Skoda Octavia Estate

[houseargh]

Going to view one this weekend. It's 2013 with a 1.4l engine.

I know Skoda ranks high for reliability and it should be great spacewise. From browsing various other threads on here, I don't know if we should be concerned that 1.4l is not enough engine size for a car that big, as quite a few people are talking about going for 2.0l (possibly out of our budget as this is at the upper end for us). I know that the technology has improved over the years so that you need less engine size on a bigger car than you used to, but not sure if 2013 is new enough for that!

If you have similar, any feedback much appreciated!

(We mostly do fairly short drives close to home but do London to Manchester every six weeks and plan to take it on family driving holidays eg. down to France in a few years time, so there is some chunky motorway driving in the mix)

I used to have one - it was a 2008 model - and I loved it. I think mine was a 2l so I can't comment on the 1.4l, but it was an absolute workhorse of a car. Huge boot for kids/holidays, spacious and comfortable.

We have one it's 2.0l thought, my husband has a long commute, it's very reliable and spacious.

I ve a 1.6tdi estate, its great, plenty powerful, the 1.4 petrol is just as good, probably better, had one as a hire care waiting for my company car in 2016.

Just double check on cambelt (unless its the chain model) replacement intervals... don't quote me but i believe they have changed.

Skodas are more reliable than average but only just, nowhere near as reliable as a Toyota for example. The 1.4 is fairly highly strung and lugging around a big-ish car which will put it under stress. If you’re doing regular motorway journeys the 1.6tdi might be a better choice. Friend of mine has that engine in a similar age Yeti and is going strong with >190K miles on it.

Thanks all really helpful (and would love a Toyota but the only ones in our budget are ancient Aygos which won't cut it sizewise!)

Re. The 1.6tdi - I'll have to double check but we're in London so I'm not sure if it's ULEZ compliant. If it is, will definitely take a look as it does sound like that would be a better bet

New Skodas - the consoles are fiddly and irritating. I wouldn’t buy another one.

If you’re used to a 2 litre engine a 1.4 feels underpowered and awkward. It does for me- I’d go for a 1.6 ideally.

super reliable and comfortable though ofc yes.

I think you have to go mk3 (>2015) to get the euro6 TDi, the earlier ones were euro5.

The 1.4TSI is rated as the best engine for the Octavia overall, its not under powered at all & has better reliability than the diesels but in all honesty they all pretty good, our company ran Octavia's for years, 100s of them and they rarely gave any trouble, just a water pump issue on the diesels but thats been fixed by now.
Mines is on 115k, had a over run water pump go on it (£80, it still runs fine when it goes) thats it, i bought it off the lease company when i left.

I've got a 1.4 octavia (not estate) and it's become annoyingly reliable. DH wants something cooler but it literally fits everything, is so fuel efficient and never costs us anything at services and MOTs. I've got a corsa that's too small of engine for the car size and it's a nightmare, foot flat to the floor for a few minutes to get near 70 whereas the skoda is quite nippy to get to the speed I need.

Not sure what engine size mine is but it’s 180bhp and goes like shit off a shovel.
It’s ok size wise but not amazing. It’s good to drive, economical, doesn’t cost in ulez, winter pack is great and the 4 wheel drive is excellent.
Mines 16 plate with about 40k on the clock

They feel a bit flimsy and don't seem to grip the road that well when driving fast / or icy weather. Its cheaper than other similar sized cars though and quite nippy.

Thanks all, sounding pretty positive all round. The cheaper for similar sized cars part is key - our budget is only 8k and we don't want anything older than about ten years so we don't have much to choose from in that size range. Just hoping this one tomorrow looks ok - we've been without a car since before Christmas so I would REALLY like to resolve that soon!

Mine is a 1.8, i do like it a lot. My only gripe is it's not as powerful as my old BMW which had more horsepower i think? The bmw was overall a complete nightmare but accelerated better than my skoda. Lovely and spacious although might try toyota next time

Not sure what engine size mine is but it’s 180bhp and goes like shit off a shovel.

Sounds like a diesel VRS, we’ve got a modified one for dog duties, I’d describe its performance as “adequate”, nothing more.

I've got a 2016 Skoda Octavia (not estate) and it's brilliant. It's a 1.0 TSI and have had no problems with that size engine (being TSI means it's equivalent to a larger engine size that's not TSI). I do 35 mile round trips to work most days, plus regular 200 mile journeys up and down the country to see family. It's now done almost 80,000 miles and has had no maintenance issues at all. Would heartily recommend. Also, just a tip that the hatchback version has only a slightly smaller boot size than the estate so you might be able to make do with that.

It’s definitely fast, plenty of power for towing as well. Previously I had a chipped defender (stupidly fast) and it’s as good as that. Mine is 4x4 as well.

1.4 will be fine. The 1.6tdi is 110 bhp so sluggish as hell though very economical . the 1.4 is 150 bhp which more than enough, has decent acceleration and certainly doesn’t struggle over long distance at speed.

You need to look at bhp! I went from a 2003 skoda octavia non estate which was 1.9l diesel or something high like that to a 2019 one which was 1.5 tsi petrol

However the bhp on my 2003 was only 115 but on 2019 one is 150! And boy do I notice the difference. 8 ish secs to get to 70mph if I need to speed up it just goes! Always took forever in my 2003.

So its not just engine size but bhp is important.

I do love octavias. My 2003 lasted 20yrs no major issue suffice tyres, oil and brakes oh and I once had to replace the battery. Thats it. Had to get rid of it cos of upcoming ulez. Super reliable, love all the space not just the boot space but inside too. Repairs are reasonable. The mk3 and mk4 I think look much more cooler. My 2019 one I think has a similiar ish look to bmw because of the grill.

I dont think ill ever buy a different brand car unless I'm downsizing then ill go to a mini cos I love those too

It’s definitely not fast! Something like 8 seconds to 62mph! That’s slooooow!

Oh, and a chipped Defender is not “stupidly fast” unless it’s had a 5litre supercharged V8 chucked in with the remap, it’s just marginally less glacial than standard 🤣🤣🤣

That’s your opinion plenty of people in the know told me otherwise

the op wants a family car that avoids ulez and for holidays to france, not a 5l chipped defender or a sleeper.

Definitely recommend, my husband is on his 3rd one, he drives 50,000 miles a year so drives them up to around 200,000 miles and then gets a new (second hand) one!

Also drive it down to the Alps and Spain 4 times a year (4x4 version) great in the snow.

I've got a 1.6 7 speed automatic Skoda Octavia estate and I hate it. Its underpowered and uncomfortable. Not a patch on the Kia Ceed estate that preceded it.