Budget Rs. 35 lakh: Confused between the Skoda Octavia & VW Tiguan

While the Tiguan has the practicality of an SUV and a large panoramic sunroof, it does also miss certain features the Octavia has

BHPian macrothinker recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello All,

I have been a long time reader but this is my first post.

Some context and background:

I currently drive a Hyundai Grand i10. I am 28 years old and looking to buy my first big/fun to drive car. The car will be self driven and used mainly in the city as a daily driver with the occasional highway drives. My budget is around 35 lakhs.

The cars which were considered:

• Skoda Kodiaq - Fantastic car. Would have loved to get it but beyond my budget at around 46 lakh on road.
• Hyundai Tucson - Seems a good car, but probably not as fun to drive plus the long waiting period.

The choices:

I am torn between the Skoda Octavia and the Volkswagen Tiguan. While I really like the Octavia and it is probably my first choice, I have concerns regarding the practicality of the low ground clearance even on city roads. The Octavia is probably better to drive than the Tiguan and has better interiors. While the Tiguan has the practicality of an SUV and a large panoramic sunroof, it does also miss certain features the Octavia has and its ride quality is also inferior to the Octavia.

So the question really comes down to is the Octavia with the better driving dynamics and interiors worth the trade off over the Tiguan in terms of practicality and peace of mind of being able to take the car anywhere.

Suggestions for this dilemma would be highly appreciated. Looking to finalize within the next couple of weeks.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

I would personally go for the Skoda Octavia. Better styling & presence in my opinion (Tiguan is too bland & understated), soft & comfortable ride quality (Tiguan is too stiff), nicer interiors, more features, deadly sound system in the L&K and a whopping 4 - 8 lakhs cheaper OTR (depending on variant). Even the L&K is noticeably cheaper than the Tiguan. I'd see this saving as free fuel for a couple of years (or free fuel + maintenance if you go for the Style variant).

Since your driving is mainly in the city & some occasional highway runs, you'll do okay with the Octavia's ground clearance. Different matter if you had to frequently visit rural areas.

Keep in mind that, thanks to the firm suspension, the Tiguan 2.0 TSI is also a whole lot of fun on the open road. There's nothing to choose between the two when it comes to driving pleasure as the latest Octavia's suspension is softly tuned.

Here's what BHPian vijaykr had to say on the matter:

I agree with GTO and feel that the Octavia is likely better for primarily city usage. And the savings will help too.

Between the Tiguan and Tucson, I'd personally go for the Tucson given the softer suspension will be more comfortable for city driving.

The comparatively easier availability of the Octavia is another plus (hate to have to wait for months and months after paying this kind of money ). You need to keep in the mind the exit of the current gen Octavia and Superb from India next Feb/Mar. The feedback and comments from this forum indicates that parts & spares availability should not be too much of a concern, but a factor to consider nevertheless.

Let us know what you decide finally. All the best!

Here's what BHPian GForceEnjoyer had to say on the matter:

My choice would be  the Octavia for the exact same reasons as everyone above. A very comfortable and practical suspension tune that doesn't sacrifice high speed stability, well trimmed interiors and a fantastic sound system when compared to the Tiguan. Perfect for the usage you have outlined. However, you get the same explosive powertrain option with the 2.0 TSI and DQ381 DSG (which is a wet clutch unit with a high torque rating, so should be more reliable than the earlier DQ200 dry clutch unit).

If you don't mind owning a car that's set to be discontinued soon, the Octavia would be the one according to me. Do update us when you choose.

Here's what BHPian sunikkat had to say on the matter:

First of all congratulations on shortlisting 2 of the best cars below 50 lakhs.

As much as I love Tiguan, my vote is hands down on Octavia. The 2.0 TSI in the Octavia feels more lively than Tiguan and its all the more fun to drive. Agree the new gen Octavia has gone softer and doesn't handle like the previous gen, but still it is THE most fun to drive car under a 3-Series.

Also the Octavia is a new generation than the Tiguan (or even Kodiaq) and I personally feel the interior quality in the Octavia is better than both of these. A drawback for many would be lack of sunroof, but then the fact that you have shortlisted the Octavia says you are okay with not having a sunroof. In my 6+ years of owning the  MK3 Octavia on (In)famous Bangalore roads, I have hardly scrapped the bottom, and I have even taken it to some of the worst highways and forest roads. Obviously you need to be more careful in driving through those roads compared to a Tiguan.

One reason I would go for Tiguan is that it has AWD.

The money that you save over the Tiguan can be used for some performance mods in future.

Here's what BHPian lamborghini had to say on the matter:

This is a tough one!

I was a firm believer of sedans over SUVs for many reasons : performance, handling, fuel economy, ride quality on city roads, etc.

But at least in Bombay, the recent deterioration of roads in and around the city + aging family members have seen the crossovers & Corolla see much more usage than the lower to the ground premium sedans.

Despite what the GC numbers say, I haven't heard of ground clearance woes with the Octy so far, and I would take an extended test drive on the worst roads you would throw at it. If it passes, it is the one to get. If the road conditions are decent, and family are ok with the lower seating - the Octavia is hands down the choice to go for.

We had the Laura TDi before picking up the Tiguan - and it handled almost all the roads thrown at it without issues, and was much more fun to drive! But the Tiguan is a little more carefree a car when it comes to poorer roads & for the family!

In the sedan space, I would also look at the outgoing Superb Sportline & the A4 Premium.

Similarly, I wouldn't write off the Tucson in the SUV space either. With a torquey diesel, acres of space, a model that would be in production for the next 6 years, etc. it could be worth a buy.

The Tiguan is definitely more fun to drive on a good road, but for all you & I know - the Tucson could be more fun to drive on a daily basis if it can absorb bumps better, or with an addictive mid-range of torque. Definitely worth a test drive.

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