Review: Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI and 1.4 TSI Manual Transmission

Engines

2.0 TDI

The 2.0 TDI diesel in its new avatar boasts 3 more horses as compared to one on the outgoing Laura. This takes the power output of the diesel mill on the new car to a very respectable 141 bhp. Add to that 320Nm of torque and you have a really powerful car at hand.

While the Auto box handles the 2.0 liter diesel very aptly, making it a very convenient car to drive, the same could not be said about the manual version. The 2.0 TDI motor isn’t quite as linear as some of the other diesel engines out there. It starts building momentum post 1600 rpm, with the turbo spooling up fully and delivering its addictive kick only after 2000 rpm. This may make driving the manual transmission Octavia in slow moving city traffic a little tedious, as you’ll have to shift often. Inexperienced drivers may end up stalling the car as well.

The ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure for the 2.0 TDI manual is 20.6 kmpl– fantastic efficiency figures those, for such a big car.

1.4 TSI Petrol

The 1.4 TSI engine may appear to be a small motor, but it has enough and more punch to pull the Octavia reassuringly. The peak power output of 138 bhp is par with the class, and offers adequate performance. What impresses more is the 250Nm of torque from this turbocharged unit, endowing it with great mid-range punch and pulling power.

The engine is quiet at idle, but get noisier as the revs build up, a phenomenon which can be pleasant or annoying depending on the kind of driver you are. We quite liked the sound of the engine post 3500 rpm, and revved the spin-happy engine all the way up to its 6500 rpm redline to listen to the mechanical music. There is a mild turbo lag though, perceptible at lower revs. The engine gets into its element only post 2000 rpm, before which the mill could have done with a bit more grunt. Bumper to bumper, slow moving traffic does call for gearshifts. However, if you are in a mood to go fast, this engine will not disappoint with its punchy, rev-happy character.

The ARAI efficiency figure for the Octavia with 1.4 TSI motor is 16.8 kmpl

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