Skoda recently launched its much-anticipated popular premium sedan, Octavia in India. Being in the segment above the regular executive sedans and below the luxury sedans, there is really one competitor of the Octavia. The rival comes in the form of Hyundai Elantra, which has also been around for a while in our market. The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla Altis have earlier been discontinued and that is the reason we have decided to compare the new Octavia with the Elantra. So, let us discuss how well these products perform in terms of specs, features, engines, safety and prices.
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Skoda Octavia vs Hyundai Elantra – Exteriors and Dimensions
The Skoda Octavia is the latest addition in this segment and is consequently modern-looking. It features a Bi-LED Automatic Headlamps with an Adaptive Lighting System and Cornering Function for enhanced convenience, Redesigned LED Fog Lamps With Chrome Line connecting them, Typical modern broad butterfly Skoda grille with chrome surrounds, Muscular and Sculpted Bonnet and sharp creases highlighting the nose of the sedan, Plenty of chrome elements on the front and rear, Stylish 17-inch Alloy Wheels with pronounced side profile due to the characteristic creases and wheel arches, Coupe-like Silhouette is the defining design cue for the side profile, Drag Coefficient of 0.24, which is among the best in the world of the car of this segment improving driving dynamics, Two-part Split LED tail lamps and Skoda lettering across the width of the rear enhances the rear appeal, Larger dimensions than the outgoing model along with a longer wheelbase among other things.
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The Hyundai Elantra is a bold and elegant-looking sedan that features the modern design cues of Hyundai. This includes Dynamic LED Quad Projector Headlamps with LED DRLs, Dominant Front Grille Design with Chrome Inserts, Angular Sporty Bumpers and Fog Lamps to give certain aggression to the front fascia and a sculpted bonnet. On the sides, one gets greeted by the use of chrome on the door handles, stylish 10-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels and window surround and a coupe-like sweeping roofline to the back. The rear of the Elantra hosts a split-tail lamp setup with LED function, a Shark Fin Antenna, a High-mounted stop lamp and angular sporty reflector lamps at the rear bumper. All in all, one can’t tell that this version of the Elantra was introduced in 2019 and hasn’t been updated since.
| Parameter | Skoda Octavia | Hyundai Elantra |
| Length (mm) | 4689 | 4620 |
| Width (mm) | 1829 | 1800 |
| Height (mm) | 1469 | 1465 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2680 | 2700 |
| Boot Space | 600 L | 458 L |
The new Skoda Octavia is a bit longer and wider than the Hyundai Elantra but it is the latter that has a marginally longer wheelbase. This might we work in favour of the Elantra when it comes to passenger comfort inside the cabin.
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Skoda Octavia vs Hyundai Elantra – Interiors and Features
Skoda has equipped the Octavia with plenty of modern and clever features like Premium Beige Suedia Leather Upholstery to give the looks a luxurious touch along with Chrome highlights, a 10-inch Digital Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Skoda Connected Car Tech with Mirror Link, Virtual Cockpit-style customizable Digital Driver’s Instrument Cluster, Voice Commands and Type C USB ports, Touch Slider for Volume Control and Smart Link Technology, a 12-Speak Premium Canton Sound System including a Subwoofer, 12-way electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats, with lumbar support and memory function, Two-Spoke Multi-purpose Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel, LED Ambient Mood Lighting with different shades of colours, Two-Zone Automatic Climate Control, Hands-free Parking and a massive 600-litre boot compartment, Gesture Operated LED Reading Lights and Hands-free Tailgate Operation, Umbrella Holders, Roller Sun Shades and much more.
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As is the case with every Hyundai product, Elantra comes with a ton of features too. This includes Premium Dual Tone Black and Beige Interiors with Leatherette Upholstery, an 8-inch Digital Touchscreen Infotainment Setup with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Command, Blue Link Technology, Bluetooth Connectivity, Navigation System, Steering Mounted Controls, Digital Driver’s Instrument Cluster with Multi-Information Display, Wireless Smartphone Charging, Dual-Zone Fully Automatic Climate Control, 10 Way Adjustable Power Driver Seat with Electric Lumbar support, Auto Cruise Control, 8-speaker Premium Infinity Sound System, Electric Sunroof, Front Seat ventilation system, Door Scuff Plates, Cluster Ionizer, Hands-Free Smart Trunk and much.
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Skoda Octavia vs Hyundai Elantra – Safety
The safety equipment list on the Octavia is quite extensive with features like a segment-first – 8-Airbags, iBuzz Fatigue Alert System, ABS with EBD and ESC, Mechanical Brake Assist (MBA) and Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), Multi Collision Braking, Anti Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Front and Rear Parking Sensors with Camera, KESSY (Keyless Entry, Start, Stop) all on doors, Plenty of other features with the Skoda Connected Car Tech App.
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Hyundai Elantra also boasts of a lengthy safety equipment list including 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist Control, Vehicle Stability Management, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Front & Rear Parking sensors with rear camera, ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts and much more.
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Skoda Octavia vs Hyundai Elantra – Engines, Transmissions and Prices
The 2021 Skoda Octavia comes with a powerful 2.0-litre TSI turbo petrol engine making 190 hp and 320 Nm of peak power and torque respectively. This engine is mated to a 7-speed DSG (Dual-Clutch Transmission) which adapts to the driving styles of the individual and road conditions. There is an introduction of the “Shift-by-Wire” system for the gear selection which is integrated into the centre console between the front seats. Also, the Electromechanical Parking Brake is standard across both the variants freeing up a ton of space due to the lack of the handbrake lever as it is operated by a button. The Octavia comes in two trims; Style and top-trim Laurin and Klement (L&K). The Style variant costs Rs 25.99 lakh, while the L&K variant costs Rs 28.99 lakh, ex-showroom.
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The Hyundai Elantra comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine making 152 PS and 192 Nm of peak power and peak torque respectively. This engine can be mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The other engine on offer is a 1.5-litre diesel engine making 115 PS and 250 Nm of max performance output. It also comes with either a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox option. The prices of the Elantra start at Rs 17.85 lakh and go all the way up to Rs 21.12 lakh, ex-showroom.
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Skoda Octavia vs Hyundai Elantra – Verdict
Both these premium sedans are packed with features and conveniences which is the primary reason why someone decides to buy a car of this segment, to begin with. Having said that, there are some key characteristics of each of these which might attract the customers strongly. If driving pleasure is on the top of your priority list, along with plenty of modern design elements and features and budget is not a big deal, you should go for the Skoda Octavia. However, if you want something feature-rich, flexibility of powertrains and want to save some money while you’re at it, Hyundai Elantra makes for a decent choice.
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