Refreshed Skoda Octavia Drops By With Subtle Design Updates and 261-HP vRS Wagon

Reinvented for the new era under Volkswagen patronage, the Octavia compact series has remained Skoda's mainstay for almost three decades – over 27 years since production started in 1996, there have been more than seven million customers from over 60 markets who were convinced they made the right choice. If you compare it to the related VW Golf, there isn't much not to like – it's larger and more spacious but just as subtle and easy on the eye. After all, this is Skoda's best-selling nameplate, with almost 192k units sold last year.

Now, of course, it's time for a nip and tuck of the fourth generation, which arrived in late 2019. The exterior revisions are of the 'fine-tuning' variety, and the most impressive feature is the second-gen LED Matrix beam headlights. There's also a subtly revised grille, new alloy wheel choices, restyled LED rear lights with "animated indicators," and the range structure is simplified to SE Technology, SE L, SportLine, and vRS trims.

Inside, meanwhile, there are no less than nine Design Selections, new sustainable materials for the seats, dashboard and door panels, a standard 10‑inch Digital Display, the 10‑inch Virtual Cockpit, plus an all-new 13‑inch infotainment display offered for the first time on Octavia models. Skoda also introduced the AI-based ChatGPT chatbot, which is integrated into the Laura voice assistant as a standard.

A few systems also debut in the series, like Intelligent Park Assist and Remote Park Assist, plus the new Attention and Drowsiness Assist system. Skoda has also reworked the engine lineup, and it's now more streamlined – there's no mention of the small 1.0 TSI engine, and the plug-in hybrid offering is gone. So, now the range starts with two flavors of the 1.5 TSI with optional mild-hybrid and DSG, followed by the larger 2.0 TSI plus two diesel mills.

All in all, the power options start from 114 hp and go through a new 201-hp 2.0 TSI that's due out a little later before topping out with the Octavia vRS. Of note, the flagship version is exclusively offered with the 261-hp 2.0 TSI and features an additional 20 ponies compared to its predecessor. There's only the seven-speed DSG transmission, and the engine is supposedly more efficient because it works on the Budack cycle.

Exclusive perks include the aerodynamic 18-inch Comet alloy wheels, the new optional 19‑inch brushed Elias versions in silver or anthracite, and two vRS-specific Design Selections: RS Fabric Design Selection or the optional vRS Suite Design Selection.