interior skoda octavia tour

Škoda Octavia interior

A modern and cosy interior.

Welcome to the new-generation cockpit pushing the envelope in its class. The elegant, airy interior with smooth accent lines is made of high-quality softened materials. The minimalist lines and ambient lighting, which can be configured to light up in many different colour combinations, provide the finishing touches to the elegant on-board atmosphere.

All key information always in your sights

One of the Škoda Octavia’s excellent and useful features is the head-up display , which projects the current speed, navigation instructions and other information onto the windscreen. The 10” Virtual Cockpit with several different layouts offers more detailed information and can be configured to display the data you choose. The up to 13” infotainment display , comfortably positioned in the driver’s field of vision, comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offers the latest information from Škoda Connect online services.

Enough room both for the family and your business

The exceptionally spacious Octavia will cater perfectly to your business needs during the week, and cope with the whole family at weekends. Sit comfortably at the wheel and enjoy even more headroom, shoulder room and elbow room. With so much space on the rear seats, you can swing one leg over the other – the remarkable legroom will put a smile on every passenger’s face.

Will everything fit in?

The luggage compartment offers a generous 600 litres, beating its rivals hands down. By folding down the rear-seat backrests, you get a full 1,555 litres. When loading the boot, you will appreciate its regular shape, longer floor area and numerous Simply Clever solutions to keep your cargo safely fixed in place: four hooks, three nets, and practical cargo elements.

Practical compartments within easy reach

The Octavia’s interior is brimming with practical storage space, including 1.5 l bottle holders in the doors, a large Jumbo Box under the armrest, and pockets on the front-seat backrests. As a result, all those little necessities that your family carries around will be elegantly tidied away, but always to hand.

Quality and ecology go hand in hand

Every part of Octavia’s interior has been crafted with the utmost attention to quality workmanship and the use of premium materials, all with sustainability and conservation in mind. That’s why our Suite Design Selections use leather organically tanned using coffee husks. This is also a way we support coffee farmers. In addition, the car’s interior features a number of touches in Dark Chrome, a unique finish that is more environmentally friendly than chrome plating.

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Skoda Octavia interior, tech and comfort

Written by Keith Adams Published: 30 July 2024 Updated: 9 August 2024

• Larger touchscreen now standard
• Sensible design, including plenty of buttons
• Easy to get comfortable

How is the quality and layout?

The Octavia’s dashboard has some shared components with the Volkswagen Golf, but it manages to look very different. The simple appearance, which Skoda calls a ‘multi-level’ design, somehow comes across as more appealing to our eyes – especially the tasteful material choices used to dress up some of the surfaces. The level of customisation available to buyers has increased with the facelift model.

Most Octavias get an unusual two-spoke steering wheel with conventional buttons and a pair of scroll wheels. Gladly, we’re always found it easy to figure out what does what, and the controls are simple to use while driving. This makes it straightforward to manipulate the standard-fit digital instrument cluster, the infotainment and some of the safety systems.

‘As simple as the steering wheel’s scroll buttons are to operate, I can’t help but worry that that they’re too wobbly and might break off…’ Keith Adams , Parkers Editor

While climate control is done via the central touchscreen, a row of physical buttons shortcuts you straight to this and a series of other essential items – a compromise we find generally works very well. Some of the Parkers team have complained that the air vents aren’t mounted high enough, but the cooling and heating happens quickly.

Infotainment and tech

The facelift’s new 13.0-inch infotainment screen seems strikingly large in the Octavia’s otherwise fairly conservative cabin, and some buyers may complain that it looks like Skoda has stuck an iPad to the dashboard. But improved software makes it quicker and more intuitive to use, with an increased number of digital shortcuts to go with the actual buttons beneath the display.

It’s certainly more user-friendly than the equivalent Golf or SEAT Leon, though we still wish there were more separate buttons to make things easier still. Sadly the buttons that are on offer are among the cheaper-feeling elements of an otherwise robust interior. The standard hi-fi system is clear and clean sounding; the optional Canton upgrade is a little punchier, but we’d prefer to hear more of a sound improvement given the extra cost.

• Ample leg and headroom front and rear
• Front seats very supportive
• Good visibility and a bright, airy interior

Front-seat comfort is impressive, with excellent standard seats that can be upgrade to electrically operated chairs with greater levels of adjustment. There’s plenty of adaptability in the reach and rake of the steering wheel, and forward visibility is generally good, thanks in part of the low height of the dashboard.

Rear-seat comfort is also exceptional for the class, with plenty of room and support making the Octavia feel more like an executive car than a family hatchback. Refinement from road and wind noise is okay, but the engines can be loud – especially the lower-powered diesels. But even the petrols can be noisy if you rev them hard.

Upholstery varies with trim level, and the facelift offers increased choice here. We particularly like the natty diamond-stitched pattern of the Sportline specification, though families may want to consider protecting some of the lighter finishes to avoid unfortunate staining by messy children (writing as the parent of a pair of them).

Review contents

Practicality & safety, interior, tech & comfort currently reading, engines & handling, ownership cost, long term test.

Skoda Octavia - Interior, design and technology

A sharp exterior design and improved on-board tech means the skoda octavia looks and feels upmarket.

• 1 Skoda Octavia review
• 2 Engines, performance and drive
• 3 MPG, CO2 and running costs
• 4 Interior, design and technology - currently reading
• 5 Practicality, comfort and boot space
• 6 Reliability and safety

4.4 out of 5

The facelifted Skoda Octavia has revised daytime running lights, a sharper looking front bumper, fresh tail lights with animations, and some new alloy wheel designs and colour options to choose from.

The facelift also saw some trim level and engine changes. The base model is now SE Technology, which has 16-inch alloys - great for comfort - LED lights, umbrellas in the front doors, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay , wireless phone charging, dual-zone air-con, keyless start, and heated front seats.

Mid-range SE L specification includes bigger 17-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control and front parking sensors, while SportLine models get 18-inch alloy wheels, metallic paint, a black spoiler, tinted windows, chrome exhaust pipes and sports seats.

What is the Skoda Octavia like inside?

The fourth-generation Skoda Octavia took a noticeable leap forward in design over its predecessor when it was released, with the old car’s worthy but slightly dull design replaced with something much more contemporary. 

The horizontal dashboard arrangement – it does away with its predecessor’s monolithic central dashboard layout – is dominated by a large touchscreen display, with a few key short-cut buttons, such as shortcuts to the climate-control menu and driver-assist functions, located below the infotainment screen.

More reviews

Car group tests.

• Volkswagen Golf vs Skoda Octavia: a battle for family hatchback supremacy
• Volkswagen Golf vs Skoda Octavia: 2023 twin test review
• Peugeot 308 SW vs Skoda Octavia Estate: 2022 twin test review

In-depth reviews

• Skoda Octavia review

Long-term tests

• Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI: long-term test
• New Skoda Octavia 2024 facelift review: entry-level hatch is great value
• New Skoda Octavia Estate 2024 review: facelifted family wagon shines
• Skoda Octavia vRS (Mk1, 2000-2006) icon review

Used car tests

• Used Skoda Octavia (Mk4, 2020-date) review

Unfortunately, this means that the climate controls are primarily operated through the touchscreen. While it’s a logical set-up for its type, we’d still prefer to have physical buttons to work these functions.

What is the interior quality like?

The knurled thumbwheels on the two-spoke steering wheel, the slender chrome-finished door handles, and the soft materials that cover the dashboard all add up to make the Octavia’s understated and neatly laid-out cabin feel a cut above almost anything else in the class. 

It’s got the edge over the Volkswagen Golf , with only one or two alternatives, such as the Peugeot 308 , able to deliver a similar sense of occasion. The buttons on the dashboard feel well damped, and the overall architecture looks sturdy. Even the font on the digital driver’s display is understated and classy.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

All versions of the facelifted Skoda Octavia have a 13-inch touchscreen. It’s very similar to the system fitted to the VW Golf, but it comes with unique Skoda graphics and colours. 

Over-the-air updates keep the infotainment system up to date with the latest navigation and traffic data for the standard sat-nav system, and also allows Skoda to introduce firmware revisions. The screen responds quickly to touches, and its interface is largely straightforward and easy to work out. Also included is wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a standard wireless charging pad.

There’s no volume knob, with a slider function located beneath the screen allowing you to adjust the level. This works okay; at least you can tap the slider to a point for your desired volume.

There are also no physical climate dials, with the dual-zone temperature controls integrated into the bottom of the touchscreen. There are pre-set climate-controlled commands to warm your feet or cool your face, but you can also set everything up as desired in a dedicated climate settings menu on the screen. Overall, having some of the climate controls on permanent display at the bottom of the screen is a positive step, but we’d prefer a few more analogue controls, such as the smart dials that feature on the Skoda Superb and Skoda Kodiaq .

Which Is Best

Cheapest vehicles.

• Name 1.5 TSI SE Technology 5dr
• Gearbox type Manual
• Price £26,775

Most economical vehicles

• Name 2.0 TDI SE Technology 5dr
• Price £29,320

Fastest vehicles

• Name 2.0 TSI vRS 5dr DSG
• Gearbox type Semi-auto
• Price £38,670

In This Review

• Family cars
• Company cars
• Family hatchbacks

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

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Škoda Octavia interior

A modern and cosy interior.

Welcome to the new-generation cockpit pushing the envelope in its class. The elegant, airy interior with smooth accent lines is made of high-quality softened materials. The minimalist lines and ambient lighting, which can be configured to light up in many different colour combinations, provide the finishing touches to the elegant on-board atmosphere.

All key information always in your sights

One of the Škoda Octavia’s excellent and useful features is the head-up display , which projects the current speed, navigation instructions and other information onto the windscreen. The 10” Virtual Cockpit with several different layouts offers more detailed information and can be configured to display the data you choose. The up to 13” infotainment display , comfortably positioned in the driver’s field of vision, comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offers the latest information from Škoda Connect online services.

Enough room both for the family and your business

The exceptionally spacious Octavia will cater perfectly to your business needs during the week, and cope with the whole family at weekends. Sit comfortably at the wheel and enjoy even more headroom, shoulder room and elbow room. With so much space on the rear seats, you can swing one leg over the other – the remarkable legroom will put a smile on every passenger’s face.

Will everything fit in?

The luggage compartment offers a generous 600 litres, beating its rivals hands down. By folding down the rear-seat backrests, you get a full 1,555 litres. When loading the boot, you will appreciate its regular shape, longer floor area and numerous Simply Clever solutions to keep your cargo safely fixed in place: four hooks, three nets, and practical cargo elements.

Practical compartments within easy reach

The Octavia’s interior is brimming with practical storage space, including 1.5 l bottle holders in the doors, a large Jumbo Box under the armrest, and pockets on the front-seat backrests. As a result, all those little necessities that your family carries around will be elegantly tidied away, but always to hand.

Quality and ecology go hand in hand

Every part of Octavia’s interior has been crafted with the utmost attention to quality workmanship and the use of premium materials, all with sustainability and conservation in mind. That’s why our Suite Design Selections use leather organically tanned using coffee husks. This is also a way we support coffee farmers. In addition, the car’s interior features a number of touches in Dark Chrome, a unique finish that is more environmentally friendly than chrome plating.

The New Škoda Octavia interior

A modern and cosy interior.

Welcome to the new-generation cockpit. The elegant, airy interior with smooth accent lines is made of high-quality softened materials. The minimalist lines and ambient lighting, which can be configured to light up in many different colour combinations, provide the finishing touches to the elegant on-board atmosphere.

Key information always in your sights

One of the new Škoda Octavia's excellent and useful features is the head-up display , which projects the current speed, navigation instructions and other information onto the windscreen. The 10” Virtual Cockpit with several different layouts offers more detailed information and can be configured to display the data you choose. The 13” infotainment display , comfortably positioned in the driver’s field of vision, comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offers the latest information from Škoda Connect online services.

Enough room for all the family

The exceptionally spacious new Octavia will cater perfectly to your business needs during the week, and cope with the whole family at weekends. Sit comfortably at the wheel and enjoy even more legroom, headroom, shoulder room and elbow room.

Heaven at hand

The panoramic roof lights up the interior and enhances the feeling of airiness inside the car. It has two parts; the front part can be tilted or can slide backwards. For the maximum comfort of the new Octavia's occupants, the glass of the panoramic roof is tinted. As a result, the heat being transmitted into the interior is kept to a minimum and light penetration is maintained at a pleasant level.

Will everything fit in?

From now on it will. The luggage compartment offers a generous 640 litres, beating its rivals hands down. By folding down the rear-seat backrests, you get a full 1,700 litres. When loading the boot, you will appreciate its regular shape, longer floor area and numerous Simply Clever solutions to keep your cargo safely fixed in place: four hooks, three nets, and practical cargo elements.

Practical compartments within easy reach

The New Octavia's interior is brimming with practical storage space, including 1.5 l bottle holders in the doors, a large Jumbo Box under the armrest, and pockets on the front-seat backrests. As a result, all those little necessities that your family carries around will be elegantly tidied away, but always to hand.

Quality and ecology go hand in hand

Every part of the new Octavia's interior has been crafted with the utmost attention to quality workmanship and the use of premium materials, all with sustainability and conservation in mind. That’s why our Suite Design Selections use leather organically tanned using coffee husks. This is also a way we support coffee farmers. In addition, the car’s interior features a number of touches in Dark Chrome, a unique finish that is more environmentally friendly than chrome plating.

• Sustainability
• Introduction
• RS: Powertrain and chassis
• RS: New technology
• RS: Powerful design
• RS: Sporty interior
• SCOUT: Powertrain and chassis
• SCOUT: Innovative technologies
• SCOUT: Rugged design
• SCOUT: Interior
• Infographics
• Technical Data

ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS: Sporty interior

› Interior in sporty black design with Alcantara® sports seats › New central airbag for even better protection of driver and front passenger › Virtual Cockpit with Sport layout as standard

The interior of the new OCTAVIA RS is predominantly black. Ergonomic sports seats with Alcantara® and leather upholstery are optional. A central airbag providing even higher levels of protection for driver and front passenger is making its OCTAVIA RS debut. The Virtual Cockpit and the digital assistant Laura are standard features.

The interior of the OCTAVIA RS is characterised by a sporty black, carbon-fibre look with Alcantara®. The redesigned three-spoke, multifunction leather sports steering wheel features an RS logo and, if the vehicle is equipped with DSG, shift paddles. The front sports seats with integrated headrests come as standard and are upholstered in black fabric. The red stitching on the seats and dashboard provides a great contrast. Ergonomic sports seats with Alcantara® and leather upholstery, seat-depth adjustment and a massage function are all optional extras. The seats display an RS logo and red or silver-grey stitching, which also adorns the Alcantara®-covered dashboard and leather steering wheel. Black roof lining, Alcantara® door trims, carbon-effect decorative strips on the dashboard, pedals in an aluminium design and a frameless rear-view mirror add the finishing touches to the car’s athletic appearance.

Download PDF       Download JPG

New central airbag protects driver and front passenger in the event of an accident

RS vehicles sold in the EU now come with an innovative central airbag between the two front seats. This reduces the impact between the driver and front passenger, particularly in the event of a side‑on collision. This new airbag is located on the inside of the driver’s seat backrest.

Virtual Cockpit with Sport layout and digital assistant Laura as standard

The ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS is equipped with a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit as standard, which features an additional Sport layout and an RS-specific welcome logo. The infotainment systems feature new-generation technology from Volkswagen Group’s Modular Infotainment Matrix and sport a 10-inch central display. A permanent internet connection is provided by a built-in eSIM which enables the use of numerous mobile online services. Thanks to the digital assistant Laura, who also understands entire sentences, the infotainment systems can also be operated using voice command at any time.

Hermann Prax Head of Product Communications T +420 734 298 173 [email protected]

Zbyněk Straškraba Product Communications T +420 326 811 785 [email protected]

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ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS

05_Press_Kit_SKODA_OCTAVIA_RS_and_SCOUT_RS_Interior

ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS - Infographic

Octavia_rs_en_interior.

• Car Reviews
• Octavia vRS

Skoda Octavia vRS review

What is it like on the inside?

Everything is just so. The materials are good, with Alcantara used in pleasant but not OTT quantities, while the sports seats hug you nicely and not too tightly. The steering wheel possesses three spokes, ousting the curious two-spoke item used in the stock Octavia . Crucially – unlike the Mk8 GTI – its buttons are actual buttons, not weird touch sensitive pads, so you won’t accidentally turn the heated wheel on (or off) during sterner-faced cornering. The little metal scroll wheels nestled among those buttons are tactile, too.

And the infotainment?

You guessed it – it’s touchscreen heavy in here. Which will surprise, delight or slightly irritate you, depending on your disposition. Much like the Mk8 GTI, there are gritted-toothed-helmsmith operations – like turning off the ESP – buried behind half a dozen menu prods. Painful.

That said, once you’re used to where everything lives within the standard-fit screens – a 10in item in the middle handling satnav, music, driving modes and aircon, and the 10in Virtual Cockpit dials (with much customisation) ahead of you – it’s all a doddle, in truth. If you’re worried about fiddling with the aircon while driving, we’re with you, but Skoda’s built some extremely common sense commands into the voice control.

‘My hands are cold’ will turn the heated wheel on and pump warm air out of the nearby vents, for instance. It sounds unbelievably cheesy, but it works about a thousand times better than BMW’s gesture control or shouting ‘Hey Mercedes’ at your dashboard. Skoda successfully turns chintzy tech into something useful; who’d have thought it…

Is it spacious?

In the back, there’s a tonne more room for the legs and possessions of passengers than you’ll find in other hot hatches, while there’s two USB sockets and the seat-back pockets have two sections – one magazine sized, one ready to snugly envelop a phone. 

Head further back and the boot is 600 litres in the hatch, or 640 in the estate (or 450/490 respectively in the hybrid). BIG, in other words, with a Golf offering 380 litres. The Octavia costs similar money but acts like it’s a size above.

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New Skoda Octavia to be shown at Moscow Motor Show this month?

There's a lot of talk going on about a Skoda Fabia sedan playing the cheaper alternative to the Volkswagen Vento , but listen to what an auto portal in Slovakia is reporting.

SME reports Skoda will premiere an inexpensive car to the Moscow Motor Show which takes place between 25th and 29th of this month. The translation to English isn't very clear and we're able to derive is that this vehicle will be the successor to the Octavia Tour (which is the Octavia to Indians).

There won't be TSI engines on this inexpensive Skoda. It will get the 1.6-liter unit (possibly in both petrol and diesel forms). It seems like this vehicle will share powertrains with the Polo sedan. It could even be priced under the Vento.

Is the Fabia sedan the Octavia replacement? There are several other foreign publications reporting Skoda would bring the Octavia revival only by 2011 end or 2012 , which is build to cost less than 13,000 Euros.

The previous generation Fabia was available as a sedan. The current gen Fabia can be bought only as a hatchback or a station wagon (pictured).

Don't know which one to believe? Guess we'll all have to wait and see what happens in Moscow later this month.

Source - Auto SME

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