Recalibrating Harmony

We’ve always maintained that the Octavia is a luxury car in every aspect without the hefty price tag. So, when we got word of an ‘improved’ version, we couldn’t wait to jump into the driver’s seat. 

- Abhishek Chaliha

The sweet soundtrack of the 1.8 litre TSI engine is at an all-time high, as the speedometer needle sweeps past the 200km/h mark. But this gem of an engine shows no signs of tiredness, as it screams its way to 220 – that’s my last memory of the Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI. If you’ve been following our work, in the not too distant past we did a track test comparison with the Octavia, and came back very happy with its performance. It’s long been the best performing car in its segment.

So, when the opportunity to drive the updated Octavia came knocking, the response was an obvious one. Not long after, there we were, standing in front of the 2017 model that has been given a makeover. As you’ll immediately notice, the biggest exterior styling change comes in the form of those split head lamps that now feature LED illumination. The car also gets the company’s new gloss finished front grille. Other styling changes include a redesigned bonnet, chrome strip in the front bumper, a revised rear bumper, new alloys and LED treatment for the tail lamps.