Skoda Octavia interior, tech and practicality

It’s all very sensible inside the Skoda Octavia, which is no bad thing. A lot of functions have been moved to the large infotainment screen, clearing up some dashboard space and giving it a cleaner, more modern look. The two-spoke steering wheel also feels fresher and more premium than you might’ve been used to in previous Skodas, thanks in part to the removal of Skoda's old 'winged arrow' badge as part of the facelift. Instead, the wheel centre now says 'Skoda' on the most recent models.

There’s still a row of buttons beneath the touchscreen, but you'll need to use the bottom corners of the touchscreen to adjust air temperature and the heated seats if fitted. Some models have a nice swathe of cloth across the dashboard to lift the ambience, and there are now seven interior colourways to choose from, depending on which trim level you pick.

The Octavia’s big windows make for good all-round visibility, and rear parking sensors are fitted as standard to take the strain out of reversing – a good thing considering how much longer the Octavia is than most of its rivals.

Skoda is hot on practicality, and the Octavia offers plenty of storage space upfront. The glovebox is big and there are a few little cubbies which should prove handy for stashing odds and ends away. The cupholders are quite small, though – they’ll hold cans or shop-bought drinks bottles, but coffee cups and reusable bottles will have to go in the door pockets. All facelift models also get an umbrella in the driver's door.

There are only four trim levels to choose from in the Octavia, and one of those is the standalone vRS performance model. SE Technology trim is first and is well equipped. It comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, heated front seats, an umbrella, the 13-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, front-and-rear parking sensors, two-zone climate control, cruise control and push-button start.

Mid-range SE L spec features 17-inch wheels, tinted rear windows, suede upholstery and a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a heated front windscreen, ambient lighting and an electric-opening bootlid.

Top-spec Octavia SportLine models get the looks of the fast vRS, but with the normal choice of engines. As such you get 18-inch wheels, metallic paint, gloss black exterior styling trims, a gloss black bootlip spoiler, black roof rails on the state version and chrome exhaust tailpipes. Inside you get sportier front seats, a three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel and aluminium pedals. A reversing camera tops off the list.

The sporty Octavia vRS gets a pointier body kit and some unique colour options, plus 19-inch two-tone alloys, a flat-bottom steering wheel and sports seats, plus 15mm lower sports suspension and – shock – a second umbrella. Upgraded LED Matrix headlights feature, but the spec sheet is largely the same as SE L.

Look out for SE Technology, SE First Edition and SE L First Edition cars if you’re a used buyer – these have a few desirable extra features.

Every version of the new Octavia boasts a 13-inch touchscreen perched above the dashboard, which isn't just three-inches bigger than the screen in the pre-facelift car, but the software is faster and easier to use. Tiled on-screen icons and a couple of shortcut ‘buttons’ at the top of the screen make it fairly easy to navigate to the main functions and settings. It's a refreshing change from the old system which could lag and freeze. It even has built-in ChatGPT if you get truly bored in traffic jams and fancy a conversation with the internet.

Built-in sat-nav now features on all facelift Octavia models, but all come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can use your phone’s navigation and media apps if you wish.

All trims now get Skoda’s fantastic Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, with a crisp screen taking the place of conventional analogue dials. It’s a system that’s easy to follow and isn’t packed with unnecessary information, and we’d also pick a car that features it because it makes the interior feel a lot more up-to-date.

The Octavia is simply huge in the back. If you’re too tall to get comfortable in it, you’d probably have a successful basketball career. There’s loads of headroom, loads of legroom and enough space for three adults to cosy up side by side. It’ll be much more comfortable if only two adults clamber in the back – two people will have acres of space to stretch out in.

Rear-seat passengers are treated to a host of features, including thoughtful phone pockets stitched into the seatbacks, USB-C ports to charge devices, armrest cupholders and flock-lined door bins to stop items rattling.

The Octavia is a great choice for families, whether you pick the hatchback or the estate. The doors open nice and wide so it’s easy to extract young children, the Isofix points are clearly visible and there’s enough space that toddlers will struggle to kick the front seats.

It’s hard to believe the Octavia shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Golf – not only do they look completely different, but the Octavia has over 50% more boot space than a Golf. The Octavia hatchback has the style of a saloon but a more usable tailgate, which opens up 600 litres of luggage space.

Whatever you’ve got to carry, chances are it’ll fit in the Octavia’s boot. The space is long and wide, with a huge opening. There are a few useful hooks and cubbies to stop your stuff rolling around the vast chasm of space.

Anything that doesn’t fit in the hatchback’s boot will more than likely fit in the Octavia estate’s boot, which is 40 litres up on paper – and much bigger if you’re happy to load to the roof. Roof rails also come as standard so you can carry bikes or a roofbox.