Skoda Octavia 5th generation: what we know about the new Octavia

The current fourth-generation Skoda Octavia (A8) has been on the market since late 2019, and talk about its successor has been going on for quite some time. Officially, Škoda has not yet shown the “fifth” Octavia, but it has unveiled the Vision O concept — an estate that the Western press unanimously calls a preview of the next Octavia Combi. We break down what has been officially stated, what journalists are writing with references to sources inside the company, and what will happen to the current A8. The photos in the article are renderings of what the production car could look like, not official images.

In brief: what is known so far

• There is no production model yet. Škoda has named neither a premiere date nor a name: the official precursor is the Vision O concept shown in September 2025.
• Vision O is a 4,850 mm-long estate with a luggage compartment of over 650 L and a new Tech-loop “face” instead of the current grille.
• The platform is Volkswagen Group’s future architecture. Škoda states only this directly; the press уточнює that it is SSP, which will also underpin the next Golf.
• Electrification is the priority for the powertrain. According to the press, a fully electric version and a hybrid with an engine-generator (range extender) are being considered; the company has not announced a final decision.
• Timing is roughly 2028, but these are journalists’ estimates, not a manufacturer statement.
• The current A8 will not disappear anytime soon: spy photographers have already captured prototypes of its second facelift.

Vision O: the official precursor to the next estate

Škoda presented the concept on 8 September 2025, and showed it to the public at the IAA Mobility motor show in Munich. In press releases, the word “Octavia” is not used as the name of a future model, but the context is unambiguous: the company reminds that since 2016 it has led the European estate segment thanks to Octavia Combi and Superb Combi, and board member for Sales Martin Jahn writes that the production version of Vision O is meant to cement that leadership. The very letter “O” in the name, according to all specialist outlets, stands for Octavia.

Dimensions and luggage compartment

The concept is noticeably larger than the current estate and almost catches up with Superb. Comparison with the Octavia Combi after the 2024 facelift:

So the length grows by roughly 15 cm, while the luggage volume remains at about the level of the current car — which is logical for an EV, where part of the floor is taken up by the battery. The concept’s dimensions do not necessarily reflect those of the production car: they are usually adjusted closer to launch.

Design: Tech-loop instead of a grille

Vision O shows the next step of the Modern Solid brand identity. The main change is the Tech-loop front end, replacing the current Tech-Deck Face: a thin light strip wraps around the entire front, and there is no classic grille. The main headlights are retractable and take part in a welcome animation; on the sculpted hood there is an illuminated badge and two ventilation openings that reduce air resistance.

The entire exterior is governed by aerodynamics: active shutters in the bumper, channels in the sides that guide airflow to the wheels, aerodynamic wheels, flush door handles, and wipers hidden under a cover. At the rear, there are T-shaped LED taillights with animated indicators and a line that visually links the tail to the front strip. The body is painted in a color that shifts from sandy beige to blue, while the roof and glass are dark.

Interior

The interior, according to Škoda, was designed “from the inside out.” A Horizon Display over 1.2 m long runs across the entire dashboard, complemented by a vertical central screen and a rotary selector with tactile feedback. There is adaptive lighting that changes hue according to the natural daily rhythm, the Laura digital assistant with AI features, and a Tranquil mode in which the seats slide back for relaxation. The portable speaker and built-in refrigerator are more like show-car “features,” and whether they will make it to production is unknown.

Platform, powertrains, and timing: what sources say

Platform

The official wording is cautious. Board member for Technical Development Johannes Neft said the production model will be based on a future Volkswagen Group platform planned for the next decade. Carscoops, Australia’s carsales, and EV Central specify: it is SSP (Scalable Systems Platform), and the next Octavia is expected to become the first Škoda built on it, with the next-generation Volkswagen Golf as a platform relative. Carscoops also writes about an 800-volt architecture and software developed jointly with Rivian. All of this comes from the press; Škoda has not confirmed it.

Powertrains

The concept itself is electric. According to carsales and EV Central, the production version may get two options: a fully electric one and a hybrid with a petrol engine that only charges the battery (range extender). For the latter, the press cites ориентири: over 365 kW in a dual-motor version, around 300 km on electric power, and over 1,000 km with a full tank. These are not claimed specifications, but expectations from the outlets. Škoda representatives at the concept presentation said they want to keep all options open, as the shift to EVs is moving slower than expected, and the final choice will depend on legislation and demand.

When to expect it

There is no exact date. Back in 2024, Škoda CEO Klaus Zellmer said an electric estate the size of an Octavia had been pushed back from 2026 to 2027–2028. Most outlets cite 2028, and Carscoops wrote in July 2026 about a premiere in late 2027 or early 2028, with the estate rumored to debut first and the liftback later. Ireland’s CompleteCar cited another version: Škoda hinted that the production Vision O could become a separate electric model alongside Octavia, like Golf and ID.3 at Volkswagen, and would appear no earlier than 2030. So the question “is this the fifth Octavia or its electric sibling” remains open for now.

What will happen to the current Octavia A8

While the new generation is still at the concept stage, the current Octavia will receive another update. In June 2026, Carscoops and autoevolution published photos of liftback and estate prototypes with a second facelift: a shorter grille in the spirit of Tech-Deck Face, new daytime running light graphics, a different front bumper with vertical fins in the lower intake, new rear lights, and a revised instrument panel with a separate infotainment screen. The premiere is expected in early 2027, and in autoevolution’s view the model will last almost to the end of the decade. About what changed in the first facelift, we wrote in the reviews Octavia 2024 (liftback) and Octavia Combi after the facelift.

For A8 owners, this means the body will remain current for a few more years, and therefore accessories for it make sense. The most practical add-on for daily driving is window deflectors for Octavia A8: they let you ventilate the cabin in the rain and reduce window fogging. For those who want to bring the car’s look closer to Škoda’s fresher styling, rear bumper trim pieces and diffusers as well as a front lip spoiler are a good fit. The full list is in the Skoda Octavia IV A8 tuning section.

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