2014 Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI DSG: Is It Better Than a 2.0 TDI?

Let us explain. First of all, the 1.8 TSI was largely Audi's responsibility when it came to developing the MQB family of compacts. It produces 180 PS and 250 Nm of torque, which when paired to a DSG gearbox is enough to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds. In terms of acceleration and top speed (231 km/h), this turbo Skoda sedan is actually faster than entry-level BMWs and Audis, even though it's much cheaper.

You might be tempted to think that you're better off with a diesel because of the fuel consumption, but the claimed numbers suggest otherwise. 7.1 liters per 100km of city driving is quite reasonable. Skoda does offer a 2-liter diesel engine with 184 PS, but it's only available in the Octavia vRS and costs a whopping €5,000 more. A rough guesstimation suggests you'd need 300,000 kilometers of driving the diesel before the 1.2 l/100km difference in fuel consumption between the two is compensated for. But don't forget, diesels are more expensive to service and are less enjoyable to drive.

And despite having 4 PS and 130 Nm of torque more, the the diesel vRS is actually slower (0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, top speed of 230 km/h). The 180 PS Octavia is actually faster than a Golf GTD as well.

So in short, if you want a reasonably fast Skoda Octavia, definitely consider buying the 1.8 TSI with a slick DSG gearbox. The following two videos were shot recently by Youtuber BerlinTomek, who took the 2014 Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI DSG for a test drive. It's definitely not as beautiful as an Audi A3 saloon, but the interior is nice and the infotainment screen is pulled straight out of a VW Golf. It also comes with four selectable driving modes, just like a premium car.