Can the Octie 1.4 TSI take on the old
RS' mantle?
I'm not sure whether this is verifiable,
but apparently the most-used piece of dialogue in Hollywood films is 'Let's get
the hell outta here.' This line's connection with the Octavia 1.4 TSI isn't as
tangential as you might think — it's what I feel like doing every time I occupy
the driver's seat. I want to rev its essentials off, dump the clutch and tear
off in a haze of tyre smoke, for no particular reason. Inconvenient things like
'reality' and 'laws' prevent me from doing so (don't worry, Denver, your car is
in good hands), but you get the general idea — this Octie is a proper wolf in
sheep's clothing. It immediately put me in mind of the old legend, the earlier
Octavia RS, and that's not a bad thing.
Even
with a smaller 1.4 TSI engine, the Skoda Octavia is some serious fun
The engine is an absolute gem, for
starters. It isn't very vocal, which is perhaps its only fault (on the other
hand, refinement levels are top-notch), but the way it loves to be given both
barrels is delightful. 138 bhp and 25.5 kgm are quite impressive figures for a
1.4-litre engine, and apart from a bit of lag just below 2,000 rpm, this
powerplant revs cleanly through to its redline. The 6-speed manual gearbox is
precise enough most of the time, and if you find yourself an open stretch of
road with some corners thrown in, you'll find yourself rowing the 'box
enthusiastically. The suspension setup is on the slightly softer side, which
means that ride quality is very good, but this doesn't stop the car from having
impressive body control and a keen nature. The steering wheel is very precise,
although there's a certain lack of feel from the front wheels, which isn't a
deal-breaker. When you're driving the car in a more sedate manner, it's also
perfectly easy to drive, and the light clutch is a boon in city traffic.
Possibly the best thing about the engine is that returns over 10 kpl on a
consistent basis, which is more than you can ask for these days.
The
Octavia’s dashboard design is typical of most entry level German luxury sedans
and the liberal usage of soft touch plastics further elevates the richness
The Octavia is now a much more solid,
grown-up vehicle, with greater levels of build and comfort. The cabin is a
premium, airy place to be, with excellent fit and finish. I'm cheesed off about
the fact that there's no direct USB/AUX connection, and that you have to buy an
adapter for those — I mean, really! And who uses an SD card to carry around
music, I ask you? Also, if even a Hyundai Verna can come fitted with a proper
reversing camera, then I'm not sure there's any excuse for a car at this price
point not having one — the parking sensors will only take you so far. These
peeves aside, I enjoy sitting in this car (mainly because I want to shred its
tyres), but not half as much as those who've sat in the rear — universally,
they've all had good words about leg room and seat comfort.
Panoramic
sunroof opens out and goes a long way back, it takes up more than half the roof
Importantly, any time I want to switch
careers and become a smuggler of sundry goods, the Octie's enormous 590-litre
boot will be an able ally (don't worry, Denver...). All in, unless someone
hands me the key to a 500-bhp long-termer, I'm going to hold on to this Octie —
it's really rather good.
