New-look Skoda Octavia undercuts rivals at £26,775

The new-look Skoda Octavia is now on sale in the UK, priced to undercut the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, and offering the choice of petrol and diesel power. The updated Octavia – which introduces a new front end design, a revamped infotainment system and a more powerful vRS range-topper – is open to order in four trim levels and two bodystyles: hatch and estate. The entry-level trim is SE Technology, priced from £26,775 with the 1.5-litre pure-petrol engine, £28,815 with mild hybrid assistance and from £29,320 with diesel power. The estate body adds around £1000 to the cost, depending on engine and trim.  Related articles Standard kit includes 16in alloy wheels, LED lights at both ends, heated front seats, a 13in touchscreen, digital driver display, wireless smartphone mirroring and a charging pad.  SE L trim bumps the entry price up to £31,250 – adding larger 17in wheels, dynamic indicators, plusher interior upholstery and a raft of extra tech – while fully equipped Sportline trim tops the line-up for the standard Octavia from £32,255. The most expensive version of the new Octavia is the Sportline estate with the mild-hybrid petrol engine, priced at £35,352, but it will be superseded by the hot vRS which will be priced up "at a later date", Skoda said.  2024 Skoda Octavia: what's new? The Octavia's new look is distinct from the rest of the Skoda line-up, with more angular LED headlights nestled above a bold crease in the front bumper – said to be a reference to the Czech flag – which is especially pronounced on the vRS range-topper. The most notable upgrades are inside, where a new 13.0in infotainment touchscreen (shared with the recently updated Volkswagen Golf) has been added as an optional extra. Regardless of which screen is fitted, ChatGPT artificial intelligence is integrated into the infotainment software’s voice assistant, with Skoda promising flexibility and capabilities “far beyond” its current iteration.