Autocar Leon vs Octavia vs Golf Test

[m0rk]

all with the 200bhp TFSi

Should be interesting (released tomorrow I think?)

 

[mrcoyote]

Bet the Golf wins even though the other two are better value for money.

 

[El Vic]

Overall comments seem to suggest that te GTI is a better car than the FR. ALthough given it's 4k more expensive, I clearly prefer the FR .

1st Audi TT
2nd Golf GTI
3rd Leon FR
4th Octavia

 

[jedi knight]

Badge snobery.

 

[chris285]

never would have guessed that result

 

[Rob GTI]

Overall comments seem to suggest that te GTI is a better car than the FR. ALthough given it's 4k more expensive, I clearly prefer the FR .

1st Audi TT
2nd Golf GTI
3rd Leon FR
4th Octavia

The GTI is their preferred car out of the four not the TT.

 

[EdwardNR]

I thought for Autocar standards the test was rather brief and seemed to ignore the fact that the Leon had the same maximum G round the dry circuit as the TT, and better than the GTI.

I'm sure that the GTI is a better all rounder than the Leon (VW wouldn't have it any other way) but from the tests it was clearly not far behind and leaps ahead of the Octavia. The review just didn't seem to favour either cheaper car.

So yes, badge snobbery

Still not buying a Skoda though.......

Edd

 

[Rob GTI]

Thought it was interesting also that the car that VW supplied was quite well specced (from the photos it had 18's, sat nav and xenons) while the Seat supplied car had no options (as far as I could see) the 18s could have provided better handling / turn in, the xenons better visioin in the dark for the night time track test possibilly resulting in a better lap time.

Although the presence of these may have improved the result, the golf is always going to win!!

 

[warren_cox]

I do wonder whether brown envelopes have been pushed in the direction of some of the key motoring reviewers. Although I do believe the Mk5 Golf GTi is a massive improvement over the Mk4, of the 2 times I've test driven one I haven't been blown away by it to the point where I actually felt I needed to buy one.
It's a very nice car, thats very competant at most things, but as for the rave reviews - I just don't get it. You'd expect a car to be setting benchmarks in its class for the kind of reviews it gets and it just doesn't. I felt it was underpowered, slightly cheaper in the interior department than I was expecting, and overpriced. Just proves you're better off trying it yourself then going by review.

 

[225]

What a shock result....
Why did they bother as we all knew the result.

 

[m0rk]

Pretty crap braking figures from the TT & the Octavia

Interesting that the similar weighted Golf & Leon had very disimilar braking distances given the same brakes (but different tyres)

makes you wonder about the validity of the tests though.

Wonder who has the more advertising with the haymarket group

 

[EdwardNR]

Actually there is usually a Seat advert on the back cover isn't there?!

Got to cost a bit...

 

[carlt69]

Is it me or do they say the Leon Fr has 205/55 R16's !!!!!!

Hmmmmmm I thought it came with 225/45 17's. Maybe they should at least try and get there facts right.

 

[alx_chung]

I managed to get a copy of it today. Disappointing Road Test to say the least, there was not much in it at all.
Weird how the TT came second to the GTI........despite the Octy and the Leon coming out 3rd and 4th I know I'd rather have them than the TT (too many on the roads even the new one is not that exclusive) or the GTI (too expensive for what it is...)
Surprised that the A3 wasn't on the list as well (or is the A3 on the older Golf floorplan??)
Alex

 

[scottynic]

Badge snobery.

Exactly what I thought when I read it!

Certain areas the Leon was better than than the golf but no the golf is still best

 

[charlievarley]

don't believe everything you reads...it's only an opinion