Limo-Like Legroom For Longer, China-Only Skoda Octavia Pro
Skoda has revealed a new version of the MkIV Octavia just for China, and it comes with almost Superb-level rear legroom thanks to a bit of stretching.
The Octavia Pro has had 1.7 inches (44mm) inserted into its middle behind the B-pillar, leading to noticeably longer rear doors and legroom that almost reaches the same scale as that of the Octavia’s big brother from the class above. The thinking is to bring the limo-like feel the Chinese so adore down to a cheaper price point.
The car is actually 64mm longer thanks to revised bumpers inspired by the hot vRS model. Their more aggressive look is designed to inject a more premium feel to help separate the Pro from the non-pro. We fancy Skoda probably won’t call it the Amateur. The Pro will still have fake exhaust trim, but all Pro cars will use a better multi-link rear suspension setup like the vRS as opposed to lower models’ torsion beam systems.
At an average height of 5ft 8in (172.4cm) the Chinese people should be comfortable in any seat inside a normal Octavia, but China is quite fond of a stretched version, with BMW among a number of brands to already sell longer versions of its cars to the Chinese.
Not much else about the Octavia Pro changes versus the standard car, which will continue to be sold in China alongside the Pro. The longer car’s only engine option at launch seems to be a 148bhp turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol unit, running through a seven-speed DSG gearbox and front-wheel drive.
Inside, the instruments, screens, seats and controls are all transplanted directly from the global car. Trim levels and options will mirror the existing car, too, but it’ll be interesting to see whether Skoda introduces any Pro-specific luxury options. Champagne fridge in the rear armrest, perhaps?
Comments
What’s the point in having more rear legroom on cars that you’re bound to drive rather than be driven in?
Especially in a skoda.
It’s not a bad car, but if you want to be driven in, you want a Benz or something in its class.
For people who have families where there young teenagers are already 6ft tall like I was when I was 13 going 14. Also in China they like there extra leg room cars its a status symbol. It could be for the business rep at smaller company who wants to take customers out for dinner etc. Its the same thing as whats the point in people buying SUVs when they never take them off roading. To be honest its nice to see a car thats not an SUV for once.
Two reasons:
The Chinese value rear space more highly than other markets. Even if you’re just putting your children in the back seats, they want to be seen in a larger car.
China has a very strict social hierarchy in place. If your boss drives a Skoda Superb then it would be seen as very gauche to drive the same car. Instead, you buy the model below, but get the same amount of space by it being the LWB version.
This social hierarchy is literally why the Audi A3 saloon exists, and why it’s almost identical in size to the A4.
Why not make a longer Superb tho?
Like, what’s the point of having an Octavia as long as a Superb.
What’s the point of the Superb then?
In China, your social status is reflected by the type of car you drive, and it’s considered to be immensely disrespectful to drive a car that doesn’t fit your class. If your boss drives a Mercedes E-Class, you can’t also have one, period. That’s where longer wheelbase models of vehicles like the C-Class or the Octavia come into play, that way you get the comfort of the higher class car without showing the middle finger to your boss.