To buy New Octavia 1.5 Sedan-Mild hybrid car or to buy New Audi 1.5 A3 sedan-Mild hybrid car

[Heartlander]

On 5/9/2025 at 9:34 AM, Sturtles said:

Stationwagon boot is amazing. Always liked the convenience of a fully opening boot door, but SUVs will hit carpark roofs, and MPVs will hit the rear walls

Glad you love your new combi. I nearly change to this about 2 years ago as always love the combi look.

But to me the boot design of a liftback car like Octavia and Superb sedan are better in that beside being huge, they are more accessible when park with backside against a wall. With a combi, not possible to open the boot as the hatch would swing outwards thus hitting the wall whereas for liftbacks the hatch swings upwards so it is still possible to open the boot fully if need to.

That been said, I still like combi more for its look and better versatility haha. 

[Sturtles]

On 5/9/2025 at 10:46 AM, Heartlander said:

Glad you love your new combi. I nearly change to this about 2 years ago as always love the combi look.

But to me the boot design of a liftback car like Octavia and Superb sedan are better in that beside being huge, they are more accessible when park with backside against a wall. With a combi, not possible to open the boot as the hatch would swing outwards thus hitting the wall whereas for liftbacks the hatch swings upwards so it is still possible to open the boot fully if need to.

That been said, I still like combi more for its look and better versatility haha. 

The swing out distance should not differ much, because it’s a stationwagon design, and the slope is about 45 degree, compared to 60-nearly 90degress in SUVs and MPVs

so far, the carparks I tried is ok

[Mancypher]

On 5/9/2025 at 9:34 AM, Sturtles said:

Complaint by kids is that the rear is cramp fully loaded, but hey, let them buy a rolls Royce for me to ride behind

This the way.. At least my way too..

Driver comfort n shiokness over passenger princess nagging, OC included. 🤣

[Heartlander]

Recently got a chance to drive the latest pre-facelift Octavia 1.5L sedan as courtesy car for 16 days due to car accident that caused the whole left side of the car to be scratched/dented, ended up replaced many panels including two doors and the front bumper and respraying the rear bonnet.

Really grew to like the rental car very much as really got significant improvements even over my 2020 Superb which was of last generation. I like it that the car can be set to auto unlock when it detects the key fob to be within range and there are many buttons which got good tactile feel and excellent placement. What I dislike would be the smallish infotainment screen that make reverse camera video hard to see and judge accordingly. Also the 1.5L engine is enough to propel the car quickly but performance nowhere near the 2L engine in my Superb, getting rough when need to accelerate quickly and abit hesitant when pressing hard. But the $2.5k excess really a pain to deal with as always worried of getting into accident, worsen by the fact that the rental car did not come with any drive assist function like AEB, blind spot monitoring etc. Was thinking it most likely to be a trap by the rental company to earn more from customers haha.

Anyway just returned the rental car, and was surprised that my repair bill came to $25k just for the car only! The knife  is really sharp under AD and lucky that I was successful in claiming 100% under third party haha. 

[Sturtles]

On 6/2/2025 at 1:39 PM, Heartlander said:

Recently got a chance to drive the latest pre-facelift Octavia 1.5L sedan as courtesy car for 16 days due to car accident that caused the whole left side of the car to be scratched/dented, ended up replaced many panels including two doors and the front bumper and respraying the rear bonnet.

Really grew to like the rental car very much as really got significant improvements even over my 2020 Superb which was of last generation. I like it that the car can be set to auto unlock when it detects the key fob to be within range and there are many buttons which got good tactile feel and excellent placement. What I dislike would be the smallish infotainment screen that make reverse camera video hard to see and judge accordingly. Also the 1.5L engine is enough to propel the car quickly but performance nowhere near the 2L engine in my Superb, getting rough when need to accelerate quickly and abit hesitant when pressing hard. But the $2.5k excess really a pain to deal with as always worried of getting into accident, worsen by the fact that the rental car did not come with any drive assist function like AEB, blind spot monitoring etc. Was thinking it most likely to be a trap by the rental company to earn more from customers haha.

Anyway just returned the rental car, and was surprised that my repair bill came to $25k just for the car only! The knife  is really sharp under AD and lucky that I was successful in claiming 100% under third party haha. 

 

Just read this reply

There is a Superb Estate that is launched.

Its shorter than the taxi Superbs, because this is based on the latest passat.

The FL screen for Octavia is much better, and responsive. Even default maps and carplay work.

I did encounter carplay drops time to time, eg. once or twice a month.

The pre-FL octavia is 1L 3 cylinder with funky start stop. 

The facelifted one is alright, with BSG, it doesn't feel laggard at low speeds. 

On NS highways, yes, the engine output is electronically limited, so it does feel... shall I say, not surprising.

This car does not benefit from Ron 97/98, because of the electronic output limitation.

95 all day long

[Heartlander]

On 9/22/2025 at 5:40 PM, Sturtles said:

 

Just read this reply

There is a Superb Estate that is launched.

Its shorter than the taxi Superbs, because this is based on the latest passat.

The FL screen for Octavia is much better, and responsive. Even default maps and carplay work.

I did encounter carplay drops time to time, eg. once or twice a month.

The pre-FL octavia is 1L 3 cylinder with funky start stop. 

The facelifted one is alright, with BSG, it doesn't feel laggard at low speeds. 

On NS highways, yes, the engine output is electronically limited, so it does feel... shall I say, not surprising.

This car does not benefit from Ron 97/98, because of the electronic output limitation.

95 all day long

I am keen on the latest Superb Estate and have always taken the chance to molest it when happen to be in Skoda workshop for servicing and recent OBU installation. But alas it is not really a logical choice as no more new ICE cars on sales from 2030 in Singapore. If I am to change my ride now or soon, MYJ would be my number one choice. In fact my wife just raised the possibility of trading my 2 cars to get an EV. So it just might happen soon haha.

[Sturtles]

On 9/22/2025 at 8:18 PM, Heartlander said:

I am keen on the latest Superb Estate and have always taken the chance to molest it when happen to be in Skoda workshop for servicing and recent OBU installation. But alas it is not really a logical choice as no more new ICE cars on sales from 2030 in Singapore. If I am to change my ride now or soon, MYJ would be my number one choice. In fact my wife just raised the possibility of trading my 2 cars to get an EV. So it just might happen soon haha.

No right or wrong

Octavia and Superb are mild hybrids, so still allowed to sell.

Only pure ICE are disallowed from 2030

[Ake109]

On 9/22/2025 at 9:52 PM, Sturtles said:

No right or wrong

Octavia and Superb are mild hybrids, so still allowed to sell.

Only pure ICE are disallowed from 2030

If mild hybrid is allowed, even the smallest tweak to current ICE cars will allow them to continue being sold.

WAYANG show again.

If really serious, the cut off should be something like X km on EV mode minimum. But wayang.

[Sturtles]

On 9/23/2025 at 3:32 PM, Ake109 said:

If mild hybrid is allowed, even the smallest tweak to current ICE cars will allow them to continue being sold.

WAYANG show again.

If really serious, the cut off should be something like X km on EV mode minimum. But wayang.

Europe is rowing back on their EV targets, mainly because their home brands can’t compete with China on pure EVs

their ICE technology is still ahead of the Chinese, so pragmatically, hybrids should be their focus 

[kobayashiGT]

On 9/23/2025 at 3:35 PM, Sturtles said:

Europe is rowing back on their EV targets, mainly because their home brands can’t compete with China on pure EVs

their ICE technology is still ahead of the Chinese, so pragmatically, hybrids should be their focus 

China has the product chain for EV, so they have advantage on production. Hybrids is Japan tech leh. Hahha. Conti always mild hybrid one. 

[Mkl22]

On 9/23/2025 at 3:35 PM, Sturtles said:

Europe is rowing back on their EV targets, mainly because their home brands can’t compete with China on pure EVs

their ICE technology is still ahead of the Chinese, so pragmatically, hybrids should be their focus 

europe also going back to basics with a petrol small car that can be cheaper. no way can they make a small EV that is low cost. 

the main obstacle is car prices are too high worldwide except in SG. COE still over subscribed when the cheapest car is close to $200k😁

[Mkl22]

On 9/23/2025 at 4:01 PM, kobayashiGT said:

China has the product chain for EV, so they have advantage on production. Hybrids is Japan tech leh. Hahha. Conti always mild hybrid one. 

also got govt support.