Skoda Octavia Combi 1.5 Review: Workhorse in a Class of its Own

What we like:

Good looking

Practicality is fantastic

Bigger 1.5L is much appreciated

What we dislike:

Lacking some features that could elevate it

1.5 can feel a tad underpowered

Wagons, or Combis in Skoda speak, are slowly becoming trendy. Among car enthusiasts, it is a practical yet unique shape that we don’t see often in Singapore. In Europe, it’s a different story as the wagon shape often outsells the sedan.

The fact that Skoda brings in the Combi should be lauded as a bold move, as many who say they want a wagon won’t actually put their money down for one. But then, Skoda being a brand priding itself for practicality and ingenuity is really the most suited one you would expect to be bringing such a vehicle. A Skoda wagon plays even more strongly to its brand values. It also happens to be the most affordable wagon you can currently buy from an authorised dealer. In fact, Skoda is selling an even pricier Superb Combi as well, bless their dogged determination.

With the Octavia Combi, you get 1,700 litres of luggage space - 145 litres more than the liftback. Although one can hardly call the liftback impractical, the Combi offers that bit more flexibility especially if you’re carrying bulky items. While passenger room remains as commodious as the liftback, the boot would impress even more.

With all of that potential to lug things around, it’s appropriate that the engine has been uprated versus the previous car. The facelifted Octavia comes with larger lungs in the form of a Cat A COE friendly 1.5-litre turbo engine, offering more gusto and refinement over the 3-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo predecessor. This is a very welcome upgrade, as you could only get the 4-cylinder 1.5 if you opted for the more expensive Cat B version prior to the facelift. While I wouldn’t call the Cat A 1.5 powerful, it has a hardworking, torquey feel to it that plays well to the car’s remit.

Less impressive is the car’s DSG gearbox. Somehow, after all these years of development, it still feels slightly indecisive at times. It shifts well on load, but present it with a situation outside of its textbook and it gets a bit clunky. It’s not something that would bother somebody who has had experience with DSG, but for those used to other gearboxes, it’s a sensation you need to decide whether you’re comfortable with.

Otherwise, ride quality is excellent and noise levels are pleasingly low too. It is confident and consistent on the road, eschewing firmness for a very sweet daily-driven setup. The infotainment system mostly works well, and is carried over pretty much unchanged. Compared to Volkswagen’s approach, Skoda opts for less flash and more usability. There is a dearth of luxury features except a huge panoramic sunroof, but then aside from the Chinese competition, the other German vehicles at its price point are similarly equipped.

There’s not much to fault with the Octavia Combi, except maybe for the fact that it feels a tad underpowered as a Cat A vehicle. With no competitors at its price point, the Octavia Combi deserves to do well. Now, where are those wagon lovers?

Photos by James Wong

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