Skoda Octavia I test drive - 2010 -

Have you seen the grille?

The moving Octavia is reliability itself. At a high speed, for which we specially drove to the St. Petersburg ring, the car holds a straightforwardly firm -stone. Like, however, a curve. With the speed of speed, the steering wheel is bony, and in order to remove the steering wheel from a state of clear zero, an effort is required to make.
 

It is very, very difficult to write about such cars, they seem to be specially created in peak to journalists. By and large, all modern folks and derivatives of them are sketches, seats, etc. The cars are so unemotional that the hands are just dropped not on the keyboard, but by. Oh Gods! Well, what can you write about the car without flaws? Pouring the fir again with buckets?

 

And yet, for some reason, it seems to me: those who make such cars do not think about what works it will cost me to find a chip in them. Something else worries them.
 
Here, for example, is the new Skoda Octavia. Well? Is there a chip? Or will we just rewrite the article from the May number about the fifth golf?
 
I found. And now I will share my find with you. But at first the question. Tell me, will you immediately distinguish the old octavia from the new one? I think even if you give the right answer on the move, you will probably agree that the old woman and young woman are extremely similar. And although in detail, in essence, differences can be equalized at the schedule, the main element of the design, which fully forms the idea of \u200b\u200bthe appearance of Octavia, remained practically unchanged. This is a grille of the radiator. Thanks to her, the car can be identified from afar. But, I’m ready to argue, it is the lattice that will first be inherent in and make you think: what exactly Skoda is before us? Maybe this is generally Superb? And what exactly is the same grill! And the point is that the grid in the Octavian style attracts attention, which, accordingly, distracts from other really new details.
 
The new Octavia is evolution. Velvet evolution. Everything became better, although nothing has changed. Of course, it is noticeable that the car has become more expensive and, it seems, is more. And it is quite clear that it has become much more modern, still a new platform, after all! But all these improvements are lacking in evidence, or something. Meanwhile, it is known that the new and old Octavia will be produced in parallel for quite some time. And their bars will be very similar! So why is the young one better?
 
Everyone! This immediately becomes clear, you just have to be inside the car. Immediately we will make a discount on fair -skinned splendor not every Octavia, as you know, will go on the skin. But even without this, the car interior leaves the impression and here my gaze falls again towards the tank with Yele. Yes, everything is fine, everything is expensive, everything is cool! I'm not talking about ergonomics, it is simply exemplary. But - damn it! - Where is the raisins? Nothing new in terms of design, nor in terms of interesting innovations, Skoda did not bring the world into this thirsty diversity. The Czechs did not dare to surprise everyone. And no one expected this from them. They simply made a product of the highest class from high -quality ingredients. Useful, nutritious, but rather fresh. And decorations: a chrome lining on the lever of the box or a visual bright display between the tachometer and the speedometer all this is renewed for granted. A rich car is rich in details.

 

The moving Octavia is reliability itself. At a high speed, for which we specially drove to the St. Petersburg ring, the car holds a straightforwardly firm -stone. Like, however, a curve. With the speed of speed, the steering wheel is bony, and in order to remove the steering wheel from a state of clear zero, an effort is required to make. Small, of course. But it is quite adequate and then it will be possible to feel how much Skoda is helpful, how fast and accurately it follows your hands. Believe me, if all the desires of a person were embodied equally lightning speed, this world would become the best of the worlds. However, this can be said not only about the steering, but also about the brake system. Without complaints even with all the desire. The Volkswagenists do not like journalists, oh, they do not like!
 
The main disappointment of Octavia is a motor. Not at all a motor, but this concrete power unit is an old-tier 1.6-liter MPI engine. One hundred with a tail and a mane of horses is not what the car deserves. Because the size of the engine does not correspond to the size of the machine. Skoda rides with this engine, of course, but it is by no means superly. Acceleration is sluggish, but quiet, insinuating. The programs are switched easily and clearly as on any modern VW (the fossil Pointer is not taken into account), and the coordination of the efforts and moves of the gas pedals and adhesion never allowed to make mistakes at start and subsequent switching. Do you want to find fault with the smoothness of the course, the benefit of the car seems to be not harsh? Well, do not want what you want. Let's look again at Octavia II, at her grille. Now mentally remove the grate and that's it, there is no skoda! What is the rest? And the rest is a great car for every day. Companion car. A sort of autolabrador. True and reliable. It only barks in a whisper and runs on tiptoe.

 

P.S. The necessary addition. Since the new Octavia will be produced in many modifications with direct gasoline engines, with superdieselles, with DSG megacobs, on all -wheel drive, etc., then the opinion of other cars will be completely different. As usual and happens. I think that a more powerful machine will be more balanced.
Lord, how difficult it will be to write about her!
 
Autography
Skoda Octavia II
Predecessor
Octavia (1996)
Platform
Volkswagen Golf v
Premiere
march 2004
Body
hatchback, station wagon
Engines
1.4-2.0 l (75-150 l.
Production
Czech Republic
Expected replacement
2011/12
 

The car is provided by the Skoda-Sank-Petersburg Autocenter.
During the test, the car is insured by Rosno.
 
Text: Kirill Brevdo
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

A source: Wheel magazine [No. 86/2004]