keyless entry with remote operation for windows & ORVMs come as standard across the carline.
All variants of the saloon get dual front airbags, front side airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and multi-collision integration, electronic differential lock and rear parking sensors. Some features are exclusively made available on the high-spec trim including newly styled alloy wheels, hands-free parking, programmable LED ambient lighting and 12-way power adjustable driver seat with memory function. The high trim gets additional fatigue alert system, tyre pressure monitoring, rear side and curtain airbags. The panoramic sunroof with remote operation and navigation system are also restricted to the top-end model. The 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift will challenge from cars likes Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla Altis. More – Skoda Kodiaq SUV Launch, Specs & Price
The Good (Positives)
Stylish Looks
Spacious Cabin
Top-Notch Quality
Excellent Performance
The Bad (Negatives)
High maintenance cost
Slightly expensive than competition
New Skoda Octavia 2017 Price In India
| Petrol Variant | Ex-showroom, Pan India |
| Ambition 1.4 TSI MT | Rs 15.49 lakh |
| Style 1.4 TSI MT | Rs 17.49 lakh |
| Style 1.8 TSI AT | Rs 18.59 lakh |
| Style Plus 1.8 TSI AT | Rs 20.89 lakh |
| Diesel Variants | Ex-showroom, Pan India |
| Ambition 2.0 TDI CR MT | Rs 16.89 lakh |
| Style 2.0 TDI CR MT | Rs 18.95 lakh |
| Style 2.0 TDI CR AT | Rs 20.49 lakh |
| Style Plus 2.0 TDI CR AT TSI AT | Rs 22.89 lakh |
With subtle design upgrades and new features, the 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift is slightly premium than the previous model. While the prices of the petrol variants of the sedan start from Rs 15.49 lakh and go up to Rs 20.89 lakh, the diesel models’ prices range between Rs 16.89 lakh – Rs 22.89 lakh (all, ex-showroom). The new Octavia carline is available in three trim levels – Ambition, Style and Style Plus – and a total of 8 variants. Read More – Skoda Fabia SUV In The Works
New Skoda Octavia 2017 Bookings
One can book the 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift by paying an initial sum of Rs 25,000 at any authorized Skoda dealership. Though, the deliveries will be commenced towards the end this month.
New Skoda Octavia 2017 Mileage
With no change to the engine set up, the sedan returns same fuel economy as its predecessor. That said, the entry level petrol variants with 1.4-litre engine delivers an impressive mileage of 16.8kmpl opposed to the 1.8-litre TSI trims, with slightly less mileage of 14.7kmpl. On the other hand, the 2.0-litre diesel-powered Octavia offers 19.3kmpl of fuel economy.
New Skoda Octavia 2017 Specifications
| Specifications | Petrol | Diesel |
| Engine | 1.4L TSI & 1.8L TSI | 2.0L TDI |
| Power | 148bhp & 177bhp | 141bhp |
| Torque | 250Nm | 320Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed AT & 6-speed MT | 7-speed AT |
Just like the previous model, the 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift comes with the three engines – two petrol and one diesel. All powertains offer the same power and torque figures. The entry-level petrol model derives its power from a 1.4-litre TSI unit that makes a peak power of 148bhp at 4,500rpm and a peak torque of 250Nm at 1,500rpm. The higher capacity 1.8-litre TSI motor generates 177bhp of power against 250Nm of torque.
On the other hand, the 2017 Skoda Octavia diesel comes fitted with a 2.0-litre TDI mill that has been carried over from the Volkswagen Tiguan. This unit develops a maximum power output of 141bhp, while yielding a maximum torque of 320Nm. Transmission options on the carline also remain unchanged – i.e. a 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed DSG. Also Read- Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo Coming To India
New Skoda Octavia 2017 Exterior
Front Profile
Featuring maximum updates, the front fascia of the saloon looks more refreshing than the side and rear profiles. The saloon receives new set of LED headlamps reminiscent of the old Mercedes Benz E-Class. The chrome strips running across the bumper and few creases add more its premium appeal. Design elements such as wide and angular glossy black grille, a wider chrome slat on the air-dam, new fog lamp enclosures and reworked bumper round up the changes made to the front.
Side Profile
Save for the new alloy wheels, the side profile of the 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift looks largely identical to the previous model. The updated version has ditched the old 16-inch alloys, and gets larger 17-inch alloy wheels. The car also receives electrically adjustable ORVMs with integrated blinkers.
Rear Profile
With subtle changes to the rear, it remains largely unchanged save for the new tail lamps with LED elements and slightly changed bumper.
Dimensions
No changes have made in dimension of the car. The 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift continues to measure 4,659mm in length and 1,814mm of height. With a height of 1,476mm, the sedan sits on the 2,688mm long wheelbase that translates into a large cabin. Ground clearance of the sedan remains intact at 155mm. Read- Skoda Rapid Facelift – All You Need To Know
New Skoda Octavia 2017 India Interior
Spaciousness/Seating
Sitting on a long wheelbase, the cabin is spacious enough to accomodate five adults comfortably. There is enough legroom for occupants seated in front as well as rear. Similarly, it offers impressive kneeroom and headspace in both the rows. The leather seat covering looks upmarket and adds more comfort to the interior.
Practicality
The 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift comes with multiple practical storage points to keep your belongings. The saloon has a cargo volume of 590-litres offering enough room for 4-5 luggage units. In addition, it also gets picnic tables (mounted at the back of the front seats), bottle holders, removable torch in the boot and customizable key settings.
Infotainment/Music System
While the global-spec 2017 Skoda Octavia facelift gets a 9.2-inch touchscreen display with ‘Columbus navigation system”, the India-spec version packs in a new infotainment system with a new 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink connectivity. The car also gets WLAN connectivity for smartphone integration.
Features
The Skoda Octavia 2017 is armed to the teeth with connectivity, comfort and safety bits. It features a new infotainment system, ambient lighting with 10 adjustable colours, hands-free parking system, rear view camera, standard dual front and front-side airbags, ABS, EBD and ESC. In addition, it also comes with new capacitive-touch buttons on the centre console, power seat for the driver with memory function & co-passenger in select trims, rear AC vents, rear sunblind, steering mounted audio controls to name a few.
New Skoda Octavia 2017 Boot Space
It continues to offer impressive legroom, kneeroom and headroom space for both front and rear occupants. The sedan gets large 590-litres of boot space, which is more than sufficient to carry 5 suitcases. While the 60:40 split folding rear seats helsp carve more space for storing luggage. With the rear seats folded, the boot space can be expanded to 1,580-litres.
New Skoda Octavia 2017 Safety and Braking
Safety brigade on the line-up comprises standard ABS with EBD, ESC, rear parking sensors, dual front airbags and front side-airbags. Features such as tyre pressure monitoring system, hands-free parking, driver fatigue alert system, rear-side airbags and curtain airbags are reserved for the top-spec Style Plus trim. Stopping power is sourced from disc brakes at front and rear axles.
Is it worth waiting for?
The fourth-generation Octavia packs plethora of features across line-up. Coming from the stables of Skoda, a weak sales network could be a problem. While it demands high maintenance cost, the sedan is excellent in terms of performance and offers a roomy cabin to the occupants. Packed with high-end in-cabin tech and powered by efficient engines, the Octavia is an elegant sedan that is set to get better aesthetically. With these changes, Octavia could eat into the sales of Toyota Corolla Altis and Hyundai Elantra.
