Skoda Octavia iV hybrid: details, specs and on-sale date

Skoda is adding a SportLine trim level to its Octavia line-up; it'll be offered as both a hatchback and estate (pictured above) and with the full range of powertrains available in the car, including regular petrols and diesels, the mild-hybrid petrol and the iV plug-in hybrid petrol.

A new 2.0-litre TSI four-wheel-drive, automatic-only petrol-engine option is also being offered, slotting between the regular 1.5-litre TSI and high-performance vRS variants. Regardless of engine chosen, all SportLine-spec Octavias come with a fabric finish around the instrument panel, piano black decorative strips and sports seats with integrated headrests, plus breathable ThermoFlux upholstery.

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New Skoda Octavia iV plug-in hybrid

Like its SEAT Leon eHybrid sister model, the new Octavia iV plug-in hybrid combines a four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a total power output of 201bhp and 350Nm of torque. Every model uses a six-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

The motor is powered by a 13kWh battery. The standard Octavia iV uses its petrol-electric setup to deliver 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 137mph. Skoda says the Octavia iV will do just up to 43 miles on electric power and it can be recharged through a Type 2 socket compatible with most home wallboxes.

Claimed fuel economy is between 188 and 283mpg, while official CO2 emissions are from 22 to 33g/km. Both hatchback iV models add 18-inch Vega Aero alloy wheels, decorative door sills and a storage compartment in the boot for the supplied charging cables, over and above the standard equipment that usually comes with the SE L trim levels. Both iV models also feature instrumentation and displays that show the state of charge and the various hybrid driving modes.

Prices start at £33,150 for the Octavia iV SE L hatchback and £33,565 for an estate in the same spec. You can read our full review of the car here.

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New Skoda Octavia vRS iV plug-in hybrid

At the top of the plug-in Octavia range is the vRS iV – the first of Skoda’s sporty offerings to feature electrification. As a sister model to both the Volkswagen Golf GTE and Cupra Leon eHybrid, it shares their 242bhp petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain.

It promises CO2 emissions of around 30g/km and a pure-electric range of 37 miles from a 13kWh battery that’s chargeable through a socket in the front wing. Skoda claims that the vRS iV can complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds in Sport mode, with a top speed of just under 140mph.

The vRS iV gets all the usual sporty design touches, including a black grille and rear diffuser, as well as a black alloy-wheel design, red brake callipers, a black vRS rear spoiler on the hatchback and a body-coloured spoiler on the estate. A ‘progressive steering’ system and sports suspension also feature as standard. As ever, the vRS can be had as either a hatchback or Estate.

Inside, there’s contrasting stitching on the sports seats and on the leather-trimmed three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel. vRS logos are scattered throughout, while optional ‘Ergo’ sports seats get Alcantara and leather trim. Alcantara also covers the dashboard in another nod to the vRS racy character.

The high-performance vRS iV version costs £35,645 as a five-door hatchback and £36,875 as an estate. Read our full review here.

Skoda Octavia eTEC mild hybrids

The Octavia iV and Octavia vRS iV were revealed along with two Octavia eTEC models featuring mild-hybrid technology. These use 1.0 and 1.5-litre TSI petrol engines respectively, with each mated to a 48-volt belt-driven starter motor.

The entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder produces 108bhp and does 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds. The faster 1.5-litre car uses a 148bhp four-cylinder engine, making it good for the same 0-62mph dash in 8.4 seconds. All mild-hybrid models use a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox; those featuring the standard six-speed manual do not get the electric technology.

The mild-hybrid engines collect otherwise-wasted energy through a regenerative braking system, which is then redeployed to boost the engine's performance, thus saving fuel and improving emissions.

Exterior design

Both the hatchback and estate versions of the Octavia have grown slightly compared to the previous-generation model: they're 15mm wider, with the hatchback 19mm longer and the estate 22mm longer. Practicality increases as a result, with boot space rising to 600 and 640 litres accordingly.

The exterior design has evolved, with the front end given a sharper look and LED headlights as standard. The rear has undergone a more significant transformation, with the old car’s square tail-lights replaced with a thinner, LED signature. Meanwhile, the Skoda logo is replaced by Skoda lettering on the tailgate.

From launch, every version gets at least 16-inch alloy wheels and LED lights, while SE L First Edition cars feature extra chrome, privacy glass and larger 17-inch 'aero' wheels.

Interior & technology

The biggest changes can be found inside the new Octavia: the dashboard follows a strong horizontal line, with a ledge under the infotainment screen – similar to that in the Skoda Scala – on which drivers can rest their hands when operating it.

An 8.25-inch infotainment screen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, although three other 10-inch displays are offered with increasing degrees of functionality: sat nav, voice control, gesture control and volume control using a slider are among the features on offer. Elsewhere, every Octavia adopts a 10.25-inch fully-digital display ahead of the driver.

The steering wheel – now sporting a two-spoke design – features buttons and scroll wheels, making it easier to control the functions on the digital instrument panel. Meanwhile, the Octavia's usual gear selector has been replaced with a rocker switch, ahead of which a large cubbyhole is provided for extra storage.

The Octavia’s interior will usher in a more upmarket approach for a model name that has sold 6.5 million times since its birth in 1959. Soft-touch plastics, chrome trim elements and LED ambient lighting will be available, as will massage seats, a head-up display, three-zone climate control and LED matrix headlights.

New safety features include collision-avoidance assistance, steering assistance and predictive cruise control, together with traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assistance and traffic-jam assistance systems. A 'turn assist' system, meanwhile, works by using the Octavia’s on-board cameras to monitor oncoming traffic when turning right at a junction as well as identify cyclists and pedestrians.

Another new safety feature is an 'exit warning' system, which monitors the rear and sides of the vehicle, warning the driver and other passengers when it may not be safe to open their door through the use of visual warning lights and sounding an alert, both of which continue until the hazard has passed.

Drivers will get more say over the suspension, damping and steering responsiveness, all of which are configurable within the car’s driving modes. Despite the changes, some familiar touches remain in the form of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ solutions: an ice scraper can still be found inside the fuel filler cap, while a ‘Sleep’ package adds bigger headrests, stowed blankets and sun blinds to the rear seats.