I just loved your section being interrupted by, then trying to use, then arguing with and eventually just berating Laura! You're bang on about voice control being useless in any vehicle that has it, which includes my 2018 Lexus RC 300.

Have. Driven now 3000 miles in the 1.0 litre dsg and find the power more than adequate. Had 5 people and luggage in it for a 200 mile trip recently and happily cruised at 70 mpg without any issues.Averaged 61 mpg on this trip.!

Bob having a fall out with the AI of a Skoda, this is hilarious.

I bought one a couple of weeks ago Bob. This is a great review. I hope you are keeping well and that the recovery is going well. Lots of people on here wishing you the best!

On the second Octavia Combi with a glorified 1 litre petrol and this one is the new model. Yes you need to play with the gearbox a little when you have a crowd 🤣 on board but I find that fun. It's the one part of driving I'm going to miss when we buy an EV. As for miss Laura I don't know how many wrong phone calls she wanted to make for me. If you press the Clima switch under the screen you'll find the SYN icon for controlling the two sides to the same temperature. As always Bob, entertaining to watch and listen to you. One thing I forgot was that the vents on the driver side move fully to the left and that closes them, that also includes the rear one on the driver side. On the passenger side all the vents are moved fully to the right to close.

I’m with you on the temperature, always have to have it the same even on my own!

Great review Bob, I’ve also noticed that the suspension is a bit bangy and rocky at low speeds in both of my Škodas, a 2010 Fabia Estate and a 2013 Rapid, yet both of them smoothen up and are very refined at higher speeds. I can also support your comments about build quality; I’ve had the Fabia for a few years and it’s never had any major issues yet aside from some dash rattles and minor electrical glitches, and I’ve just got the Rapid and so far it feels built like a tank. Also impressed with the feeling of quality you get with Škoda.

well bob came here from tiktok live! love the videos just subscrived and getting a like!

I'm with you, can't cope if the temp settings are different and I'm alone in the car. Another great review Bob!

The SAP Car park at the start of the video. I was like I know those trees.... I worked there for 5 years.

I felt sure that with three cylinders you were losing something but not a bit of it !! It is surprisingly good to drive. I love my 1.0 e-tec

I had the first new octavia (back in 2007) and then already I loved the space and built quality. Back then I think it was the Golf platform but it was so much bigger! I couldn’t sit behind myself in a Golf, but I could easily in my Octavia. Had the light interior as well, staining was a bit of a risk but I could clean it quite easily. Even though I was (and still am) a pigsty manager when it comes to cars: periodic frantic spring cleaning sessions indifferent of season ;-) Miss the physical buttons on this new one though. They caved... what a pity!

Great review as always Bob... I see there is a 1.5 version of this MHEV available now which is a 4 cylinder and should be very nice.. I'd love to hear you do a review of that sometime

Another great review. Thanks, Bob. Why don't VW group admit that their switch to touchscreens controlling virtually everything was a mistake? Defending the screens by saying that they are 'the way ahead' simply isn't good enough. The fact is, touchscreens are cheaper to develop and produce than conventional knobs and switches, but for the buyer there is a big price to pay in the loss of active safety. In VW's case the situation is made worse by software gremlins, which mean that the latest screens can be both slow and unreliable. The positioning of the vents low down to accommodate the massive screen in the Octavia's case is another ergonomic disaster. Simply clever? Downright stupid... I am a big Skoda fan, and there is a lot to recommend in the latest Octavia. For me, though, until VW either wakes up or comes clean on the touchscreen issue, the Octavia will not be for me; Japanese and Korean rivals are much more worthy of consideration.

I have a 1.4 S-EL Octavia which I love but my wife hates because of the harsh suspension over poor roads at low speeds which you mention in your video. I thought that Skoda had addressed this issue in more recent cars but, apparently not. I've even considered going to the expense of replacing the 17" wheels & tyres with 16" ones but I'm not convinced it would make an appreciable difference. Excellent car in every other respect.

I've got the previous generation Octavia estate with the 1.0 and it's incredible. I also had the 1.4tsi 150 in an Octavia and the 1.0 with the DSG is a better car to live with than the manual 1.4. Only during heavy acceleration can you notice the difference between the two engines. I'll look forward to talking the eTec for a test drive.

Great review, informative and funny, poor Laura, the fuel economy for city driving looks good.

I love the Calibrated measure of length, classic.

I am also here from the live Great review

Ha that road you were on there in tallaght, I walked it a million times. Used to go with a girl from just down that direction, you drove passed the house 😂 bad memories Bob 😂 great video, nice car.

Good review, any chance you can get hold of a vrs estate to review? A new arrival means more boot space is needed :)

Very good review Bob, but I think the 1 litre 3 cylinder would be a pain. I prefer my Octavia Scout so I'll keep it until it's a classic !

Looking forward to your review of the 1.5 MHEV

I’m looking to buy the 1.0 Hybrid one guys. I’m looking for solid reliability and mileage as I will be doing motorway and cross country commutes. Is this smooth to drive on long journeys and how about mileage?

10:54 yeh that’s tallaght alright

Thanks Laura - I mean Bob.

Skoda is very very underrated sadly. The Octavia is a brilliant car.

Hope the cup holders are bigger than the normal Skoda small ones!

Currently have a new 1 series bmw whilst my Skoda is in for repair, actually the hey bmw is pretty good at understanding stuff, like put the window down even the ejector seat, only problem is I don't want to give it back!! Haha

Like skoda octavia 1liter to small engine i have 2litre diesel 150 great car its my third octavia

Good review Bob. I believe that all Octavias below 150hp have a cheaper rear suspension setup which makes the ride rather restless at lower speeds. Above 150hp gets you multi link rear suspension and a much better ride....

Totally agree voice assistance is not the future bring back the knob, and ban haptic feed steering wheels

So early it's scary!

Great review. I don't think Laura understands the Irish accent. I know some of my friends who have strong accents, have problems with Alexa aswell.

Highly Agree with your points about the Voice Control and Touchscreens.. The Voice Control in my 2016 Octavia SE-L is ABSOLUTELY USELESS(!!), Press the button on the steering wheel, plays it chime, "Call Girlfriend" and just calls calling a random number in my phonebook and frantically hitting hang up then having to do the call by myself.. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ The ONLY way they are gonna perfect Voice Control, is by partnering up with Google and building from their Data Base with Wording, Phrases and Accents.. Because i'd bet if Bob & Myself both asked the same question, we'd get different responses due to the accent differences..

Bob .. North Park is a take away in Tallaght.

The front grille looks weird alright. Looks like somebody swiped a badge from it! Bonus footage, out-takes??

I manage to get 21 km for 1 litre on my skoda octavia style 1.5 e tec tsi dsg. Iam not joking.

MHEV driveability? MPG? Is it a plug in?

I take it the battery system keeps the aircon/heater on when the engine switches off, have a Suzuki and when the stop start system kicks in it shuts of the aircon/heater which is such a pain in the neck. Always turn it off when I get in.

Here from the live

It looks like the engineers that designed this car are actually driving it.

My Octavia does exactly the same with 'Laura' - We have more arguments than me and the wife!! also agree with the different temps! the worst bit that annoys me is even when you set the climate to 'Sync' it bloody forgets you did that next time you turn the car on.. aghhhhhhhhh

You were in Jobstown

Not sure if your aware or not Bob but fixd obd reader will only work on petrol cars.

In 10 years teenagers won't be adopting American accents from their favourite tv shows. Instead they'll be speaking a generic over pronounced neutral version that will be compatible with all electronic devices. Its the future.

You upset Laura!! lol

Very funny with the voice commands, and I agree they are crap never work properly

My top tip for voice control : affect a D4 or Plummy English accent. Language recognition AI just isn't ready for de Midlands 😁

Here form the live

Stay away from the C02 debate, it's a minefield. ;)

Next video Bob will have 2 black eyes after wife beats him for calling out Laura's name in his sleep lol

Your right Bob, a 1 Ltr naah. It's like you running 🏃. The faster you go the noiser you get. Ie the engine has to work harder

I’m only here for the craic.

Bob love your stuff but what's point of all this environment stuff no more peat production n ireland for example and yet importing peat now from scotland so Scotland wont harm ozone but else will whole thing a laugh

Schkoda or Skoda??😛

Why don’t Skoda do a self charging hi bred like Toyota can some one tell me please

I have a daughter called Laura...and she doesn't listen either!! 😞

Voice controls in Ford are quite basic, but they work most of the time. Of course, for Irish people it could be somewhat challenging :D Oh, how I miss speaking to drunk Irishman in the pub...

Toyota hilux or ford raptor here from the live

i dont think the relatioship with your personal assistant Laura is going to work out.. Nothing for your wife to worry about :)

How good is turning the engine on and off all the time. Sounds like its going to wear out prematurely.

Great video, crappy car, thanks 👍

She does not speak Irish, or English, she speaks computer nerd

I HATE the name 'mHEV' there is no EV in mhEV. this is a petrol/diesel type of car with small help of battery! and a chance to shut down an ICE while maintaining all car functions. It's like calling a McDonalds a vege because you add an extra slice of tomatoes on top. IMHO if you don't have an option to drive (by choice) in EV only mode, there is no reason to call a car EV.

She does not understand Irish accent :P

I love northern Irish people.

This earth and all her replicants have become so generic, it makes me sad.