A family wagon that can delight the driver? Sounds like an oxymoron, but the Skoda Octavia Combi proves otherwise. This car manages to combine seemingly incompatible things: the practicality of a cargo bay, German-precise comfort, and a lively, spirited character on the road.
The main source of pleasure is the powertrain. The turbocharged 1.8-liter engine hardly suffers from turbo lag at low revs, and only in sixth gear during acceleration can you catch a slight dip. At the same time, the pull remains stable both in the mid-range and near the top of the tachometer, so you can safely rev the engine all the way to the limiter.
The manual gearbox is also tuned for active driving. The gears are closely spaced, allowing you to keep revs in the right range when shifting. The lever works flawlessly: throws are not record-short, but they are precise and require no effort.
The suspension deserves a special compliment. Even with the rough-road package, which raises the body and lifts the center of gravity, the firm settings resist body roll excellently. At the same time, comfort on bumps remains top-notch. The only criticism is the short rebound travel of the front struts: on speed bumps, you often hear a loud "thump!".
GERMAN LEVEL
The cabin uses premium-quality materials. The Bolero audio system display ($362 (2,889 UAH)) is harmoniously integrated into the center panel
MANUFACTURER DATA
ENGINE
1798 cm3, petrol, 4 cylinders,
152 hp at 4300-6200 rpm,
250 Nm at 1500-4500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
Manual, 6 gears, front-wheel drive
DIMENSIONS (mm)
length – 4569
width – 1769
height – 1490
ECONOMY
average consumption – 7.0 l/100 km