Item: Used Skoda Octavia Estate 2013-2020
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

<p>The related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/estate/used-review/n783">Volkswagen Golf Estate</a> has a large boot, supple ride and a well-built interior, and is good to drive, too. It’s not the most sparkling of cars, inside and out, and that competence robs it of a certain charm, but it’s hugely impressive. Up against the Octavia, though, it’s more expensive and its boot is smaller.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/estate/used-review/n955">Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer</a> has plenty of room, is well equipped and has a range of very strong and economical engines. Countered against that, the boot isn’t that flexible and some of its rivals are better to drive.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/estate/used-review/n17410">Seat Leon ST</a> is also related via the VW Group and is very nearly as capacious as the Octavia. It’s well equipped and cheap to buy both new and used, and is also cheap to run. Against that, it has a rather firm ride and an uninteresting interior.</p>

<p><strong>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html"><strong>here</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/octavia?nearlynew=true&amp;used=true&amp;derivative.category=estate">used Octavia</a>, or any of the other estate&nbsp;cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Page 5 of 5</strong></p>


What is it like?

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<h3><strong>Manual child lock</strong></h3>

<p>The child lock can disengage without the driver knowing, with the potential for occupants being able to open the door from the inside and get out of the car. This recall involves Octavias made between 25 November 2015&nbsp;and 14 April 2016.</p>

<h3><strong>Rear head restraints</strong></h3>

<p>There's&nbsp;been a recall&nbsp;for the rear head restraints of the Octavias built between&nbsp;1 May&nbsp;and 31 August 2018 where the mounting bracket might not have been welded correctly during production.&nbsp;Your local dealer will be able to let you know if your car needs to have any recall work carried out.</p>

<h3><strong>Rear wheel bearing</strong></h3>

<p>The rear wheel bearing housing on some Octavias assembled between 1&nbsp;and 31 August 2017 could shatter because the metal&nbsp;wasn't hardened correctly during manufacture. If your car is affected, it will need to have new housings fitted at a Skoda dealer to sort the issue.</p>

<h3><strong>Slow airbag inflation</strong></h3>

<p>The driver's airbag on a small number of cars made between 8 January and 28 February 2018 might not inflate quickly enough in a collision and will require a new unit to be installed by a dealer to fix the problem.</p>

<h3><strong>Front passenger airbag</strong></h3>

<p>A problem has been identified with a small number of cars manufactured between 1 July and 15 November 2014 with the front passenger airbag not deploying correctly in a collision. Find out if your car is affected by this by speaking with your local Skoda dealer because the airbag will need to be replaced.</p>

<h3><strong>Primer</strong></h3>

<p>Primer may not have been added to the rear side window seals of some cars made from 12 - 20 August 2019. Any car affected by this will need to have the side windows replaced as part of this action.</p>

<h3><strong>Camshaft adjuster housing</strong></h3>

<p>The bolts for the camshaft adjuster housing could come loose and ruin the pulley next to it. This applies to a small number of Octavias manufactured between 1 April and 30 October 2014.&nbsp;</p>


<p>In the most recent&nbsp;What Car? Reliability Survey, petrol versions of the Octavia finished in third place, while diesel models proved to be a bit more troublesome down in 15th. Skoda came fifth&nbsp;out of 31&nbsp;car makers in the survey, meanwhile, which is a great result.</p>

<p>If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.</p>

<p><strong>Page 3 of 5</strong></p>


Estate

<p dir="ltr">One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.</p>

<p dir="ltr">As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.</p>


SKODA

OCTAVIA

<p>The Skoda Octavia Estate is a great mix of space, equipment and practicality. It's also an excellent&nbsp;used buy</p>


Used Skoda Octavia Estate 2013-2020

<h3><strong>MPG</strong></h3>

<p>The 1.6 TDI is easily the most economical&nbsp;Octavia Estate and has a combined&nbsp;fuel consumption figure of 68.9mpg under the old NEDC tests, or 56.5mpg measured via the newer and tougher WLTP tests, while the 2.0 TDI 150, which is one of our favourite engines, achieves 65.7mpg, or 54.4mpg under WLTP. The 1.0-litre TSI 115 three-cylinder petrol engine, meanwhile, can returns a combined&nbsp;NEDC number of 58.9mpg, or 50.4mpg WLTP, while the 1.4 TSI 140 can return&nbsp;54.3mpg (NEDC), while the latest 1.5-litre can claim an average of 51.4mpg under the WLTP tests.</p>

<h3><strong>CO2 emissions</strong></h3>

<p>Not all engines were available before the April 2017 tax changes, so we're concentrating on the ones that are here. The 1.6 TDI has the lowest figure of 99g/km, while our preferred 2.0 TDI puts out 117g/km. The best petrol is the 1.0 with 105g/km. Pay attention to which 1.4 petrol you have because the 148bhp version has lower emissions (119g/km) compared with the 138bhp model (121g/km).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The slow-selling 1.2 and 1.8 petrols put out 117g/km and 141g/km, respectively.</p>

<h3><strong>Car Tax</strong></h3>

<p>Annual car tax (VED) is based upon CO2 emissions for cars registered before April 2017, and is charged at a flat rate&nbsp;for cars registered after that date. The current rate is £155 a year. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Servicing</strong></h3>

<p>Servicing is cheaper than many rivals and Skoda has a fixed price scheme for cars over three years old where an oil change is £184, along with periodic intervals for the air filter (£45), pollen filter (£35) and - where equipped - diesel fuel filter (£59).</p>

<p>It’s worth noting that all diesel Octavias and most petrols have a timing belt that needs to be replaced every five&nbsp;years at a Skoda dealer at a cost of £449. In addition, it makes sense to replace the water pump at the same time.</p>

<h3><strong>Insurance</strong></h3>

<p>Insurance costs are slightly cheaper than an equivalent Volkswagen due to Skoda’s cheaper repair costs.</p>

<h3><strong>Page 2 of 5</strong></h3>


The Skoda Octavia Estate is a great mix of space, equipment and affordability, let down slightly by a choppy ride and poor refinement


<p>You can buy a high-mileage version of the car for around £5000, but just under £7000 seems to be the starting point for a 2013 Octavia Estate with a service history and an average mileage for the year, bought privately or from a trader. Up the wedge to between £8000 and £10,000 and you should find a good 2015 or 2016 car with a full history and an average mileage from an independent dealer. £10,000-£12,000 should secure you a 2017 car, bought the same way, and between £12,000 and £14,000 will get you a&nbsp; 2018 car with a low mileage, possibly from a franchised dealer. Spend between £14,000 and £18,000 on a late-run 2020 car.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Check the value of a used Skoda Octavia estate&nbsp;with What Car? Valuations</a></strong></p>


<h3><strong>Engines</strong></h3>

<p>Tough one, this, because for our money the best Octavias come in petrol form, but only around a fifth of Octavia estates sold were powered by petrol. The rest are diesels, which makes diesel versions much easier to find.</p>

<p>If you're prepared to put in the legwork to find a petrol model, we'd recommend you do so. You're likely to find the 1.4-litre engine to be the easiest to find, which is handy as it's one of the best engines, with a winning blend of efficiency, punch and smoothness. The same applies to the later 1.5 engine too.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Trims</strong></h3>

<p>We think the SE is the best Octavia model, meanwhile, although if you can stretch to it and you're buying a later model, an upgrade to the SE Technology version isn't such a bad idea.</p>

<p><strong>Our favourite Skoda Octavia Estate</strong> 1.5 TSI 150 SE</p>

<h3><strong>Page 4 of 5</strong></h3>


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

<p>If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.</p>

<p>Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.</p>

<p>There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.</p>

<p>Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.</p>

<p>The Octavia is a large and immensely practical estate, so it might have been used for a variety of duties, including family chores, taxi runs and trips to the local tip. It’ll clean up well, but check for any more serious cosmetic damage. As with any used car purchase, you should check mileage details and the car’s history. Inspect the bodywork for signs of scuffs, maybe caused in tight urban car parks, and the wheels for any kerb damage. Check the that the seats all fold as they should, and make sure the upholstery is in a good condition throughout.</p>

<p>Several Octavia owners have reported issues with the dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox, with some reporting electrical glitches and others mechanical faults. It's therefore imperative to make sure that any automatic Octavia changes through the gears smoothly and without hesitation in both manual and automatic modes. Don't forget to get the car up to speed and check that the oil for the gearbox has been changed every 38,000 miles.</p>

<p>Other Octavia owners have reported glitches with the sat-nav system and other minor electrical niggles, so it's worth taking the time to make sure everything works OK.&nbsp;Some owners have also reported failure of the water pump, leading to large bills.</p>


<p>It might not look like it’ll set your heart on fire, but the Skoda Octavia Estate is probably, in the real world, one of the best all-round cars you can buy.&nbsp;Indeed seldom will you encounter a car that offers such space and practicality, such easy-going refinement and such superb value for money.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This version was so successful it remained on sale from 2013 to 2020, with one facelift in 2018, before being replaced by an all-new and slightly larger model. That success isn't surprising, as this modestly priced, well-built and eminently practical car is based on a stretched version of the platform used by its classy Volkswagen Group siblings, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/estate/used-review/n17410">Seat Leon ST</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/estate/used-review/n783">Volkswagen Golf</a>, and gives you the solidity and design detail you'd expect allied to a vast and cavernous interior and boot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Octavia Estate's engine range includes a 113bhp 1.0-litre petrol, a 148bhp 1.4-litre petrol (replaced in 2018 with a 1.5-litre), a 113bhp 1.6-litre diesel and a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel. More explosive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia-vrs/hatchback/used-review/n18111">vRS versions</a> are also available, in both petrol and diesel forms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There’s a choice of trims, too, starting with the entry-level S, and topping out with the equipment-laden Laurin &amp; Klement. The mid-range versions are the most popular, though, especially the SE, SE Technology and SE L. The former comes with dual-zone climate control and front fog lights, while SE Technology adds an upgraded touchscreen sat-nav and, in later cars, automatic emergency braking. SE L, meanwhile, adds snazzier Alcantara seat trim and privacy glass.</p>

<p>Inside is where the Octavia plays its trump card; there’s a surfeit of head and leg room, and in the boot, more than enough luggage room for a family. Indeed, you'll find more space inside an Octavia than you will in most estate cars of its size.</p>

<p>Out on the road, there's plenty more to like. All deliver more than enough performance for most drivers, although the larger engines are more flexible and better-suited to motorway work. The&nbsp;1.0-litre petrol engine is surprisingly peppy around town and can easily keep up with most traffic, while the 1.4 TSI 150 petrol is smooth and quick, as is the later 1.5 version. All the diesel options deliver good low-down punch and balance that with better economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Octavia's ride isn't quite as smooth as that of the Golf, but it's still very comfortable, and heaps better than many rivals'. And while it's no sports car, it nevertheless handles very tidily; responsive steering and well set-up suspension mean the Octavia changes direction fast and always feels composed, and there's more than enough grip on offer too.</p>

<p>That facelift in 2018&nbsp;brought a more distinctive nose with quad headlights, though there were few other design changes. More equipment was added to each model, though, while the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol turbos were replaced by 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre engines respectively.</p>

<p>A so-called Scout version, with a chunky body kit, a 30mm raised ride height and four-wheel drive, is also available with the 2.0-litre diesel engine in two power outputs (the higher one reserved for the DSG automatic gearbox).&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/octavia?nearlynew=true&amp;used=true&amp;derivative.category=estate">used Octavia</a>, or any of the other estate&nbsp;cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.</p>

<p><strong>Page 1 of 4</strong></p>

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Used Skoda Octavia Estate 2013-2020 review

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