Review of Skoda Octavia


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The Skoda Octavia may not seem the most glamorous car on the market but its reasonable starting price of just under £14,000 means it can compete with any mid size saloon in terms of value. Skoda long ago shook off its label as a low end manufacturer and is now a worthy part of the VW Group.
The body a shape is wide and angular without being overly pointy. The interior is vast and it has one of the biggest capacity boots in its class.

There is a good range of engines reflecting the price gap between bottom and top of the range models (a ten grand variation). In total there are 87 variants of the Octavia. The 1.4 litre seems small for a car of these proportions but there is a 1.6 and an impressive 1.8 TSI which delivers 160bhp at 30mpg. The 2 litre TDI could prove to be the best seller due to its combination of economy (43.3mpg) and power.

Suspension is soft but the Octavia corners well. Roll is minimal, grip is good and the steering feeds back to the driver in an assuring way. There are sports models with firmer suspension.

Its value is very good compared to other models in its class such as the Golf or the Vectra. Higher specification models can reach up to the £25,000 mark which is a long way off the base price but anybody buying new will be impressed by the Octavia’s lack of depreciation. After 3 years it still retains 50% of its original value.

The Skoda Octavia is of a high quality finish with a well made interior. The ride quality is of a soft nature making it a good long distance companion. If you want a large family car and you are willing to sacrifice some power, the 1.4 is an excellent price for the amount of car you get.


Skoda Citigo Spec


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The Skoda Citigo is a city car that will be launched in the UK during 2012. Its main features are a very high standard of safety combined with very good economy. For a small car it has been designed to make the best of its internal space and it will be available in thee and five door versions.

Engine options include two three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engines. These are a 60 bhp and a 75 bhp unit. Both engines have been designed to provide very good fuel economies and have been optimised for urban and sub-urban motoring. They have been specifically designed to reach optimum operating temperature very quickly and the fuel consumption is 67.3mpg with the 60 bhp unit and 65.7mpg with the 75 bhp unit. CO2 emissions are 105 g/km and 108 g/km respectively.

Safety features include a head-thorax side airbag for the driver and the front seat passenger; ‘City Safe Drive’ which is a brake assistance system which uses a laser sensor and operated at low speed in situations where there is a collision risk. The objective is to prevent the car running into the car it is following should that car stop suddenly.

Dimensions are: length = 3.56 metres; width = 1.65 metres; height = 1.48 metres; wheel base = 2.42 metres.

Boot space is: With rear seats upright space = 251 litres; With rear seats folded space = 951 litres.

Other features include:

o Easy entry system for comfortable rear seat access in 3 door version
o Portable navigation system as an optional extra with Bluetooth and touch screen
o Numerous internal storage compartments
o Cup holders
o Multimedia system
o Side pockets on front seats
o Photograph holder on central console

Although the Skoda Citigo is being launched in the Czech market in 2011, it will not be launched in Europe until 2012 though it you want to look for any early imports or find dealers where you can pre-order one, you will find that www.motors.co.uk will be able to assist.


Skoda Roomster


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Not be one of the most beautiful or elegant cars on the road but, as the name suggests, it is one of the most spacious.

It doesn’t just have space though, it has very versatile space. If you want to carry passengers in the rear, then there is lots of space for them to stretch out their legs, along with reasonable luggage space. If additional luggage carrying capacity is required the seats slide out of the way to create a generously spacious compartment. There are three completely independent rear seats and each can be operated individually, so you can mix and match your passengers and luggage carrying capacity as you wish.

The Skoda Roomster falls nicely into the ‘motors designed for families’ range but will also offer something that is a little different from the usual family saloon.

Engine wise there are three petrol and three diesel engines to choose from. The petrol engine range includes a three cylinder 70 bhp, 1.2 litre engine which will deliver 43 mpg in town, a 1.4 litre 85 bhp unit, and a 1.6 litre 105 bhp unit. Diesel choices include a 70 bhp 1.4 TDI, the same engine tuned to 80 bhp, and a 1.8 litre TDI.

Despite a high body line, the car handles well on bendy roads and the body roll is considerably less than might be anticipated. The seats are very supportive for this class of motor and really the only criticism is that air conditioning does not come as standard.

The car is very economical to drive, especially the three cylinder model. Emissions are also very low and start as low as band B which means that you pay very little road tax.

Although by no means a performance car, it feels stable and safe to drive; fundamentally it is an ideal family car.


Skoda Fabia Estate Review


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The SKoda Fabi Estate is a beautiful new compact hatchback from one of the premiere car manufacturers in Europe. There are several options you can choose when buying a Fabia Estate. The car comes with a choice of 69, 84 or 103 bhp 1.2 liter engines. Depending on the demands you will place on the car, we recommend you go with either of the two 1.6 Turbo-diesels which produce 89 0r 103bhp. If you want some performance while still being practical, you can choose the ‘Hot Hatch’ vRS version.

The Fabia Estate is a big car by compact class standards but it is still compact enough to handle city driving. There is a comfortable and smooth feeling while driving on the highway, with easy handling. There is a good amount of body lean when clinging to tight corners. All in all the car handles beautifully. The steering is accurate and light. There is more than enough grip when driving in slippery conditions.

You will have a bit of wind noise that builds up around the windscreen pillars as you increase your speed, however, the suspension and road noises do not usually break the calm inside the cabin. Too bad we cannot say the same for the engines. You will find that all 3 cylinder engines are a bit loud, even more so when traveling at low speeds. Still the loudest of them all is the 1.9 Liter. When compared to modern Diesel Engines, this one is gruff and loud.


Skoda Roomster MPV Review


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The Skoda Roomster can be compared to the versatile supermini based MPVs like the Rebault Modus.

At the same time, when comparing the space and the boot capacity, you can compare it to much bigger cars such as the Renault Scenic compact MPV. Large discounts and better gas prices seem to make the Roomster a more appealing choice. It is definitely more fuel efficient.

While the interior design is not quite as dauntless as the exterior design, it is still very solid and durable. The Roomster didn’t do very well overall in the 2010 JD Power consumer satisfaction survey.

However, many if not most of the components in this car have been proven in other VW group cars. Some of the highest scores were given in the department of the cars mechanical reliability.

The Skoda Roomster is fully equipped with front, side and even curtain airbags. It has ISOFIX child seat mountings as well. You will find a bit of an extra cost for stability on all except 1.6 automatic model and the Scout model. There is added protection from theft with an added immobilizer and deadlocks and the vehicle identification number being visible.

Overall this is a very good car if you have children and need a roomier car but still enjoy the convenience of a smaller car. We highly suggest this car and believe you will be more than happy with the performance. It’s a great ride.


Skoda Octivia Estate Review


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The Skoda Octiva Estate is a gorgeous, compact wagon. This car comes with a variety of several different engines. The Petrol engines are 103bhp 1.2 Liter, 120bhp 1.4 Liter and 158bhp 1.8 Liter. There are also the Diesel Engines to choose from. There is a 104bhp 1.6 Liter, and a 138bhp 2.0 Liter. All of these engines are powerful from low revs, they will not give you a problem with performance when carrying heavier loads. All of the engines offer a choice of manual or automatic transmission.

The Octivia Estate has scored high in the comfort department. Even the higher-rising Scout 4×4 model handles well with ample grip, however, there is less feeling in the steering.

For firmer sharper handling and firmer suspension without losing any of the comfort, you can opt for the vRS performance version. You may not find it quite as rewarding as driving some of the smaller, fast Estates.

The Octivia Estate is a beautiful cruiser. Both the petrol and diesel engines offer and very smooth and comfortable ride. The engines may sound a little bit gruff during the higher revs. You may experience some light wind noise that can be heard around the front windows. For a more light and accurate shift you may choose the manual transmission. The automatic transmission does tend to be a little bit more slick than the manual.

Overall, this is a very civilized cruiser and we believe you will be highly satisfied with it.


Skoda Octavia Hatchback Review


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This is a sleek and beautiful hatchback. It would be our recommendation to just ignore the basic model as it is not as powerful as the turbocharged petrol engines. The petrol engines are available with the following specs. There is the 103bhp 1.2 TSI, and our favorite the 120 bhp 1.4 TSI , the 158bhp 1.8 TSI and the 197bhp 2.0 TFSI unit in the vRS hot hatch. The diesels are available in the 104bhp 1.6, 138bhp 2.0 and the 168bhp 2.0 in the vRS.

The Octavia Hatchback is scored very high for being a comfortable ride. The car has very good handling. There is ample grip. The Octavia Hatchback’s size make it not quite as agile as it’s rivaling cars. You may find the steering to be a little bit short when it comes to feeling. You will find that the vRS performance model has much firmer suspension. This makes for super sharp handling without the comfort suffering in the slightest. We don’t find it quite as rewarding to drive as some of the best hot hatches out there though.

The Octavia Hatchback’s petrol engines are quite smooth and rather quiet. However, you may find that the 1.2 and the 1.4 TSI engines can sound a little bit harsh and you rev them hard. Most of the diesels are comparable when it comes to the engine sound. Overall the Octavia Hatchback is a reasonably refined vehicle. A little bit of road noise and suspension noise can be heard in the cabin but this does not take away from the comfort of the car.


Skoda Superb Estate Review


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The Skoda Superb Estate is a classy and spacious car, while still being considered quite affordable. It gives you a relaxed driving experience. Those looking for a luxurious wagon that carries all of the features necessary for small to medium sized families may find this car desirable at such an affordable price. Aside form the beautiful and sleek interior, many review sites and magazines have given this vehicle three out of five stars in performance, which means you don’t have to sacrifice.

The 123 bhp 1.4 TSI petrol will struggle when pulling heavier loads. The slower 158bhp 1.8 TSI, in our opinion, is a better choice. We do not recommend the 256bhp 3.6 as it is a gas guzzler. Although we believe the diesels will be a little bit more popular we think the 104bhp seems to be a little bit more rattly, therefore that’s not a pick for us either. The 138bhp 2.0 does have quite a punch, however, it seems to deliver this punch all at one time. The 168bhp version is much more uniform with the delivery of power, however it is a bit more pricy.

The Superb Estate is a very comfortable ride due to its very soft suspension. This helps a great deal when traveling over rough road surfaces. It’s very stable on the highway as well. This makes for a very steady ride and is ideal for cruising. It may feel a bit unsteady around bends however, there is quite enough grip which will make you feel pretty secure when taking corners.


Skoda Yeti Crossover Review


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The Skoda Yeti Crossover is a disappointment where the ride and refinement are concerned. However, it is super stylish and a very practical compared to your traditional family hatchback. This car also handles extremely well.

There are five turbocharged engines available. The two wheel drive models come in the 104bhp 1.2 Liter Petrol or the 108bhp 2.0 Liter Diesel. The 108bhp 2.0 Liter Diesel is also available in 4 wheel drive with outputs of 138bhp and 168bhp. The Petrol 4 wheel drive version come with the 158bhp 1.8 Liter engine.

The Range-topping Yeti Crossover is wonderful off road and this is because it is fully equipped with a lot of smart gadgets that assist you when traveling over slippery terrain. Much like the other models it handles extremely well, offering quite a grip and very precise steering. This makes it very simple to handle when you are driving on winding roads. We have found the Yeti’s ride to be quite bumpy at any speed unless you are riding on a glass smooth road. The Yeti Crossover does tend to let in a bit of wind and road noise while doing extremely fast speeds. The Diesel engines are a big disappointment as they cause quite a bit of vibrating inside of the vehicle making for a little bit of a bumpy ride. We did find the Petrol engines to be quite a bit more smooth. The Yeti has nice evenly weighted pedals and a very smooth gearshift.