The rebirth of cool

Octavia has been the standard-bearer of Skoda's renaissance for 25 years. We mark that milestone by looking at four generations of the popular car

- Alex Ingram

SOME car manufacturers have a model whose reputation is so strong that it becomes synonymous with the brand. Its abilities come to define what that marque is all about, and it sets the template for every car in the firm's line-up. Vauxhall has the Astra, and Volkswagen the Golf.

But for Skoda, the Octavia has an even greater meaning. Yes, it's the brand's torch-bearer - the car which displays the qualities that help it to stand out among its rivals. But it was also the model that marked a rebirth for the Czech company. For years Skoda was viewed as a cheap and not-so-cheerful manufacturer, but following a takeover by the Volkswagen Group, its reputation was transformed.

This year, the Octavia celebrated its 25th birthday of the modern era (pre-Volkswagen ownership, Skoda manufactured an Octavia whose production ran from 1959 to 1971).

As of 2022, more than 7.1 million examples have been built. The Octavia's versatility is one quality that has helped the model prevail so strongly; along with regular hatchback models to compete at the core of the new-car market, the range is boosted by practical estates, rugged 4x4 models, and even the hot VRS options - all of which we'll explore in more detail over the coming pages.

To celebrate the modern Skoda Octavia's 25th birthday, we've rounded up some of its greatest hits from each of its four generations to see where it has come from and to find out just how far things have progressed over the past quarter of a century - and which qualities have remained consistent throughout the model's lifetime.

Mk1 Octavia