Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?
The base Ambition 110TSI is the new Octavia’s headline act by adding AEB, active cruise control, a 6.5-inch infotainment touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors and 17-inch alloys to its standard features sheet (which alread includes for a pricing adjustment just $500 more than the previous starting point. Skoda estimates the value of these extra features at $4750 and makes it arguably the best safety-equipped mainstream family car without options you can buy.
You may not have had the chance to use CarPlay, Android Auto, AEB or active cruise control before, but each will change the way you view driving, and their inclusion is a significant step for a model that initially launched without the availability of a reversing camera anywhere in the range.
Listing at $22,990 or $24,490 drive away, the Ambition 110TSI manual sedan is also available with a DSG auto for an extra $2300 (rrp). The wagon can be had with either transmission for an extra $1500.
For those wishing to spruce up their Ambition, the option of a factory-fitted 'Sports Pack' (as fitted to the red wagon we drove) has been added to the price list.
This adds the upgraded lights from the Style, black 19-inch multispoke wheels with lowered sports suspension, black rear spoiler, mirrors and decals, flat-bottomed steering wheel, tinted rear windows, auto headlights and wipers, auto-dimming rearview mirror and rear seatbelt reminders. How much? A reasonable $3400.
Our automatic test car was also fitted with the optional Tech Pack that brings inbuilt GPS sat nav, front parking sensors, proximity unlocking keys, Canton sound system with CD radio and 10 speakers, driving modes and voice commands for a further $3200.
Coupled with the $1700 panoramic sun roof and $490 auto tailgate, the total list price for our wagon tallied $35,780. So while it comes with all the important stuff as standard, you can still get yourself in trouble by dancing with the extra costs on the options list.
The Octavia Style, already featuring high-end features like climate control air conditioning and leather seats, continues as the next step up, and also scores AEB and active cruise, but adds a sports steering wheel, bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRLs, LED taillights, blackened front foglights and rear seatbelt reminders.
Still auto-only, the Style starts $200 more than before at $33,790 or $36,790 for the 110TSI sedan. The diesel 110TDI is available for $3100 extra and in wagon guise for $1500 more.
By comparison, the wolf in practical clothing RS range gains standard AEB and active cruise for between $300 and $500 extra, with the entry 162TSI manual sedan now listing at $39,590 or $42,690 drive away. A DSG auto is still available for an extra $2300 along with the wagon for a further $1500.
Still forming the top spec for the entire Octavia line-up is the auto-only 135TDI diesel RS. The sedan now lists at $41,290 or $44,390 drive away, with the wagon version adding $1500.
The off-road flavoured all-wheel drive Scout range also benefits from standard AEB, active cruise, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus front parking sensors, bi-xenon headlights with LED DRLs, LED taillights and rear seatbelt reminders.
Dropping the previous 135TDI Premium model, the Scout line-up now kicks off at $33,290 or $35,990 drive away for the manual diesel 110TDI, and tops out with the DSG auto petrol 132TSI Premium at $38,990 or $42,290 drive away.