Skoda Octavia iV hybrid: details, specs and on-sale date

Skoda has revealed more details about its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Octavia models – all of which are set to feature the brand’s new 'iV' badge. Every version will use the Volkswagen Group’s 1.4-litre petrol-electric PHEV drivetrain, with the hot vRS iV model upping its power output for improved performance.

Read on for everything you need to know about the new Skoda Octavia plug-in hybrid.

New Skoda Octavia iV plug-in hybrid

The standard Octavia iV, which will be offered in SE and SE L trim levels, has already been revealed, with mild-hybrid and non-hybrid versions also featuring in the line-up. Like its SEAT Leon eHybrid sister model, it combines a four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a total power output of 201bhp and 350Nm of torque. Every model uses a six-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

The motor is powered by a 13kWh battery. The standard Octavia iV uses its petrol-electric set-up to deliver 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 137mph. There'll be a more practical Estate version, too, although its performance and range figures have not yet been revealed.

Skoda says the Octavia iV will do just over 37 miles on electric power, and while charging times have not been disclosed,  the car will feature a Type 2 socket compatible with most home wallboxes.

Prices will be revealed soon, but we expect plug-in hybrid versions of the latest Octavia to start from around £30,000.

New Skoda Ocatvia vRS iV plug-in hybrid

At the top of the new plug-in Octavia range is the vRS iV – the first of Skoda’s sporty offerings to feature electrification. As a sister model to both the Volkswagen Golf GTE and Cupra Leon eHybrid, it shares their 242bhp petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain.

It promises CO2 emissions of around 30g/km and a pure-electric range of 37 miles from a 13kWh battery that’s chargeable through a socket in the front wing. Skoda claims that the vRS iV can complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds in Sport mode, with a top speed of just under 140mph.

The vRS iV gets all the usual sporty design touches, including a black grille and rear diffuser, as well as a black alloy-wheel design, red brake callipers, a black vRS rear spoiler on the hatchback and a body-coloured spoiler on the estate. A ‘progressive steering’ system and sports suspension also feature as standard. As ever, the vRS can be had as either a hatchback or Estate.

Inside, there’s contrasting stitching on the sports seats and on the leather-trimmed three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel. vRS logos are scattered throughout, while optional ‘Ergo’ sports seats get Alcantara and leather trim. Alcantara also covers the dashboard in another nod to the vRS racy character.

Exact pricing and on-sale information has yet to be confirmed, but we can expect a starting price for the hybrid vRS in the region of £35,000.

Skoda Octavia iV mild-hybrid models

The Octavia iV and Octavia vRS iV were revealed along with two eTEC models featuring mild-hybrid technology. These use 1.0 and 1.5-litre TSI engines respectively, with each mated to a 48-volt belt-driven starter motor.

The entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine produces 108bhp and does 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds. The faster 1.5-litre car uses a 148bhp four-cylinder engine, making it good for the same 0-62mph dash in 8.4 seconds. All mild-hybrid models use a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox; those featuring the standard six-speed manual do not get the electric tech.

The mild-hybrid engines collect otherwise-wasted energy through a regenerative braking system, which is then redeployed to boost the engine's performance, thus saving fuel and improving emissions.

Exterior design

Both the hatchback and estate versions of the Octavia have grown slightly compared to the previous-generation model: they're 15mm wider, with the hatchback 19mm longer and the estate 22mm longer. Practicality increases as a result, with boot space rising to 600 and 640 litres accordingly.

The exterior design has evolved, with the front end given a sharper look and LED headlights as standard. The rear has undergone a more significant transformation, with the old car’s square tail-lights replaced with a thinner, LED signature. Meanwhile, the Skoda logo is replaced by Skoda lettering on the tailgate.

Interior and technology

The biggest changes can be found inside the new Octavia: the dashboard follows a strong horizontal line, with a ledge under the infotainment screen – similar to that in the Skoda Scala – on which drivers can rest their hands when operating it.

An 8.25-inch infotainment screen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, although three other 10-inch displays are offered with increasing degrees of functionality: sat nav, voice control, gesture control and volume control using a slider are among the features on offer. Elsewhere, the Octavia adopts a 10.25-inch digital display ahead of the driver.

The steering wheel – now sporting a two-spoke design – features buttons and scroll wheels, making it easier to control the functions on the digital instrument panel. Meanwhile, the Octavia's usual gear selector has been replaced with a rocker switch, ahead of which a large cubbyhole is provided for extra storage.

The Octavia’s interior will usher in a more upmarket approach for a model name that has sold 6.5 million times since its birth in 1959. Soft-touch plastics, chrome trim elements and LED ambient lighting will be available, as will massage seats, a head-up display, three-zone climate control and LED matrix headlights.

New safety features include collision avoidance, steering assistance and predictive cruise control, together with traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist and traffic-jam assistance systems.

Drivers will get more say over the suspension, damping and steering responsiveness, all of which are configurable within the car’s driving modes. Despite the changes, some familiar touches remain in the form of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ solutions: an ice scraper can still be found inside the fuel filler cap, while a ‘Sleep’ package adds bigger headrests, stowed blankets and sun blinds to the rear seats.