VM-Test Skoda Octavia Combi G-TEC: Greener with biomethane than an electric car

Environmentally and Family Friendly

Brand new, alongside various Seat and VW models from the parent brand, Skoda is also rolling out the g-tec in the Octavia as well as in the Scala and the small SUV Kamiq, offering a choice for environmentally conscious customers who might not yet be ready to switch to a pure electric vehicle – or for whom an Enyaq with a practical range is simply too expensive. The base price for the natural gas station wagon is 31,760 euros, already with the smoothly sorting 7-speed DSG, mind you.

For that, you get a full-fledged family car with a trunk that, while considerably shrunk compared to the standard gasoline model (495 liters instead of 640 liters), still offers a spacious and highly usable loading compartment. And as much space up front as in the completely “conventional” Octavia. In the first row, the space in the 4.68-meter station wagon is already generous, but above all, in the second row, one lounges comfortably with ample legroom. Additionally, there is a natural towing capacity of 1.4 tons. Why opt for an SUV again?! But let's leave standard criticisms aside, here we are addressing another point.

An Enyaq Costs Over 12,000 Euros More, Even the Heavy PHEV

An MEB-derivative Enyaq i.V. 60 starts at a price of 38,850 euros with the 58 kWh battery and officially 412 kilometers of range. To achieve almost the “reserve” of the CNG, one must opt for the 80 version, starting from 43,950 euros, officially 536 kilometers of range, though this tends to be “chilly kilometers.” As a “hybrid” between combustion and electric, the Octavia Combi RS i.V. is also available, starting at 44,660 euros, thus in a different price league and only truly environmentally friendly under very specific usage conditions. In the VM test, the expensive and not necessarily high-performing, incidentally a hefty 220 kilograms heavier PHEV, left a mixed impression anyway and came out of the test round with 4.8 liters/100 km of fossil fuel and 5.8 kWh/100 of electricity. Either way, that’s already a deep dig into the family budget just to be “eco-friendly” on the road.

450 Kilometers on the Highway

And thus back to the g-tec, which in this relative context almost seems like a bargain. According to the WLTP, the range from the gas reservoirs should suffice for 500 kilometers; in the winter VM test with lamellar tires, we almost hit the factory consumption of 3.5 kg/100 km, landing at 3.7 kg/100 km. And that was without major economizing efforts, meaning steadily 120 km/h on the highway and – as mentioned above – heating set to a comfortable 20°C. We wouldn’t dare to do both in a pure electric vehicle anymore... If no CNG is available, which is already biomethane at half of fueling stations, the 9-liter gasoline reserve helps you get by, giving a total significant range of almost 700 kilometers.

Decent Performance

And the driving experience is by no means sluggish even on long distances: The 130 PS TSI based on the newly developed 1.5-liter VW group gasoline engine may not be a racing machine with its 200 Nm, but it propels and maintains the decently weighted 1,565 kilogram vehicle – but as said, over 200 kilograms lighter than the PHEV – very well at speed. Those who rev the engine get accompaniment from a robust sound that comes across as sporty-sonorous under partial load. If necessary, the methane station wagon seamlessly and smoothly completes the sprint to 100 km/h, sorted by the standard 7-speed DSG, in ten seconds. During intermediate sprints, the gas engine may whine a bit unwillingly, but it still accelerates the vehicle up to 212 km/h.

But that’s just for completeness’ sake, as one wants to drive environmentally friendly and conserve the CNG supply in the underfloor bottles. That this can still be fun is also promoted by the excellent Octavia chassis, which offers a fine mix of loose and agile corner handling and good comfort. Wind and rolling noises are well suppressed, making the engine usually the main acoustic source with its subtle hum.

Good Equipment Even in the Base, Including Driver Assistance

Needless to say, the already very well-equipped Octavia in the base version also features the FAS package from the corporate parts bin, accurately driving automated at Level 2 as a so-called “Travel Assist,” if desired. The infotainment and control units as well as goodies like the head-up display are taken from the broad catalog, with pros and cons given the numerous swipes over various screens and buttons. The digital instrument cluster, which is not very intuitively sorted, also presented some operational battles for us to fight. But those are mere footnotes in an otherwise coherent overall concept.

VM Test Conclusion:

In summary, one has to say that the Octavia g-tec does not deserve the stepchild existence between booming PHEVs and emerging BEVs. It is a fully-fledged everyday and vacation car without major limitations in usage range, which also meets high environmental demands without being too expensive. Actually, a classic “eco-people’s car.”

Technical Data: Skoda Octavia Combi 1.5 G-TEC DSG

• Drive: 1.5-liter TSI four-cylinder turbo gas engine (130 PS/96 kW, 200 Nm); emission standard Euro 6dTemp
• Dimensions LxWxH: 4,689x1,829x1,467 mm; Turning circle: 10.4 m
• Weights (measured): empty 1,565 kg (including driver 75 kg); Gross weight 1,889 kg; Payload 324 kg; Test weight 1,715 kg; Towing capacity: 710 kg (unbraked); 1,400 kg (braked up to 12% incline)
• Trunk: 495/1,560 liters
• Service interval: 30,000 km/2 years, variable
• Prices: 31,760 euros (including 19% VAT) Ambition
• Standard equipment (among others): 7-speed DSG, Keyless Go+Start, Parking sensors, Climatronic, Electric parking brake, Skoda Care Connect (SOS, Mobility/Info service, Remote Query), Airbag 7x, Rain/Light sensor, Multi-collision brake, hydraulic BAS, FAS with city emergency brake assistant including pedestrian/cyclist detection, Evasive maneuver assistant, Lane keeping assistant, LED main headlights + rear lights, Central locking including remote control, Electric front/rear windows, Cruise control, Start-stop system including brake energy recovery, Infotainment system Swing 8“, Bluetooth, Wireless Smart Link (Apple Carplay/Android Auto)
• Extras (selection): Panorama glass roof 990 euros, Package Travel including FAS Traveller (pACC, Traffic sign recognition, Adaptive lane keeping assistant, Traffic jam assistant, Capacitive steering wheel) 670 euros, Rearview camera 540 euros, Ergo seat 590 euros, Infotainment Columbus 10“ + Virtual Cockpit 1,880 euros, Swiveling tow hook 890 euros
• Test fuel consumption: 3.7 kg/100 km; City: 4.3 kg/100 km; Country: 3.5 kg/100 km; Autobahn: 3.6 kg/100 km