2017 Skoda Octavia to get extra tech features

Skoda has equipped its Octavia mid-sizer with a suite of new technological features ahead of its arrival Down Under in mid-2017.

Dubbed Skoda Connect, the new multimedia system uses an active internet connection to control the car’s entertainment, information and car care systems, giving drivers access to features such as weather info, Google Earth and Street View, fuel price guides, real-time traffic updates, parking availability and the latest news.

Owners can also use their smartphones to download a Skoda Connect app that can remotely monitor the car’s status, including whether doors are locked or open, the location of the vehicle, notifications if the vehicle is moved, vehicle lighting and a hazard light and horn function that can be activated to make it easier to find your car in a crowded space.

Skoda Connect can also automatically call emergency services in the event of a breakdown or accident.

The Czech brand has also upgraded safety and driver assistance features for the new Octavia, which include rear-cross traffic alert, radar-guided blind spot monitoring, and a system called predictive pedestrian protection, which operates when the car is moving between 10km/h and 60km/h and employs emergency braking if the car senses that a pedestrian has stepped into oncoming traffic.

In overseas models, the Octavia will be offered with a trailer assist system which gives steering assistance when reversing a trailer however, given that a similar system on the new Audi Q7 was disallowed due to Australian Design Rules regulations, it is unlikely that Australian Octavia’s will come with that option.

Along with the boost in technological features, the updated Octavia gets a light facelift featuring a redesigned full-LED split headlight which will give the mid-sized sedan, launched in its current state in 2013, more clout against some of its rivals.

The Octavia trails a number of key rivals in the sub-$60,000 medium-sized passenger car segment, including the Toyota Camry, Mazda6, Subaru Liberty, Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo.

To the end of November, the Octavia has sold 1756 units, a 9.9 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Will updates to the Octavia’s looks and connectivity be enough to help it compete with segment leaders like the Toyota Camry and Mazda6? Tell us what you think in the comments below.