Skoda Octavia Competition Check

Skoda has brought in the new Octavia, a facelifted version of the car that was introduced in 2013. At a price tag of Rs 15.49 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi, the new car costs almost the same as the old one. It competes in the D-segment against the Hyundai Elantra, the Volkswagen Jetta and the Toyota Corolla Altis. We find out how it fares against its competition.

Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra is the newest car in the lot. The new platform handles way better than the previous car and it starts out at below Rs 13 lakh, which is way cheaper than the Skoda Octavia. But then, when it comes to handling, the Europeans are pretty much the final word in this segment. Also, the distinct difference in build quality is evident in the heavier Octavia. The Hyundai has a fancier equipment list while the Octavia gives you all that you need sans the fancy elements along with more power and a dual-clutch gearbox in both petrol and diesel trims.

Volkswagen Jetta

The VW Jetta is the Octavia’s German twin. Built on the same platform and powered by the same mills, the performance is almost the same. The Octavia has more flair in its looks as compared to the Jetta and is also a notch more luxurious than the Volkswagen. Also, the Skoda is a bit longer than the Jetta, offering more interior space and boot space for an elevated price difference of less than a lakh.

Toyota Corolla Altis

The Toyota Corolla Altis doesn’t fare anywhere near the Skoda Octavia in terms of performance, panache or features and still it is almost as pricey as the Skoda Octavia. It gets a puny 1.4-litre 87bhp diesel engine as against the 140bhp diesel of the Octavia. The top-spec 1.8-litre petrol at 138bhp is almost 40bhp lower than the 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol of the Skoda. The only area where the Corolla scores is the maintenance. But when you are buying a luxury sedan, comfort and quality would certainly top your list.