Skoda Octavia News

In a vote of confidence for its vehicle reliability, Skoda’s warranty now lasts five years.

The flagship of Skoda's facelifted Octavia range has been revealed in sedan and wagon guise.

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

Another 35,000 vehicles have been added to Volkswagen Australia's diesel emissions recall list.

A performance RS version of the all-new Kodiaq SUV would ditch a high-performance petrol engine for a bi-turbo diesel power plant.

The fastest Octavia ever will land in Australia in November, with Skoda today warning the Octavia RS230 would arrive in extremely limited numbers – and with a manual-only transmission.

US owners of VW cars with diesel engines that can cheat emissions tests have already been given $500, but local owners still have no compensation.

Three weeks after the global scandal broke, Australian owners of VW diesel cars finally know if their car is affected or not.

The second-generation Skoda Octavia Scout arrives in local showrooms this week, with a starting price that trumps its Subaru Outback and VW Passat Alltrack key rivals and kicks off a full $7,000 beneath the model it replaces.The price-leading Octavia Scout 110TDI is priced from $32,990, which puts it $2500 below the equivalent Subaru Outback 2.0D.The only petrol powered model in the new Octavia Scout range is the $38,590 132TSI. The 132TSI comes in  at $2600 more than the petrol Outback 2.5i.Topping out the 2015 Octavia Scout range is the $41,390 135TDI diesel. Compared to the equivalent Subaru Outback 2.0D Premium, the Scout is $2100 cheaper, and $6900 cheaper than the VW Passat Alltrack.RELATED: 2015 Skoda Octavia Scout detailedThe new Octavia Scout matches the segment-leading Passat Alltrak with 588 litres of storage space available with the 60:40 split rear seats raised. This space increases to 1718 litres when the seats are folded.The Outback falls behind with only 512 litres seats-up, but nudges the Czech and the German with a seats-folded figure of 1801 litres.The petrol-powered Octavia Scout 132TSI can tow a maximum of 1600kg, with both diesels carrying a superior 1800kg rating. Equivalent Outback models each fall 100kg short.The off-road oriented Octavia Scout's 171mm ground clearance puts it 6mm higher than the Passat Alltrack, while the Subaru Outback sits above them all at 213mm.The Octavia Scout 110TDI is powered by a 110kW/340Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission that drives all four wheels via a Haldex system that can send up to 95 percent of drive to the rear wheels for added grip.Standard features include reversing camera, rear parking sensors, nine airbags, driver fatigue detection, a 5.8-inch touchscreen multimedia system and 17-inch alloys.Powering the 132TSI is a 132kW/280Nm 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. It is paired to a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission that uses the same all-wheel drive system.As well as all the features of the 110TDI, the 132TSI adds an 8-inch touchscreen, satnav, eight speaker sound system, leather/Alcantara trim, dual-zone air-con, heated front seats and an automatic tailgate.A 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine powers the Octavia Scout 135TDI, which otherwise matches the 132TSI on spec. Like the 132TSI, it has a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.The additional features of the 132TSI and 135TDI are available as a $4400 Premium Pack for the 110TDI.A $3900 Tech Pack ($3300 for 135TDI) can also be optioned across the whole range and adds lane keep assist, automatic park assist with front parking sensors, bi-xenon headlights, LED tail lights and a 10-speaker sound system.Adaptive cruise control also forms part of the Tech Pack, however the 135TDI misses out on this.When financed directly through Skoda, the Octavia Scout will be available with the new Skoda Choice guaranteed future value plan, which will give owners the peace of mind of a set resale value at the end of their predetermined ownership.

The new off-road orientated Skoda Octavia Scout will hit local showrooms next month, with the second generation of the Octavia wagon-based model promising a blend of practicality and ability away from the blacktop. The Scout will rival cars like the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and new Subaru Outback in the jacked-up wagon segment, and will likely be significantly cheaper than the $48,290 VW and similarly priced to the Japanese car which starts at $35,490. Three different engines will be offered in Australia, with the choice of a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox.The entry-level model is powered by a 110kW turbodiesel engine with a six-speed manual, while a 132kW petrol and 135kW diesel are also available exclusively with a dual-clutch auto. The 135TDI uses a similar 2.0-litre four-cylinder powertrain to its Passat Alltrack VW Group sibling, but the Skoda pushes out an extra 5kW.Like the Previos Scout, the new model uses a Haldex all-wheel drive system, and sits 31mm higher than standard Octavia models for off-road ground clearance.The new Scout also wears unique front and rear bumpers with black plastic moldings around the wheelarches that hint at the its off-road pretentions. There’s also extra underbody protection compared to the standard Octavia wagon for added ruggedness.Inside, the Scout is mostly standard Octavia wagon apart from the slightly higher-set driving position. Standard features include nine airbags, reversing camera with rear parking sensors and fatigue detection system, while up-spec 135TDI and 132TSI add eight-inch touchscreen infotainment with satnav, dual-zone air-con and automatic tailgate – these features can also be added to the base model through the optional Premium Pack. Optional on all models is the Tech Pack, which includes adaptive cruise control, xenon headlights, auto park assist, premium sound system, keyless entry and start, drive mode selector and city emergency brake system – though oddly not available on the 135TDI diesel. For the first time on a Skoda, a new camera-based lane-keep assist system is also available as part of the optional Tech Pack. The new Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4 goes on sale across Australia on March 26.