Facelifted Skoda Octavia boasts new feature – the all-digital instrument cluster

When the Skoda Octavia went through its mid-cycle refresh, which was eventually revealed in October of 2016, it did not get an all-digital instrument cluster, unlike the Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon that share one platform. And because of that, Skoda decided to make up for lost time and is now going to offer buyers an option where they will replace the analog driver’s display with a fully digital screen like that you will find in the Karoq compact crossover, but of course with an added cost.

The new fully digital instrument panel has recently been added into the Czech configurator, where it is listed, and has an asking price of 8 900 Kč (that is equivalent to about €351 at current exchange rates). We are expecting to see the facelifted Octavia with this new feature, earlier next month when it goes to the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, alongside the tweaked Fabia.

Physically, the digital instrument panel measures 12.3 inches in diagonal, wherein the digital instrument panel sports a resolution of 1,4400 by 540 pixels. Drivers have an option to go 2D or 3D when it comes to navigation information. It also features different layouts including Classic, Digital, Info-Profile, and Reduced.

The Classic layout gets a rev counter and round shaped instruments, while the Digital and Info Profile translate to more information for the driver. Lastly, the Reduced layout gets to have large displays that only show speed and remaining range.

If you decide to switch your Skoda Octavia’s analog display to the new digital version, the main display will cover the entire front part of the screen, including the full map with other information like speed, recommended gear, remaining distance to be covered shown above and below as small secondary displays.

There is also an Info-Profile that boasts a large display right smack in the center, flanked by additional customized info, that’s also displayed above.

Overall, only desired information will be shown in the two large displays, like data on the remaining range or the current speed. On both the top and the bottom, basic information will also be displayed, whilst the center can turn into a handy navigation arrow when you turn on route guidance.

Even if the new Superb flagship that was launched in mid-2017 only has been mildly updated, it still is worth mentioning even if it did not get the new feature. But do not worry, as the next mid-cycle refresh planned for this year or next will likely get the new fully digital instrument.

If you had not known, the third generation Skoda Octavia is actually the automaker’s most important model when it comes to sales volume. The 2017 model year got new split front headlights and a lot more goodies during its recent facelift.