Skoda breathes new life into the mid-size wagon with the Vision O concept, giving a strong hint of what to expect from the next-generation Octavia.
Skoda took to the Munich motor show with a concept that previews the next-generation Octavia wagon, likely due in 2027.
Skoda was not shy about the concept’s intent either, calling out the brand’s long history of building station wagons, suggesting that the concept won’t be stripped of its wagon rear as it moves to production.
While the brand didn't release powertrain details alongside the concept, the accompanying press release referred to the Vision O as the “electrified future of Skoda’s long-standing Estate [wagon] heritage.”
The attention-grabbing concept features smooth styling with defined wheel arches and a sharply creased sill fold along hte bottom of the doors.
A contrasting black roof lowered the visual height of the already shallow glasshouse, and Skoda has returned to the body coloured B-pillar motif from the first and second-generation Octavia that has since been removed from the third and fourth-gen cars.
The smooth styling is for more than just visual impact, with range-enhancing aerodynamics playing a key role.
The Octavia evolves Skoda’s ‘Modern Solid’ design language and reimagines the notched Skoda grille as a Tech-Loop face mask that incorporates lighting and driver assist sensors into the front panel.
The Vision O concept measures 4850mm long, 1900mm wide and 1500mm high, making it 161mm longer, 71mm wider, and 32mm taller than the current Octavia wagon, suggesting a growth spurt is in store for the new Octavia.
The new dimensions make the Vision O just 12mm shorter than the previous generation Skoda Superb wagon.
The interior of the Vision O concept is anchored by a Horizon Display, similar in concept to the Panoramic iDrive screen found in the new BMW iX3.
The slim 1.2-metre wide screen spans almost the entire width of the windscreen and takes the place of a traditional instrument cluster and head-up display.
A second, more traditional portrait-orientation screen sits in the expected infotainment area and provides the user interface for the vehicle systems, along with steering wheel buttons and voice commands.
Skoda’s digital assistant, Laura, is included, with AI functionality that allows it to do everything from taking notes from a meeting call to making dinner plans.
Sustainable production methods focus on the use of mono-materials, parts made from a single product type, to ensure ease of recycling down the track.
Seat fabrics are made from 100 per cent recycled polyester, ultraseude trim parts are made from a 65 per cent plant-based fabric, and the floor of the Vision O is covered in a material made from leather waste products.
The current-generation Octavia has been in production since late 2019, with an updated version introduced overseas in 2024, suggesting that the next Octavia, based on the Vision O concept, could reach production by late 2026 or early 2027.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
