Skoda Octavia: A Touch of Sanity in a Tense Europe

Volkswagen Group recently reported results that set off alarm bells among analysts. The automotive industry, particularly in Europe, thrives in stable times. However, with tariff threats from the US and China and NATO maneuvers in Cádiz, the market capitalization of German manufacturers has shrunk by over 5.5 billion euros.

Interestingly, Rheinmetall, a manufacturer of armored vehicles, has more than doubled its share value this year, surpassing the market valuation of the Wolfsburg automotive giant. The European Commission's video on emergency kit preparation for a potential war may have played a role.

Within Volkswagen Group, not all news has been grim. Despite a net profit drop of over 30%, it still exceeded an astronomical 12 billion euros. A significant portion of this success is attributed to its strength in generalist vehicles.

Skoda shines in this area. In Spain, the Czech brand competes with Seat, a brand closer to local hearts, using similar mechanics. However, north of the Pyrenees, Skoda has been growing steadily in the European market, becoming the fourth best-selling brand.

The Golf has been Volkswagen Group's major hit. Its platform and silhouette have made it one of the world's most iconic and best-selling models. Other brands have based their offerings on it: Seat has the León, Audi the A3, and Skoda the Octavia. While the first two maintain the hatchback silhouette, those seeking a sedan must opt for the Czech model.

In summary, the León is slightly cheaper and the Golf a bit more expensive, but in terms of trunk space, the Octavia wins among the three, and its estate version is impressive. The 2024 version, an update of the fourth generation, is the best-looking to date.

Inside, Skoda has revamped the upholstery of the climate-controlled seats and equipped it with a larger multimedia screen—now 13 inches. Although it could still benefit from some physical controls, especially for air conditioning, the shortcomings are not as unforgivable as in Volkswagen's electric range.

The manufacturer is known for practical solutions: a small bin, an ice scraper, an umbrella, and many storage compartments. However, driving excitement is not its forte—a 261-horsepower RS version will arrive later—and the engines are sensible but somewhat bland.

The version we tested featured a mild hybrid engine with 150 horsepower, which performed adequately, although there was a slight delay in power delivery and gear changes. Nothing serious.

What I couldn't help but notice when picking it up was its beautiful paint, with a shade of khaki green, which immediately made me think of military conflicts. At least, you can store your survival kit in its numerous internal compartments.