2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
When it comes to fuel consumption, not many cars are honest. This Skoda is completely different. With his new diesel, he doesn't make empty promises.
By Frank Mertens
If the latest surveys are to be believed, then environmental awareness is increasing when buying a car. Anyone looking for a new car in these times will pay attention to one thing in addition to the design: consumption. For this clientele, the manufacturers are offering more and more fuel-saving models. At Skoda, the successful VW subsidiary, these cars have the addition Greenline in the model name. Thanks to weight reductions, tires with optimized rolling resistance and efficient engines, these models offer customers who want to save money a consumption of less than five liters.
New common rail diesel
At Skoda, the Octavia Greenline has recently met this requirement, which we selected for our everyday test this time. Under the hood he carries the new 1.6 liter common rail engine with 105 hp from the group shelf. Like almost all VW engines, it follows the downsizing principle. This means that at least the same performance as with larger-displacement units should be extracted from ever less cubic capacity. But above all they should do one thing: consume less. Many have this claim, but mostly fail in everyday life. It's very different with the Octavia. It belongs to the category of fuel-saving models that also keep what the marketing people boastfully announce.
Consumption under five liters
If you drive this Octavia, you can, provided you drive carefully, achieve the stated consumption of 4.4 liters per 100 kilometers. Even for those who do not manage it very carefully, a consumption of less than five liters is possible. Sure, you may now object that this is only possible with significant restrictions on driving pleasure. Not even close. The opposite is the case. After all, you can (and should) interpret driving pleasure differently than, for example, accelerating to 100 km / h in under five seconds. Anyone who drives through Berlin or other large cities in this Octavia, for example, is also driving fun. Apart from the fact that it does not protect against the constant stop-and-go traffic either. But if you don't want that, you should drive BVG (which is recommended in the city anyway). But back to driving fun.
With passable smoothness
If you want it, you just have to look at the on-board computer in the Octavia Greenline: the display shows an average consumption of 5.4 liters. A brilliant value that is even 0.1 liters below the manufacturer's specifications. And what about the smoothness and handling of this diesel engine? It is just as you know it from other Skoda models. You are not objectionable. The four-cylinder presents itself extremely smoothly, the steering responds directly and the manual five-speed gearbox is well coordinated, as is the comfortable chassis.
Enough space
You don't have to waste big words about the quality of the materials in a Skoda - they not only look good, they also feel good. Thanks to its length of 4.57 meters, the limousine also offers enough space for the passengers in the rear. There you can survive long distances in a very relaxed manner, even as a tall adult. With its infinite depth, the trunk also offers enough space for the luggage of a family of five. In sum, the Octavia offers a successful overall package. As a sedan, it is on the list for 22,290 euros, as a station wagon, 23,430 euros are called. It's not cheap, but you get a convincing car for it. Above all, an extremely economical one for the driver's green conscience.
