Skoda Octavia vs Subaru Forester

What's the difference?

VS
Skoda Octavia
Skoda Octavia

$39,590 - $59,990

2026 price

Subaru Forester
Subaru Forester

$43,490 - $55,990

2026 price

Summary

2026 Skoda Octavia
2026 Subaru Forester
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 1.5L

Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

-
Fuel Efficiency
5.5L/100km (combined)

-
Seating
5

0
Dislikes
  • Some lag in initial acceleration
  • Space-saver spare
  • Mild-hybrid adds little

  • Sluggish acceleration
  • Needs all-terrain tyres
  • Intrusive driver alert system
2026 Skoda Octavia Summary

Once a solid mainstay on our roads, wagons have fallen out of favour somewhat as a result of the ever-growing popularity of SUVs and utes.

But is a wagon actually a better and more family-friendly daily driver than a bigger, taller SUV or ute? Perhaps.

And throw a mild-hybrid system into the mix and it could be an even more appealing purchase.

Skoda’s Octavia has built a strong following in Australia and now comes its new mild hybrid grade, available as a wagon or liftback.

So, what’s the Skoda Octavia Select mHEV wagon like as a daily driver for families?

Read on.

View full pricing & specs
2026 Subaru Forester Summary

The sixth-generation of Subaru’s Forester has landed and while the new hybrid versions constitute the biggest news of this batch, the petrol-only variants should not be ignored.

The five-seat mid-size SUV has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, Subaru’s well-regarded 'symmetrical all-wheel drive' system and some new changes inside and out.

So, does the top-spec Touring offer the best value-for-money in the petrol Forester line-up?

Read on.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2026 Skoda Octavia 2026 Subaru Forester

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