Skoda Octavia Scout Review

Skoda Octavia Review

It's a whole 13 years since the Skoda Octavia first joined Skoda's portfolio, and this latest version is the start of something new for the company.

Working on the grounds that you should never fix something that isn't broken in the first place, the new Skoda Octavia is more about looks and engines than a total reworking.

The new Skoda Octavia is available as a hatchback and an estate, although the new versions of the vRS and Scout won't be in the showrooms until June 2009. But if the test car is anything to go by, it will be worth the wait.

Body changes to the Skoda Octavia range are, in general, quite subtle, but make a bold statement. This is especially so in the front, where the re-profiled bonnet makes the car look wider. Below this, the headlights now have an upward angle at the outer edges and feature the 'Octavia' inscription. Closer to the ground the new bumper is a single moulding with re-designed fog-lights. The result is a smarter look and a lot more presence.

Other changes include larger door mirrors as the Skoda Octavia is known for its towing prowess, having won two categories in the Caravan Club, Tow Car of the Year in 2007. The side mouldings are now body-coloured as are the bumpers; with red reflectors set into the rear panel.

The new Skoda Octavia Scout and vRS, which are based on the estate version, will follow much the same form but, at the time of writing, stand out from the new models and will continue to do so come June.