There aren’t very many affordable wagon options on sale in Singapore today. But thanks to Skoda adding a Combi version of their Octavia, car shoppers now have another model to shortlist.

Unlike the current liftback Octavia, this new Combi version isn’t Category A COE compliant. You wouldn’t find the same 1.0 litre, 109 bhp three pot residing under the bonnet of this car. The increased power makes sense in this application though, as wagon owners at this price bracket are more likely to actually use the cargo space on offer.

Though you really need to ask yourself – is the additional space, power and torque on offer worth the premium over the regular liftback?

The Altered Roofline

Aside from the obvious changes made to the roofline of the Octavia, the Combi version retains all of the styling cues and elements from its 1.0 litre sibling. It isn’t uncommon for manufacturers to revise the rear end styling of their station wagon models to better fit the shape. 

But the design appears to work cohesively with the new shape, without the need for a comprehensive restyle. It’s almost as though it was designed as a shooting brake to design with.

Greater Amounts of Cargo Space

The cabin design is identical to the liftback. Skoda always had their own distinct interior style, which sets the Czech brand apart from the rest of the brands under the VAG umbrella. The same floating ‘Bolero’ infotainment screen also makes an appearance here.

Skoda consistently punches above its weight class in the fit-and-finish department, and the Octavia Combi is no exception. Everything feels well screwed together, and made of materials that actually feel more premium than what its price tag would suggest.

The changes to the bodystyle means you gain some additional cargo capacity over the liftback. You can now carry 640 litres of cargo, up from the 600 in the liftback.

One Extra Cylinder

You have one extra cylinder to handle the increased load and capability. Under the bonnet of the Octavia Combi resides a 1.5 litre four pot that develops 148 bhp. Coupled with its mild hybrid system, the car will return an impressive fuel economy figure of 20.8 km/l. 

On the move this motor does feel more eager (obviously!) than the 1.0 litre three pot, but it is by no means a performance engine. If you want mind-bending levels of performance in the same practical package, you’d want to shop for the RS version of the Octavia Combi.

Still, the regular Combi is no slouch. I enjoyed the feedback transmitted through the steering rack, and despite the added heft round the back, it is still very eager to carry momentum through a sequence of corners. When driven sensibly, the regular Octavia is already relatively smooth and surprisingly calming to drive. The Combi, with its added power, feels even more complete as a package.

Octavia Plus

Increased levels of refinement, practicality and power are all good reasons why you should strongly consider buying the Combi. And plus, there’s just something right about the way a wagon looks.

However, there’s no escaping from the fact that you’d have to pay a premium of almost $50,000 over the standard car. Not that Skoda can really do anything about it, as there’d always be a price gulf between Categories A and B COE.

But look at it this way. $50,000 works out to be an increase of about $5,000 in annual depreciation. Rough arithmetics reveal that it’d only be an extra $400+ monthly. If you are already in the market to buy a new car, why not spring for a more capable package, considering the price difference isn’t actually that significant if you break it down this way?

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