Used Skoda Octavia Hatchback 2004 - 2013 review
A great used car
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What's the used Skoda Octavia like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 16 March 2017
How we test cars
What's the used Skoda Octavia like?
While it may not be the most exciting car in its class to drive, the Skoda Octavia does offer a very well rounded set of credentials that make it an appealing used buy.
Its handling and road holding qualities are safe and dependable and it offers a very comfortable ride, both on the motorway and around town. The Octavia was based on the Volkswagen Golf of the same era, and its roots show through in the quality and feel of the interior which, while not quite in the same class as a Golf, aren’t that far behind.
Overview
A great used car, but it can be rare
Pros
- Very large boot
- Comfortable ride
- Solidly built interior
Cons
- Auto gearbox reliability
- Dull styling
- Noisy diesels
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Skoda Octavia
2.0 TDI SE Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£979
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI GreenLine II Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£1,000
Skoda OCTAVIA
1.6 TDI Elegance Euro 5 5dr
RRP £17,417
£1,295
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI S Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£1,490
Skoda Octavia
1.4 TSI Elegance Euro 4 5dr
£1,495
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI Elegance Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£1,495
Skoda Octavia
1.6 FSI Ambiente Tiptronic Euro 4 5dr
£1,499
Skoda Octavia
1.6 MPI SE Euro 5 5dr
£1,699
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI Elegance Euro 5 5dr
£1,790
See all available cars
See used cars for sale
The Octavia’s trump card, though, is in the amount of interior space it offers, with as much, if not more, rear legroom as cars from the class above. In addition, its boot is cavernous, with more room than a contemporary Ford Mondeo could muster, despite the Octavia actually being priced in line with the smaller Ford Focus.
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The model range was facelifted in early 2009 with restyled lights and bumpers, plus an improved interior with better quality trim and upgraded audio and navigation options.
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With a nine-year production run and a good range of petrol and diesel engines from the fuel-efficient Greenline economy model to the sporty vRS, there’s an Octavia to suit almost every budget.
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Ownership cost
What used Skoda Octavia will I get for my budget?
If you’re not put off by an older car with higher mileage, then Skoda Octavia prices start at less than £1000, but this will buy a tired example with well over 100,000 miles on the clock.
Up the budget to £3000 to buy a 1.9 TDI with 70,000 miles, or for £5000, you can get a facelifed 1.8 TFSI with 60,000 miles.
A well-equipped 2.0TDI CR Elegance with the DSG dual-clutch gearbox will cost upwards of £6500 while the overtly sporting vRS can be bought in facelifted form for £8500, which gets you a 2010 model with 40,000 miles.
How much does cost to run a Skoda Octavia?
With a wide range of engines the Octavia’s official economy figures vary from 35mpg for a pre-facelift vRS petrol all the way to an impressive 74.3mpg for the Greenline II 1.6TDI CR.
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Skodas also tend to perform well for real world economy; expect 45-50mpg for either the 1.9- or 2.0-litre diesels, 35-40mpg for the 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrols and an impressive 55mpg for the later 1.6-litre diesel. The smaller 1.4TSI petrol engine the can achieve more than 40mpg, too.
Road tax is free on the Greenline version, but ranges up to £270 for an older vRS model, while the vast majority of the 1.9- and 2.0-litre diesels are £110 a year to tax, though the later 1.6-litre diesels cost just £30 a year. Non-vRS petrol models range from £145 for the 1.4 TSI to £230 for an older 1.8-litre, so it’s wise to check the emissions figure for any prospective purchase before you buy.
Servicing is cheaper than many rivals, and Skoda has a fixed price scheme under which you’ll pay £149 for a minor service (10,000 miles or every 12 months) and £269 for a major service (every 20,000 miles or 24 months).
It’s worth noting that all diesel Octavias and most petrols have a timing belt that needs to be replaced every four years at a cost of £385 at a Skoda dealer, and it makes sense to replace the water pump at the same time for another £100.
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Insurance costs are slightly cheaper than an equivalent Volkswagen due to Skoda’s cheaper repair costs.
Tips & Advice
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Our recommendations
Which used Skoda Octavia should I buy?
With a nine-year model life there’s a host of Skoda Octavias to choose from, but our pick would be a facelifted car from 2009 onwards. An S comes with climate control, central locking, a CD player and electric front windows, while SE adds a remote alarm, alloy wheels and split-folding rear seats. Elegance has bigger alloys, cruise control and parking sensors, while the Laurin & Klement adds electric leather heated seats and metallic paint. In 2011, SE Plus was added and this is worth having for its navigation system.
Petrol engines in the facelifted models range from a 1.2- to 2.0-litre, although the latter is only fitted to the sporty vRS while diesels are either a 1.6- or 2.0-litre. However, our pick of the range is the 1.4TSI petrol which offers a great blend of performance and economy.
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Our favourite Skoda Octavia: 1.4TSI SE Plus.
Tips & Advice
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Skoda Octavia?
The most obvious competitor to the Skoda Octavia is the evergreen Volkswagen Golf, on which the Skoda is based. However, you’ll sacrifice some of the Skoda’s size and need to increase your budget for a car of the same age, spec and mileage.
For driver involvement, the Ford Focus is the obvious choice with its class-leading ride and handling. However, keep in mind that the boot is small, so you won’t have as much space as you will in many rivals, let alone the Skoda
The Vauxhall Astra betters the Focus for space, but it can’t live with the Octavia. Nevertheless, it’s quiet, smooth to drive and has a good ride, if still not up to Golf standards. Most models are well equipped, too.
Find a used Skoda Octavia in the What Car? Classifieds here
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How reliable is the Skoda Octavia ?
Skoda Octavia
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Skoda Octavia
2.0 TDI SE Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£979
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI GreenLine II Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£1,000
Skoda OCTAVIA
1.6 TDI Elegance Euro 5 5dr
RRP £17,417
£1,295
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI S Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£1,490
Skoda Octavia
1.4 TSI Elegance Euro 4 5dr
£1,495
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI Elegance Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr
£1,495
Skoda Octavia
1.6 FSI Ambiente Tiptronic Euro 4 5dr
£1,499
Skoda Octavia
1.6 MPI SE Euro 5 5dr
£1,699
Skoda Octavia
1.6 TDI Elegance Euro 5 5dr
£1,790
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
Follow Stuart Milne on
Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
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