Reviewed by: James Whitbourn16 October 2014, Wheels Gold Star Value Award
Happily for the Czech brand, the base, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol
Octavia remains in the frame for budget-conscious buyers. The
mid-sizer’s affordable $21,690 purchase price and decent 60 percent
resale still make it among the best cars considered in class in terms of
depreciation, while a frugal 5.7L/100km economy rating makes it equally
competitive in the fuel-cost discipline.
Importantly, the efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of driver appeal.
The boosted Volkswagen Group four is sweet and flexible, though it does
insist that the tank is filled with pricier premium 95 RON.
In the Ambition, you miss out on the better-sorted ride and sharper
dynamics found up-spec in the IRS-equipped Elegance and RS, but they are
priced $10K-15K more. So in terms of the numbers – and the sheer amount
of car you get for the money in terms of cabin and cargo space – the
entry-level Octavia is a winner.
The price
$21,690