2027 Skoda Octavia review
The Camry-size Skoda Octavia has become more versatile with its new mild-hybrid powertrain, but there are some inconsistencies that need attention.
- Model tested
- 2026 Skoda Octavia
- Variant
- Select
- Drive-away from
- $43,527†Better deals with CarExpert
CarExpert's verdict on the Octavia
Good
While Skoda has maintained its high standard of ride quality and on-road manners with the latest Octavia, its seating position and mild-hybrid powertrain leave a bit to be desired. If it's this or a Toyota Camry, the decision should be easy enough.
What we love
- Inoffensive ride, competent handling
- Decent refinement on the move
- Practical, storage-laden interior
Worth a thought
- Unintuitive mild-hybrid behaviour
- Odd seating ergonomics
- Not enough buttons inside
Are there other rating labels?
- Excellent
- An outstanding car in almost every way. A joy to drive, packed with great features, and highly recommended.
- Very Good
- A well-rounded car that's enjoyable to drive, offers great value or features, and is easy to recommend.
- Good
- A solid choice that does most things well. Comfortable, capable, and worth considering in this segment.
- Average
- Meets the standard for this segment. May not stand out, but still a dependable and reasonable option.
- Below Average
- Falls a bit behind others in the segment, but still passes safety checks and may suit specific needs or budgets.
Introduction
Skoda continues to fly under the radar in Australia, particularly with its recently introduced hybrid technology.
After getting its foot in the door in the electric vehicle market with models like the Enyaq mid-size SUV, Volkswagen's Czech brand expanded into the hybrid world with the introduction of the plug-in hybrid Kodiaq large SUV and a pair of mild-hybrid models in early 2026.
One was the Kodiaq mHEV, and the other was the 2027 Skoda Octavia Select mHEV we're reviewing here. The latter, available in both sedan-like liftback and wagon body styles, is Skoda's closest competitor to the ever-popular Toyota Camry in quite some time.
Not that you'd know it, because Skoda Australia shifted just 340 examples of the Octavia in the first nine months of 2026, down massively from the Camry's 9471. Skoda has just revealed a Toyota-style full-hybrid Octavia overseas, and there may well be an appetite for such a model in Australia.
For now, the mild-hybrid gives us plenty to sink our teeth into, so how does it stack up?
How much does the Skoda Octavia cost?
The mild-hybrid powertrain adds $2000 to the base Octavia Select's price, and the mHEV liftback is available for $43,990 drive-away.
| Model | Drive-away price |
|---|---|
| 2027 Skoda Octavia Select liftback | $41,990 |
| 2027 Skoda Octavia Select wagon | $43,990 |
| 2027 Skoda Octavia Select mHEV liftback | $43,990 |
| 2027 Skoda Octavia Select mHEV wagon | $45,990 |
| 2027 Skoda Octavia Sportline liftback | $46,990 |
| 2027 Skoda Octavia Sportline wagon | $47,990 |
| 2027 Skoda Octavia RS liftback | $62,990 |
| 2027 Skoda Octavia RS wagon | $64,990 |
As mentioned, the Octavia's closest rival remains the Toyota Camry., which is hybrid-only and, in base Ascent trim, priced at $39,990 before on-road costs.
There's also the new kid on the block. That's the plug-in hybrid BYD Seal 6, which starts at $34,990 plus on-roads in Essential sedan guise.
Cheapest of all, however, is the base Hyundai i30 Hybrid sedan, which despite being classed as a small car is actually longer than the Octavia liftback overall. It costs $33,250 plus ORCs – $3000 more than the range-opening non-hybrid i30 sedan.
Compare the Skoda Octavia
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Use our comparison tool for a side-by-side look at the specs, features and prices of the Octavia and its rivals.
What is the Skoda Octavia like on the inside?
In typical Skoda fashion, the base Octavia offers a clean and sensibly organised interior, but it has a few ergonomic quirks.
The seats are the most annoying. The driver's seat in particular appears to combine a lack of adjustable range with suboptimal positioning and weak bolstering, making an ideal driving position hard to find – at least it was for us.
It can be positioned surprisingly low, but lacks the necessary seat-base angle adjustment to support your thighs. We also found the seat base very flat, creating the awkward feeling of sitting 'on' it rather than 'in' it.
The combination of that and the limited steering wheel reach adjustment means the driving position is almost always going to be a compromise. The front seats in higher-spec Octavia trims offer far more adjustment and support.
The Select's front row is still soft enough, and the manual-only adjustment including lumbar isn't a dealbreaker. We do find the grey cloth upholstery as part of the mHEV's 'Lodge' interior theme rather dreary, though.
The other thing that held us up was the Octavia's lack of physical cabin controls. Yes, touchscreen-focused cabins have become the norm, but Skoda's newest cars have been commendably bucking that trend.
Models like the Superb and, more importantly, the Kodiaq feature the brand's intuitive 'Smart Dials', a configurable three-dial interface that compiles audio, climate, and drive-mode controls into a neat, tactile system.
The Octavia hasn't yet received Skoda's latest-generation interior, so it's stuck with touchscreen-only climate controls and is generally less user-friendly than it ought to be.
You get temperature controls in an always-on ribbon at the bottom of the 13.0-inch touchscreen display, supplemented by a dedicated shortcut button for the climate menu above the central air vents.
It's just a bit fiddly, even more so now that we're used to those Smart Dials. The infotainment system still offers basic customisation, allowing you to put your most-used shortcuts on the top and bottom ribbons for convenient access.
The touchscreen itself looks nice and is fairly responsive, and wireless smartphone mirroring is always a plus. However, connectivity often dropped out under Melbourne's toll gantries, as is the case in many VW Group vehicles.
The 10.0-inch instrument display, meanwhile, continues the tidy graphic theme and is neatly integrated within the dashboard housing. It features a handful of different layouts with a plethora of vehicle info, navigable via the simple steering wheel controls.
And on that note, the steering wheel is a typically aggressive Skoda unit. Its sculpted rim and perforated finish feel quite sporty and elevate the Select's vibe, even if the 'SKODA' wordmark on the centre pad is a little anonymous.
The Octavia's Skoda-ness is most obvious in its storage. There's no shortage of places to put things, with the centre console in particular home to a pair of cupholders with a removable device holder, and a neat key-sized slot.
Ahead of the cheap-looking gear selector switch is a discreet wireless phone charger with two USB-C ports nearby, accented by a small amount of scratch-prone gloss-black plastic.
Oddment bins are fitted to the door cards, and an umbrella slots inside the driver's door neatly. The central and passenger-side storage boxes are also nicely sized.
Despite the smaller body, the Octavia's second row is just as well-appointed as in many of Skoda's larger cars. Highlights include multi-tier map pockets and device holders on the seatbacks, and a removable tray in the middle for loose items.
You also get USB-C ports and air vents on the back of the centre console, but no third climate control zone. It's a very practical space, underlined by plenty of legroom and headroom.
The bench seat is also fairly comfortable, with enough cushioning. Of course, the middle seat is compromised when that tray is in place, especially given it sits on top of a not-so-subtle driveline hump.
Our tester was a liftback, which means its boot was colossal. The floor extends incredibly far towards the front of the vehicle, and it's nearly perfectly square. There are also small walls on either side that provide space for small objects.
It's made more convenient by the standard inclusion of a power tailgate, and there's a space-saver under the boot floor as standard.
| Dimensions | Skoda Octavia Select liftback |
|---|---|
| Length | 4698mm |
| Width | 1829mm |
| Height | 1470mm |
| Wheelbase | 2686mm |
| Cargo capacity (VDA) | 600L (rear seats up) 1555L (rear seats folded) |
To see how the Skoda Octavia stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What's under the bonnet?
Powering the Octavia mHEV is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque. It's paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
| Specifications | Skoda Octavia Select mHEV |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L 4cyl turbo-petrol mild-hybrid |
| Power | 110kW |
| Torque | 250Nm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Tare mass | 1377kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 8.5 seconds |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 5.1L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 5.0L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 45L |
| Fuel requirement | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 117g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capacity | 1500kg |
The Kodiaq mHEV has the same powertrain, but the Octavia's lower-slung sedan-style body helps make it more efficient. Skoda claims combined fuel consumption of 5.1L/100km for the Octavia, compared to 6.0L/100km for the Kodiaq.
Our week with the Octavia involved highway commuting and suburban errand-running. Driving conditions were fairly mixed, yet our recorded fuel consumption was even lower than the official average.
For context, the non-hybrid Octavia Select 110TSI is claimed to consume 6.1L/100km, while the full-hybrid Camry drops to just 4.0L/100km.
To see how the Skoda Octavia stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Skoda Octavia drive?
Realistically, the base mild-hybrid Octavia looks and feels a lot like a rental vehicle, and that's reflected in its solid but uninspiring driving experience.
In simplest terms, it's smooth, quiet enough, and rides well. If you can figure out a solution to the imperfect driving position, you'll probably find it's also fairly comfortable on longer drives.
It has little issue soaking up rough regional roads, and is more than happy to cruise at 100km/h or more. That's reflected in our impressively low fuel economy, which is even more impressive when you consider the electric assistance here is quite limited.
The mHEV powertrain cannot be driven on electric power alone. Instead the 48V system offers a mild boost in torque and acts as a motor-generator to stop and start the engine where possible to help save fuel. For the most part, it does this smoothly and reliably.
However, there are inconsistencies. When the engine shuts down during coasting, the car offers very little regenerative deceleration, if any.
That means you'll be rolling freely with little to no mechanical retardation, which feels weird if you're used to engine braking in conventional combustion cars or regen braking in electric vehicles.
We found the regenerative braking became more noticeable with the engine running, although the exact control logic isn't immediately clear. That defeats the purpose of a hybrid, and it means the Octavia mHEV demands more of a learning curve than we'd want.
If you want the engine on, the most reliable way to restart it is to 'downshift' using the left-hand paddle shifter, though pressing the brake pedal sometimes does the same. Deactivating the engine idle-stop system has no effect while you're moving; it'll only keep the engine running when you're stopped.
All this is a shame, and given we experienced the same behaviour in the Kodiaq mHEV, it appears to be a quirk of Skoda's mild-hybrid system. In contrast, the powertrain works well with the engine firing.
There's a clever adaptive regen braking system that responds to the proximity of traffic ahead, and it's capable of reasonably strong braking when you're close enough. It's just weird that the engine has to be on for this to happen.
Other than that, the Octavia mHEV is fine. The engine itself is relatively punchy off the line, even if the car is far from quick, and it doesn't sound horrible when revved hard.
The transmission also behaves well, presenting only minor stumbles at low speed in typical dual-clutch fashion. It otherwise shifts smoothly and, as ever, seems a good match for the small-displacement turbo-petrol powertrain.
You can shift manually using the aforementioned steering wheel paddles, though the gearbox isn't particularly snappy in response.
The ride quality feels on the softer side compared to many other Skodas. This may in part be a product of the bog-standard Octavia's smaller alloy, which allow for much more generous tyre sidewalls with extra cushioning.
Similarly, road noise is subdued. The cabin is reasonably well insulated from the volume of the outside world and, once again, those tyres deliver ideal on-road refinement.
Handling does take a small hit, but it isn't floppy or unwieldy. The more relaxed character suits this car well, and there are dedicated sporty Octavias if you want to chase your inner boy-racer.
Physically, the Octavia appears to be larger than you might expect on the road. It's marginally more expansive than a Camry, but not necessarily more cumbersome.
This helps it feel planted and stable at high speeds, but it means you're more likely to rely on the car's safety systems when parking. Unfortunately, the base Octavia misses out on what would be a handy surround-view monitor, but its more primitive reversing camera and parking sensors are still reliable.
The same sentiment applies to its driving-related tech, because we also found systems like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping trustworthy. Even outward visibility is decent despite the swooping rear.
So all up, the Octavia mHEV is a solid vehicle. In our opinion, the only real on-road issue is the imperfect powertrain, as it makes us question the value of the mild-hybrid system in the first place.
Oh, and as a side note, our test car's proximity key didn't seem to be working, as it wouldn't unlock the vehicle even when touching the driver's door handle. Odd, as it's specified in Skoda's standard equipment list.
To see how the Skoda Octavia stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
The 2027 Skoda Octavia is available in three trim levels, two different body styles and with multiple powertrains.
2027 Skoda Octavia Select equipment highlights:
- 17-inch 'Mensa Aero' alloy wheels – mHEV
- 18-inch 'Lerna' anthracite alloy wheels – 110TSI
- Space-saver spare wheel
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Auto LED headlights
- LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators
- Driver's side auto-dimming side mirror
- Power-folding, heated side mirrors
- Dark chrome exterior accents
- Silver window trim
- Heated windscreen
- Auto-dimming interior mirror
- 'Lodge' interior theme
- Grey headliner
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Steering wheel paddle shifters
- Cloth seat upholstery
- Comfort front seats
- Manual front seat adjustment
- Heated front seats
- 10.0-inch digital instrument display
- 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bluetooth
- Satellite navigation
- 8-speaker sound system
- Wireless phone charger
- 1 x USB-C port on rear-view mirror
- 2 x front USB-C ports
- 2 x rear USB-C ports
- Dual-zone climate control
- Rear privacy glass – 110TSI only
- Partial interior ambient lighting
- Hands-free power tailgate – mHEV only
- Keyless entry – mHEV only
Octavia Sportline adds:
- 19-inch 'Draconis' black alloy wheels
- Progressive steering
- Sports suspension
- Matrix LED headlights with dynamic cornering
- Black exterior accents
- Black window trim
- 'Sportline' interior theme
- Aluminium finished pedals
- Black headliner
- Sports Comfort front seats
- Synthetic leather-accented seat upholstery
- Full interior ambient lighting
- Hands-free power tailgate
Octavia RS adds:
- 19-inch 'Elias' anthracite alloy wheels
- Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC)
- Limited-slip differential
- Auto-dimming side mirrors with position memory
- RS exterior badging
- Sports exhaust with black tailpipes
- 'RS' interior theme
- Leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel
- Heated steering wheel
- 'Suedia' seat upholstery
- Power-adjustable front seats with lumbar and position memory
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Head-up display
- DAB+ digital radio
- 12-speaker Canton sound system
- Tri-zone climate control
Options
Just one option pack is available for the Octavia, and it can only be applied to the Select mHEV.
Signature Pack ($6500, Select mHEV only) adds:
- 18-inch 'Lerna' anthracite alloy wheels
- Matrix LED headlights with dynamic cornering
- LED front fog lights
- Auto-dimming side mirrors with position memory
- 'Suite' interior theme
- Synthetic leather-appointed seat upholstery
- Black
- Cognac
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Front-seat massage function
- Power front seat adjustment with position memory
- Head-up display
- Rear privacy glass
- Interior ambient lighting
To see how the Skoda Octavia stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Skoda Octavia safe?
The 2027 Skoda Octavia has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in 2025.
| Category | Skoda Octavia |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 85 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 81 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 81 per cent |
| Safety assist | 82 per cent |
Standard safety equipment highlights:
- 8 airbags, incl:
- Front
- Front-side
- Centre
- Driver's knee
- Side curtain
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Front and rear cross-traffic alert
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Lane-keep assist
- Junction assist
- Reversing camera
- Safe exit warning
- Traffic sign recognition
- Tyre pressure monitoring
Octavia RS adds:
- 2 airbags:
- Rear-side
- Surround-view monitor
To see how the Skoda Octavia stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Skoda Octavia cost to run?
Skoda Australia backs its range with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Servicing for the Octavia mHEV is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, with pricing covered by prepaid plans.
| Servicing and Warranty | Skoda Octavia mHEV |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 12 months |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | Prepaid plans |
| Total capped-price service cost | $2590 – 5-year plan $3490 – 7-year plan |
Skoda's maintenance costs aren't too far off the competition. Hyundai outlines a total five-year service cost of $2415 for the i30 Hybrid, while scheduled servicing for the BYD Seal 6 costs $2775 over the same period.
But Toyota beats them all, because five years of Camry maintenance will cost a total of $1375.
To see how the Skoda Octavia stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert's Take on the Skoda Octavia Select mHEV liftback
Much like its powertrain-sharing Kodiaq mHEV, this version of the Octavia is solid overall.
It's dynamically composed without explicitly favouring sportiness or comfort, and it offers an adequate petrol engine with a well-calibrated gearbox. It's quiet and easy to cruise in, which are strong points for a vehicle of this nature.
However, we don't love the seating ergonomics, the shortage of physical buttons inside, or the unintuitive mild-hybrid system's behaviour. These take away from an otherwise unassuming vehicle from a generally very approachable brand.
Further, the mHEV is more expensive than the standard Octavia Select yet only slightly more efficient, making the simpler non-hybrid 110TSI powertrain seem more appealing.
If those shortcomings put you off, the Camry is always a sensible alternative.
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