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Estate/Sport Tourer, Skoda

Skoda packs Really Special punch

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Skoda Octavia vRS Estate

By Bill McCarthy

It could be argued that the Octavia became the breakthrough model for Skoda when it made its debut back in 1996. That was just a few years after the Czech firm was bought out by Volkswagen, with the new model standing out from the Czech manufacturer’s dated-looking range.

But it really came to prominence with its first upgrade in 2004, when the car buying public started to sit up and take notice, particularly when the sporty vRS models were then introduced.

It got better and better, challenging even its own stablemate VW models in terms of quality and sporty performance. No longer cheap, this model is a cool £32,695, but packed with creature comforts, hi-tech aids and a raft of safety kit, it is certainly competitive. You could sit inside and without the badges not know if you were in a Skoda or a VW or even an Audi.

On this vRS, the 245bhp two litre petrol engine, mated to the slick-shifting eight speed DSG box delivers rapid pace, with the smooth revving two-litre engine propelling the car to 60mph in 6.7 seconds.

All that pace demands the safety technology to complement it and the vRS has an electronic limited-slip differential as standard, while the sports chassis, which comes as standard, lowers the car by 15 mm for better grip and stability. And it does grip brilliantly. Switch to sport mode and everything sharpens up as the car takes sharp bends with ease, with excellent feedback from the responsive steering.

It is a testament to gradual evolution and sometimes incremental change is a winner. It is also true that estate cars have now shed their workhorse image and challenge anything in the design stakes. There is perhaps no better example that this model. It offers  practicality with a massive boot, excellent fuel economy through the VW sourced engine and a solid build quality.

The exterior design is the best yet, all angles and creases, with a swooping silhouette which disguises the fact that at heart it is an estate.

But the sporting clues are there in a much understated way with the vRS badging, 19-inch alloys, radiator grille and wing mirrors in gloss black, full LED Matrix headlights, full LED tail lights, black 18-inch alloys and red brake callipers as standard. The vRS logo, inspired by the firm’s motorsport tradition, is prominent on the radiator grille and tailgate, is inspired by the firm’s motorsport tradition.

The wing mirror housings, the window frames, roof bars and diffuser on the rear apron all come with a black finish, while the chrome exhaust pipes finish off the sporty look.

 The interior continues with the sporty but subtle theme and features a sporty black carbon finish and sports seats trimmed with red stitching and the vRS logo. Also included are  carbon-effect decorative strips on the dashboard, pedals in an aluminium design and a frameless rear-view mirror and smart puddle lights.

The centrepiece is the 10-inch digital screen which controls navigation connectivity and infotainment systems. It offers a permanent internet connection provided by a built-in eSIM which enables the use of numerous mobile online services. The infotainment systems can also be operated using voice command at any time.

  Bluetooth, USB and aux-in connection sockets are also available, while the 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit is standard and features an additional Sport layout and a vRS-specific welcome logo.

The sporty theme continues with the three-spoke, multifunction leather sports steering wheel with shift paddles for manual operation of the eight-speed electronic DSG auto gearbox. Here the traditional gear shifter has been replaced with a small, rocker-style switch for gear changes, including parking mode, freeing up extra space on the console. 

 Crucial for an estate, of course, is the boot space, with 640 litres available with the rear seats in place, 1,740 litres with the rear seat folded. A shopping net and cargo hooks will keep things stable in the cavernous boot space.

For safety there are seven airbags, front, front side, curtain, driver’s knee, plus, driver fatigue sensor, hill hold control, plus traction and stability control programmes.

Factfile

Skoda Octavia vRS Estate

Price: £ 32,695

Mechanical: 1984cc, 245PS, four-cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via seven-speed DSG auto transmission

Maximum speed: 155mph

Acceleration: 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds

Economy: 35-40 mpg

Insurance group: 14E

CO2 emissions: 159-181g/km

Warranty: three years, 60,000 miles

Citroen, First drive

Slick Citroen a smooth operator

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Citroen C4 – First drive

I had to do a double take when first seeing the new Citroen C4  in the flesh, or the metal, if you like.

I have to admit that one of my favourite looking motors on the market is the Mazda CX, hence the double take at the latest version of the hatchback from Citroen, which looks just as stylish, but still unmistakably a Citroen.

It makes a statement in many ways, taking on such formidable rivals as the Golf, Focus and Astra, not to mention its own stablemate the Peugeot 308. With a choice of petrol, diesel and pure electric versions it is also a vehicle very much designed for comfort.

It has bold styling and a range of power units that include the all-electric ë-C4, which offers a range of 200 miles-plus between charges. It also puts the emphasis on comfort with the firm’s specially padded seats with hydraulic cushions, a softish, but comfortable ride and high quality fixtures and fittings.

“The stylish new C4 has thrown down the gauntlet to the market leaders”

The new model also offers 20 driver assistance features, including Highway Driving Assist and a level-two semi-autonomous system that incorporates adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.

 Designers have combined hatchback practicality with the bold, muscular styling of a crossover/SUV and swooping, coupe-like sleekness. Add to this stylish, slim LEDs as part of the lighting cluster, together with chunky wheel arches and side cladding and you have a very stylish vehicle.

 To the rear it has a sloping rear window and spoiler, which the firm says draws its inspiration from the 2004 C4 Coupé with its original two-piece rear window topped by an aerodynamic spoiler.

 Inside too, it offers bold, yet simplistic styling, with the focus being on comfort. The centre point is the familiar 10-inch touchscreen which controls the major functions of the car like infotainment, connectivity and navigation.

The infotainment features Citroen’s navigation system and connectivity is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A full HD camera, which can take photos or video stored on a 16GB memory card, is built into the rear-view mirror.

Controls are supplemented by the flat-bottomed, multi-function steering wheel.

The clever tablet holder in front of the passenger seat in the new Citroen C4

The cars driven here offer important choices for buyers. The three-cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine, available in 100, 130 and 155PS power ranges, are gutsy units that give brisk acceleration and good economy, with up to 50mpg claimed while delivering the throaty rasp associated with three pot engines.

The 100kW (136bhp) electric unit also driven here offers typical electric vehicle electric pace, hitting 60mph in just nine seconds, while at the same time offering big savings on fuel costs and both road and benefit in kind tax savings through zero tailpipe emissions, only offset by the still cheap electric charging costs. It has a WLTP range of 217 miles and in common with the EV trend, only slightly different blue flashes and badging distinguishes it from the combustion engine sibling.

In addition, diesel, long associated with the French brand, has not been abandoned either with a 102PS 1.5 litre option offering typical turbo diesel punch and high levels of torque and economy, aimed at those clocking up high mileage.   A six-speed manual or eight-speed auto gearbox is offered on combustion models.

 Despite its sporty profile, comfort is very much a key factor from the comfortable seats, wide wraparound effect dash and soft touch finish to doors and dash and ambient lighting giving it an upmarket feel. 

  The comfort of the ride and seating arrangement and uprated sound deadening technology make the car feel refined, with only the rasp of the three pot engine under heavy acceleration. The electric vehicle is virtually silent with only a hint of road noise intruding on poorer road surfaces.

As a hatchback it is practical with a 380 litre boot, where capacity can be increased by folding the rear seats. An additional 16 storage compartments offer an extra 39 litres of space and unique to the C4 and a neat touch, is a retractable system designed to hold a tablet computer, built  directly built into the dashboard.

In addition to the entry level Sense petrol starting at £21,000, there are Sense Plus, Shine and Shine Plus. The EV version will cost a smidge under £30k.

Stylish, economical and with an electric variant, the new C4 has thrown down the gauntlet to the market leaders.