Volkswagen Golf vs Skoda Octavia
Figures updated
The Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia are two of the UK's most popular family hatchbacks. We compare the Mk8 (2020–) Golf and the Mk4 (2020–) Octavia on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 1,037,961 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Volkswagen Golf for more performance, or the Skoda Octavia for the lower price and the bigger boot.
- The Skoda Octavia is the cheapest to buy new: from £28,505, £535 less than the Volkswagen Golf.
- The Skoda Octavia has the biggest boot: 600 litres, 219 more than the Volkswagen Golf.
- Their MOT records are close: once age and mileage are taken into account, they fail about as often as each other.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £35 a year of each other to fuel at 7,500 miles a year.
| Figure | Volkswagen GolfMk8 (2020–), 5-door hatchback | Skoda OctaviaMk4 (2020–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £29,040 to £48,380October 2026 price list | £28,505 to £40,660October 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 381 litres / 1,237 | 600 litres / 1,555 (best) |
| Length | 4,282mm | 4,698mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,789mm | 1,829mm |
| Height | 1,483mm | 1,470mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 115–333 PS (best) | 116–265 PS |
| 0–62mph | 4.6–10.2 sec (best) | 6.4–10.6 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2019) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 34.0–64.2 mpg | 40.4–65.8 mpg |
| CO2 | 6–189 g/km | 111–159 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.4p a litre, today's UK average | £1,117 (52.3 mpg) | £1,082 (54 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,102 (61.4 mpg) | £1,074 (63 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,102 (diesel) | £1,074 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 124Well above average | 123Well above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 25.1% | 24.3% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.5% (best) | 10.9% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 12.0% (best) | 14.9% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 21.9% (best) | 24.7% |
| Most common MOT fault | Coil spring (2.5% of tests) | Coil spring (2.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 839,338 | 198,623 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family hatchback | Family hatchback |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,600 | 11,500 |
| On sale | 2020 on | 2020 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Volkswagen Golf or the Skoda Octavia more reliable?
There's little in it. Once age and mileage are taken into account, both fail their MOT about as often as each other (reliability scores 124 and 123, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the Volkswagen Golf or the Skoda Octavia?
The Skoda Octavia is 416mm longer (4,698mm against 4,282mm). The Skoda Octavia has the bigger boot: 600 litres against 381.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Volkswagen Golf or the Skoda Octavia?
The Skoda Octavia: new prices start at £28,505, £535 less than the Volkswagen Golf (from £29,040). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Volkswagen Golf or the Skoda Octavia?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £35 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Volkswagen Golf or the Skoda Octavia?
Euro NCAP gave the Volkswagen Golf 5 stars (2019) and the Skoda Octavia 5 stars (2025). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Volkswagen Golf or the Skoda Octavia?
Pick the Volkswagen Golf for more performance, or the Skoda Octavia for the lower price and the bigger boot. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.