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Skoda has officially revealed the 2024 Octavia Facelift with new design, tweaked powertrain and loads of tech
Skoda has unveiled the mid-life facelift for the Octavia, bringing technology and sustainability upgrades to its sedan. The Octavia had been on sale in India for over 20 years and officially sold over 1 lakh units. It was taken off the market due to strict RDE norms. However, Skoda has not confirmed whether it plans to bring the facelifted version to the Indian market. The new Octavia brings a lot to the table from its bold and cutting-edge design, and peppy powertrain to a tech-rich interior. Let’s look at it.
Design: Exterior & Interior
The new look of the Octavia is distinct from the rest of the Skoda lineup, featuring more angular LED headlights positioned above a bold crease in the front bumper, resembling the Czech flag. The most notable changes come inside the new Octavia, where a new 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, from the recently updated Volkswagen Golf, has been added as an optional extra. ChatGPT artificial intelligence is also integrated into the infotainment software’s voice assistant.
The charging options for devices also came with an upgrade, offering a new ‘Phone Box’ that provides up to 15W wireless charging and air conditioning to mitigate heat generation. Furthermore, the USB-C connections now deliver 45W, triple the output of the outgoing Octavia. However, the new Octavia doesn’t feature the three ‘smart dial’ controls from the new Kodiaq and Superb. It means temperature adjustment in the new Octavia is solely through the touchscreen.
Powertrain & Performance
Under the hood, the Octavia’s tweaks primarily aim to enhance efficiency. The entry-level 116hp 1.5-litre powerplant’s turbocharger offers improvement and tweaks to minimize thermal losses and improve economy. It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the option for a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that adds a 48V mild-hybrid system, enhancing fuel efficiency by allowing the car to coast with the engine off.
The 1.5-litre engine is also available with 150hp, paired with manual or auto gearboxes, both receiving the mild-hybrid treatment with the automatic option. The range-topping vRS model features the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot engine as the new VW Golf GTI, delivering 265hp and 370Nm to the front wheels via a seven-speed auto gearbox. The Octavia facelift also offers a 2.0-litre diesel engine, producing 116hp with a 6-speed manual gearbox or 150hp with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Possible India Launch?
Skoda offers three models in India: the Slavia sedan, the Kushaq midsize SUV, and the Kodiaq SUV. The Enyaq iV electric SUV is set to launch in the second half of this year, and the brand is also developing a compact SUV scheduled for release next year.
Also read: 3 Brand-New Honda Cars Launching In India Soon