Honda Accord vs Skoda Octavia – Skirmish of the Sedans

SUVs might be all the rage these days, but let’s not forget the humble sedan. Better safety, fuel economy, and driving ease are just three of many reasons why sedans shouldn’t be overlooked. And one of the classic sedan battles is between the Skoda Octavia and Honda Accord.

Both the Skoda Octavia and Honda Accord have been around for a while, and both have gained a considerable amount of popularity for those in the market for a trusty sedan to become their daily driver.

So how do you make the comparison between two premium sedans? Well, that’s where we come in. We want to break down both models to figure out which car is better in terms of safety, performance, technical specifications, and everything else in between.

Let’s go.

Quick Spec Comparison

Hey there good lookin’

Let’s talk exterior. We want a car that looks as good on the outside as it does on the inside. So how do the Accord and Octavia go in terms of exterior design?

Let’s start with the Honda Accord. We’ll be honest, the new Accord looks pretty sleek. Sporty and modern, the Accord’s long body looks beautifully aerodynamic. With several colour options to choose from, it’s easy to customise your car to suit your own individual style and preferences.

So how about the Octavia? Equal parts sophisticated and efficient, the Octavia is better than ever before. The Octavia had a huge refresh in 2021, and with its sharp, sleek, harmonious design, it looks stunning on the road. Skoda is known for combining beautiful aesthetic components with safety and practicality, and the Octavia definitely delivers.

The winner of this round? We’ve gotta go with the Octavia, but we’re not biased, we swear.

Let’s talk comfort

Chances are you’re going to be in your car pretty frequently. Whether it’s the daily work commute, trips to the shops every week, or hitting the road for day trips on the weekend, your car is almost like a second home on wheels.

So it goes without saying that the interior needs to be up to the task of keeping you and your family comfortable. How do the Octavia and Accord compare?

The Accord is spacious and practical, with comfortable padded seats and a good amount of legroom. Worth noting, though, is that there isn’t quite as much headroom, particularly in the back seats, so if you’re transporting tall passengers, they may find it a tiny bit cramped.

The cabin ambiance is nice and the driver’s seat and dashboard are pretty simple but intuitive, making it ideal for those who like to get back to basics.

With Skoda’s Simply Clever solutions in every cabin, though, it’s hard to compete with the Octavia in terms of interior. The Octavia is all about your driving pleasure and, as a family car, Skoda has put everything they can into cabin ambience and comfort.

Ergonomic design and a newly designed virtual cockpit make driving the Octavia a dream, and the longer wheelbase on the new model means there’s more space in the rear passenger seats, so the entire family can travel in comfort. The Simply Clever design features include handy elements like an in-cabin rubbish bin, a hidden umbrella for those rainy days, multiple cup holders, and other handy features and gadgets designed to make life easier.

Again, the win has got to go to the Octavia.

How’s the performance?

Honda’s 2021 Accord had a two-motor hybrid powertrain, meaning it combines horsepower with electric torque. As a result, the 158kW/315Nm output means acceleration feels nice and quick, almost sporty in its handling. If you go the classic turbo-petrol option, you’ll definitely notice less power, with a fuel efficiency of 6.5L/100km.

Meanwhile, the Skoda Octavia features a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. It’s a quiet drive and feels powerful underfoot, and with a larger body and longer wheelbase, it’s a really pleasant car to get around in. For fuel efficiency, you’re looking at 5.7L/100km.

So who’s the winner? In terms of power, the Honda Accord hybrid is a winner here, but if you’re looking at the standard petrol motors, the Octavia is by far the better all-rounder, and simply a joy to drive – it’s quiet but powerful, and generally just very comfortable.

Safety

Both cars have a 5-Star ANCAP safety rating – which is pretty standard. The Accord has its safety technology as part of a system called “Honda Sensing” which includes the usual safety suspects, such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Accord’s lane assist system is definitely a step above most. The rearview camera also has multiple angles, and there is also a blind spot information system.

The Octavia also has an extensive range of safety features. Emergency braking and assist, passenger protection assist, fatigue detection, multi-collision braking, and LED headlights with an Adaptive Frontlight System (depending on what trim level you select), the Octavia is packed full of safety technology. You’ve also got the usual additions of a rearview camera, lane and side assist, and an abundance of airbags to keep you and your family safe.

Honestly, both cars put up a great fight in terms of safety technology. The new Accord is innovative, but the Octavia probably offers a few more safety features depending on the trim level you select.

Can we call this one a draw?

Technology

We’re nearing the end of the skirmish now, but you can’t have a car battle without talking about all the latest and greatest technology at hand.

The Octavia has a pretty sexy head-up display that puts all the must-see information and navigation data right onto the windscreen, so your eyes are always looking ahead. The infotainment system is a 10-inch touchscreen featuring audio streaming through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and you’ve got eight speakers throughout the cabin delivering some sweet Canton surround-sound audio.

Enjoy three-zone climate control, wireless charging, and a driving selection mode that lets you choose how you want to drive – pretty damn cool.

The Honda Accord’s touchscreen is a little smaller at 8 inches, but it’s high resolution and easy to use. It also has the usual smartphone connectivity options, and interestingly has WiFi hotspot capabilities, meaning you can get yourself a data plan for easy internet access – although if you have a good mobile phone data plan already, it might be easier to use that and hotspot to the family if they want to use the internet while in the car.

The HondaLink app is a nice addition so that you have all the important stuff at hand, such as fuel status.

Both cars are pretty on par, but honestly, you can’t go past Skoda’s virtual cockpit – and for that, we need to give the win to the Octavia.

So, what’s the verdict?

Both cars put up a great fight, but the Octavia gets that little bit further ahead in terms of comfort, technology, and safety – it’s hard to go past this stellar family car.

If you are in the market for a new family sedan, come down to Perth City Skoda and give the Octavia a test drive – because sometimes, you just need to see it for yourself.