Skoda Octavia 2.0

I have a 2.0 Octavia Elegance Hatch, which I've owned for approx 7 months now. It's the 4th Skoda I've owned, and more than any other, this one has convinced me that I'll only ever own Skoda cars in the future.

It isn't the engine I wanted (I initially wanted the 1.9 TDi but couldn't find one in my price range). However, I've found the 2.0 petrol engine very reliable and reasonably economical (I do approx 250 miles a week in my commute to work, averaging 40.5 MPG over the week).

The car is comfortable, cruises nicely and happily on the motorways and is responsive enough to pull you out of trouble if needed. The only thing I personally would improve (and this still doesn't irritate me enough to class it as a bad point) is I'd like the suspension to be a bit stiffer. That though, is because I'm still a girl-racer at heart.

The Skoda Octavia 2.0 is solid and safe feeling and has good suspension, but the

breaks squeal like a municipal truck, even after changing the entire breaking system within the warranty period (I literally had to send the car back four times to get the job attended to).

The pick up, once you slow down in second or third gear, is zilch.

You can hurt your palms and consume 5000 calories just getting your front seats to incline, rotating those saucer shaped discs on the side!

Fourth rate service centre in Bangalore!

I thought Skoda's image had changed when they started using VW parts. I was very wrong.

This is my second review of the Skoda Octavia Ambiente Estate 2l car now I have had it for a few months.

I am now selling the car.

The engine sounds like a diesel and doesn't get any better. Room for rear passengers is very cramped and this goes for a niggle to a major annoyance. The car has a very annoying squeak from inside the dash. But worst of all the car drinks oil, and I mean really drinks it. I would say an average of 2 litres every 1000 miles. This is very very annoying, expensive and worrying. The dealer was not worried but I am. It is not what you expect on a modern car and I have to carry oil everywhere I go and have to top up regularly.

The interior is adequate but gives no feeling of "quality" or "good vibes".

After a few months with this car I really do not like it and am changing it.

It's built to a price and you can tell, the golf base is just too small.

I suspect that people who rave about it have no children or small children or more likely have children who have left home.

This is not an acceptable family car if you have more than 2 people in the car.

VERY DISAPPOINTED.

I bought a brand new Skoda Octavia Ambiente Estate 2 litre recently. I was attracted by the price, the reputation and the build quality. The test drive reassured me that it would be fine for around town and motorway hauls. On the whole I have been satisfied. (My expectations have been met and not exceeded as was the case in other cars I have owned e.g. Nissan Primera, which was excellent). I have two children under 3 and was aware the rear passenger space was small but was not concerned. However, the rear space is VERY cramped and I have trouble getting the child seats in and when the toddlers sit in the seats their feet are cramped against the back of the front seats. This means I have to push the front seats forward. Not great, as I am over 6ft. I cannot sit in the back nor can I transport adults in the back in any level of comfort. A compromise because of the huge boot? Perhaps, but the golf base is small, the Passat base would have been more roomy??? However, the boot is massive (estate), the engine good (although noisey when started), pulls well, equipment level is all I need and I've had no mechanical or other problems. The last thing is that the dealer was truly awful. The worst I have ever dealt with. The attitude was terrible and they were very unhelpful. I would have gone elsewhere, but I didn't have time.