MODEL ON TEST: SPORTLINE 1.5 TSI e-TEC DSG AUTOMATIC – MILEAGE – 4,680

W hen the Diesel&EcoCar Octavia first arrived on my driveway, I was intrigued. Not by the model itself – the Skoda Octavia Hatch has been with us for a while now, and its numerous qualities are well documented – but by what was under the bonnet. I’m not here to get into the minutiae of whether the move away from diesel power is well advised, but there’s no doubt customers and manufacturers are abandoning diesel in droves.As a result, the 2.0-litre diesel versions of the Octavia are no longer the obvious choices, and petrol engines are being called upon to provide a similar combination of power and economy.

In this case, that means the Volkswagen Group’s ubiquitous 1.5-litre petrol engine is gainfully employed under the Octavia’s bonnet, with the help of mild-hybrid technology designed to make it even more efficient. Officially, it works pretty well, claiming about 51mpg on the official economy test, and it produces the same 148bhp as the bigger diesel engine. Both drive the front wheels through an automatic gearbox, and provide similar performance, getting from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds. Not that you’re ever likely to do that in the real world.

The other advantage is one of cost. Petrol engines have long been cheaper than their diesel equivalents, and though the mild hybrid technology means that gap has narrowed, the 1.5-litre versions of the Octavia come in £1,380 cheaper than the diesel equivalent. And yes, the diesel is marginally more economical, with the official figures suggesting it’ll manage just under 60mpg, but the fuel is a bit more expensive.

On paper, then, it’s a bit of a toss-up between the two powertrain options, and I’m suitably impressed by the petrol engine on the road. It’s a bit bovine on the rare occasion you mash your foot to the floor, but it’s generally quite refined. And it’s very efficient. On long motorway drives, it’s achieved almost 60mpg, and on average, the trip computer says it has been managing well over 55mpg. For long journeys, it’s great. But I still reckon diesel is king. Not because the petrol engine is bad, but because there are some driveability issues. The software in the gearbox is keen to coast, engaging the clutch to cut the engine braking and allow you to travel further using the energy you’ve got. It sounds like a good idea, but engine braking is quite useful, especially when travelling downhill. It will engine brake if you tap the brake pedal or pull the downshift paddle, but it’s still a bit irritating. Then there’s the classic mild hybrid issue of an engine that’s a bit too keen to shut itself down, and then takes a second to come back to life when you demand something of it. It’s an inevitable issue, and possibly one that’s exacerbated by the need to coordinate the gearbox’s response, too, but it is occasionally awkward.

Despite all that, though, I’m generally impressed with the 1.5-litre mild hybrid system, and while I would prefer a diesel engine up front, the Skoda delivers diesel-esque economy without the slightly gruff delivery or the expense that so often goes with it. It may be compromised, but it’s paying dividends at the fuel pumps, and for a few moments of inconvenience, I can live with that.

JAMES FOSSDYKE

WHAT’S HOT: The Octavia’s 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine is mighty economical.

WHAT’S NOT: The desperate pursuit of economy occasionally mars the driving experience.

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FACTS & FIGURES

ARRIVED: 2nd June 2026

PRICE WHEN NEW: £36,235

PRICE AS TESTED: £37,370

ECONOMY: 51.2mpg (official WLTP) 56.9mpg (on test)

COSTS: None

FAULTS: None