Is the Skoda Octavia reliable?
In What Car's Reliability Survey, the Octavia finished in first place in the family car class, with an overall score of 99.3%. This mightily impressive result put the Octavia above the Audi A, BMW 1 Series, Ford Focus and the Toyota Corolla.
You shouldn't face any major issues with the Octavia, thanks to its high build quality and robustness. Indeed, it does suffer from a number of issues (see below) but these are easy to detect and resolve.
Water Pump: Look out for pools of coolant underneath the car. This could be down to a premature water pump failure, which is a common fault on the third-generation EA888 engine.
High engine temperatures, an engine warning light or a whining from the engine bay are all signs of accelerated wear. A replacement costs around £350-£500.
Gearbox: The DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox is generally a smooth operator, but be wary of any jerky shifts if you’re road testing a high-mileage example.
If you’re buying a remapped car, check that the clutch has been upgraded for a more robust item: the standard-fit clutch struggles to handle big increases in power output.
Diesel Particulate Filter: Those who only cover short distances should opt for a petrol: diesels can suffer from DPF issues, which tend to relate to the DPF sensor rather than the DPF itself.
Body: We’d have a good look at the bumpers and the underside of any car, but cast a closer eye over a Scout model, which may have seen use on unmade roads.
