Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 223,612 currently licensed in the UK, the Skoda Octavia is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Octavia 5 stars in 2020, with 92% adult occupant and 88% child protection scores.
It has a 79.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,201 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £267/month or 40p/mile.
Theft risk is rated very low at 2.3 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2020
MOT Pass Rate
79.2%
180,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£267
est. annual total
New From
£29,000
Euro NCAP tested the Octavia in 2020 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
92%
Child Occupant
88%
Pedestrian
71%
Safety Assist
79%
There are 27 known DVSA recalls affecting the Skoda Octavia. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/002
On affected vehicles the propellant in the front airbag may deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature fluctuations. As a result in the event of an accident and airbag deployment fragments could detach from the generator housing and injure the vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2013-04-09 to 2015-06-09
R/2024/017
On certain vehicles with electromechanical brake servo and DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) of a limited production period there is a possibility that a heat protection mat was incorrectly fitted. In individual cases the brake fluid reservoir can melt and cause a brake fluid leak into the engine compartment.
Build dates: 2020-05-04 to 2023-11-14
R/2023/222
Certain vehicles may be fitted with a wheel bearing housing containing cavities in the material.
Build dates: 2023-04-17 to 2023-04-17
R/2023/086
On affected vehicles from a certain production period there is a possibility that the gas generator cover could be damaged when the driver's airbag is activated.
Build dates: 2013-10-14 to 2017-03-30
R/2022/087
The fuse in the high-voltage system of plug-in hybrid vehicles was partly produced with an insufficient amount of so-called fire extinguishing sand.
Build dates: 2019-12-12 to 2022-02-14
+ 22 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 180,000 MOT tests, the Octavia has a first-time pass rate of 79.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Octavia is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Skoda Octavia are estimated at around £3,201 per year, or £267 per month.
Fuel
£1,305
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,171
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Octavia achieves a combined fuel economy of around 40.4 mpg (29.4 mpg urban, 50.4 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL | 61.4 mpg | 1.0L |
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL | 49.6 mpg | 1.2L |
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL | 47.9 mpg | 1.2L |
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL | 44.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL | 56.5 mpg | 1.4L |
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL | 56.5 mpg | 1.5L |
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 55.7 mpg | 1.5L |
| OCTAVIA ESTATE | PETROL | 35.3 mpg | 1.6L |
Starting from £29,000 new, a Skoda Octavia typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £21,750 | −£7,250 |
| 2 years | 64% | £18,500 | −£10,500 |
| 3 years | 56% | £16,250 | −£12,750 |
| 4 years | 50% | £14,650 | −£14,350 |
| 5 years | 46% | £13,450 | −£15,550 |
| 6 years | 43% | £12,550 | −£16,450 |
| 7 years | 41% | £11,800 | −£17,200 |
| 8 years | 39% | £11,200 | −£17,800 |
| 9 years | 37% | £10,650 | −£18,350 |
| 10 years | 35% | £10,100 | −£18,900 |
The Octavia has a theft rate of 2.3 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 223,612 licensed and 21,001 SORN Octavias in the UK (244,613 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Octavia has a 79.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 180,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Octavia 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2020. It scored 92% for adult occupant protection, 88% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road users, and 79% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Octavia are estimated at around £3,201 per year (£267/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 27 known safety recalls affecting the Octavia. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Octavia has a theft rate of 2.3 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Octavia starts from around £29,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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