Honda Civic VTi-S and Skoda Octavia Ambition – which is less costly to run?

QUESTION: Marina

I am trying to choose between the Honda Civic VTi-S and Skoda Octavia Ambition for mostly city driving. I am wondering that what the long term costs of running these cars would be. They both offer five-year warranty but how do they compare with spare parts etc?

ANSWER: NATHAN PONCHARD

If we're talking five-year ownership costs, then you need to take into account resale value, as well as tyre replacement, servicing cost, fuel consumption, and general replacement parts. For the sake of this exercise, let’s say front windscreen, front and rear bumpers, and head- and tail-light units.

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The resale is calculated on three years of ownership (the only figures available) and favours the Honda at 61.5 per cent of retained value at that point, compared to 52.8 per cent for the Skoda. So the value quoted below is the amount of money lost on the car's worth during that time.

And fuel is calculated at the national average price for the type of fuel recommended (95-octane premium in the Skoda; 91-octane regular in the Honda).

COMPARE THESE TWO CARS

Here's how the two would compare in pure cost-of-ownership, taking into account potential replacement of major components:

Skoda Octavia 110TSI Ambition DSG hatch
$11,937 (loss of value after 3 years)
$5335 (5-year fuel cost @ 5.2L/100km of 95RON, according to the government Green Vehicle Guide)
$2300 (5 years/75,000km servicing)
$740 (4 Bridgestone Turanza ER300 tyres)
$502 (front windscreen)
$801 (front bumper)
$665 (rear bumper)
$439 (front headlight)
$236 (rear taillight)
= $22,675

Honda Civic VTi-S sedan
$9429 (loss of value after 3 years)
$6405 (5-year fuel cost @ 6.4L/100km of 91RON, according to the government Green Vehicle Guide)
$1420 (5 years/50,000km servicing)
$820 (4 Dunlop Enasave EC300 tyres)
$535 (front windscreen)
$529 (front bumper)
$547 (rear bumper)
$707 (front headlight)
$440 (rear taillight)
= $20,832

It should be noted that the Skoda's servicing cost includes all ancillaries - brake fluid, pollen filter replacement, spark plugs, etc - whereas Honda charges extra for this stuff.

Also, you can travel 5000km further in the Skoda before it needs a service. Therefore, its greater overall servicing cost actually includes 25,000km of additional driving.

Finally, there's driveability. The Honda can drink regular unleaded fuel, but it's thirstier than the Skoda so will actually cost you more to run fuel-wise. And it offers less performance than the Skoda, meaning it's less efficient in terms of how it operates.

In pure tit-for-tat terms, the Honda offers comfier seating, better ride and handling, better resale and potentially greater reliability. The Skoda, on the other hand, has more flexible luggage space, an equivalent amount of room, stronger performance with greater fuel efficiency, and arguably easier entry/egress thanks to its higher seating positions.

I hope this helps!