Skoda Octavia gets pricing reshuffle

SKODA has introduced a reversing camera as standard to its Octavia range, increasing the price to all but its entry-level sedan variant which also misses out on the equipment upgrade.

The bump in gear covers all Ambition Plus, Elegance and RS variants of Skoda's most popular model, but it brings with it price increases of $300 for the Ambition Plus and RS variants and $450 for the Elegance.

While the base Octavia Ambition retains its starting price of $21,690 before on-road costs, the Ambition Plus moves to $24,790, the Elegance now begins at $32,640 and the go-fast RS starts from $36,790.

Although the reversing camera is not available on Ambition variants as standard, the extra set of eyes can be optioned in via Skoda's Travel Pack for another $1600. Along with the camera, this pack also upgrades the Octavia Ambition with 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, an improved audio system, cruise control and a front armrest with rear-seat facing air-vents.

Skoda has also introduced a New Comfort Pack, an optional upgrade only available on Elegance and RS variants that will cost $1300 or $1900 respectively.

Included in the New Comfort Pack are electronically adjustable front seats, automatically folding door mirrors, heated front and rear seats and, on the RS variants only, leather seat upholstery with red stitching.

Skoda has retained the option for a Technology Pack, adding bi-Xenon headlights, adaptive cruise control, LED tail-lights, driving mode selector, keyless entry and start and automated parking assist, subsequently adding $3900 to Ambition Plus, $3300 to Elegance and $1900 to RS Octavia variants.

The entire Octavia range is available in 'liftback' sedan or wagon body-style, which raises the cost by an extra $1350.

The third-generation Octavia arrived in local showrooms in October last year, with the RS following it into dealerships in March this year.

Skoda has sold 1365 Octavias so far this year, compared with only 946 vehicles over the same period last year, an increase of 44.3 per cent.

It is easily the Volkswagen Group-owned company's biggest seller locally, with the Yeti compact SUV trailing with 593 sales to the end of September and the Fabia light car on 326.

Skoda Octavia pricing*

Ambition 103TSI	$21,690
Ambition 103TSI (a)	$23,990
Ambition Plus 103TSI	$24,790
Ambition Plus 103TSI (a)	$27,090
Elegance 103TSI (a)	$32,640
Elegance 132TSI (a)	$35,140
Elegance 110TDI (a)	$35,940
RS 162TSI	$36,790
RS 162TSI (a)	$39,090
RS 135TDI (a)	$40,090

*Excludes on-road costs.