The new Skoda Octavia range has arrived in Ireland!
The new Skoda Octavia range has arrived in Ireland!

The 2020 ŠKODA Octavia has arrived in Ireland, priced from €23,950 for the hatchback and from €25,450 for the Combi estate model.

The Octavia is consistently one of Ireland’s bestselling cars since it first arrived in 1998, with 65,000 bought by Irish customers since market launch.

What’s new for the 2020 ŠKODA Octavia?

The fourth generation of the ŠKODA Octavia has just arrived promising more space, technology and quality than ever before. The new model is longer and wider than the car it replaces with a larger boot. The Combi’s boot capacity has increased by 30 litres to 640 litres. The hatchback has a capacity of 600 litres, which is 10 litres more than the previous generation.

A new design language gives a sharper and more modern look. LED light technology for low beam, high beam and daytime running lights features as standard across the range, as do LED taillights, brake lights and fog lights. Alloy wheels up to 19″ are available, with new colours including Crystal Black, Lava Blue and Titanium Blue.

There’s also a new interior with more connectivity and driver assistance systems to improve comfort and safety. A new two-spoke steering wheel, which can be heated as an option and – if ordered as a multifunction variant – comes with new control buttons and knurled scroll wheels, allowing drivers to operate a total of 14 different functions without removing their hands.

The dashboard, which has also been redesigned, is modular and has been arranged in different levels, featuring a large, free-standing central display. There are new soft-touch materials for a more premium look, and LED ambient lighting in a choice of ten different colours. The 4.2-inch multifunction Maxi DOT 16-colour display comes as standard and tri-zone Climatronic makes its debut in this latest generation of the Octavia. There is a choice of four infotainment systems with screens measuring from 8.25 to 10 inches, and a Virtual Cockpit digital dashboard display.

The interior of the new Octavia
The interior of the new Octavia

New technology and design

The new Octavia is the first ŠKODA to use shift-by-wire technology for operating the DSG automatic gearbox, which electronically transmits the driver’s gear selection to the transmission. In place of the familiar DSG lever, there is a new control module located in the centre console with a small rocker switch for selecting drive modes, as well as a button for the parking mode.

A whole range of new safety systems such as Collision-Avoidance Assist, Turn Assist, Exit Warning and the local Traffic Warning function are also making their debut in the new Octavia in 2020.

The new Octavia is launched in Ireland with petrol and diesel engines, with a petrol plug-in hybrid to join before the end of the year and a new high performance Octavia RS iV. Some of the petrol engines are now equipped with mild-hybrid technology.

Engines include choice of 1.0-litre 110 bhp TSI petrol and 1.0-litre 110 bhp mild hybrid. There’s also a 2.0-litre TDI 115 bhp diesel and 2.0-litre 150 bhp DSG automatic.

Pricing and equipment for Ireland

Prices start from €23,950 for the 1.0-litre TSI petrol Active model as a hatchback. The 1.0-litre TSI DSG mild hybrid starts from €28,250 in Ambition trim.

The 2.0-litre TDI 115 bhp model starts from €28,750 in Ambition trim.

Standard equipment on Active models includes 16” Twister alloy wheel, LED headlights, LED tail-lights, manual air conditioning, keyless go, front assist, lane assist, Bluetooth phone / audio streaming, 8” infotainment system and trailer hitch preparation.

Ambition models add 17” Rotate alloy wheels, LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators, dual zone Climatronic, cruise control, power folding exterior mirrors, rear parking sensors and camera, front and centre armrest and Smartlink.

The Style model adds 18” Perseus alloy wheels, KESSY Keyless Entry/Go, chrome window surrounds, chrome front grille inserts and silver roof rails (Combi). There is also the Virtual Cockpit, 10” Columbus navigation system and the Style interior pack (Comfort design front seats, fabric wrapped dashboard and chrome interior surrounds).

ŠKODA Ireland Head of Marketing, Raymond Leddy, said:

“The new Octavia is a palpable leap in terms of quality and refinement. There is a more upmarket feel to the car, and it is now pushing closer to the executive segment, yet with the value that ŠKODA customers have now come to expect.

The new Octavia is available as a hatchback or estate
The new Octavia is available as a hatchback or estate