A SIGNIFICANT mid-life update to the Skoda Octavia brings significant safety advances as well as replacing a spartan, rarely bought entry-level model with a more richly equipped one that buyers should no longer ignore.

WHAT IS IT? The overhaul for the base model Skoda Octavia is a big one. Gone are steel wheels and optional cruise control, replaced with smart-looking alloys and a smart radar system that keeps everything Czech in check from the car in front. Despite the changes, prices have moved only slightly, with the entry-level Ambition sedan starting from $23,990.

WHY WE’RE TESTING IT The Skoda’s Korean car level of pricing never really stacked up in terms of value for money.

MAIN RIVALS Ford Mondeo, Hyundai Sonata Active; Kia Cerato sedan, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry Altise, Volkswagen Jetta

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PLUS: Now decent value; sets a class safety benchmark; decent driver involvement; frugal MINUS: Still slightly noisy inside; ride still a bit fussy; DSG’s low-speed shunting

THE WHEELS REVIEW CZECH brand Skoda has had something of an undeservedly a rough time in Australia. Somewhat overlooked despite some innovative products, it sells a similar number of cars here each month as Hino does trucks.

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But Skoda has had something of a wake-up call, largely thanks to the Holden Commodore-fighting Skoda Superb. People didn’t buy the cheap version of Skoda’s large hatchback and wagon, instead preferring to fully load a mid- or high-spec model with tech convenience and bling packs.

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The Skoda Octavia is built on the same MQB platform as the much-lauded Volkswagen Golf, and the one that will spawn future products including the Skoda Kodiaq seven-seat SUV and next-gen Audi Q2. Unlike its VW-badged sibling that uses a multilink rear suspension, the base Octavia sticks with a torsion beam. All other versions of the Octavia get the multilink. It’s the only glaring bit of price-driven cost-cutting that’s carried through to the Ambition.

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Our test car was also paired with the seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission, a $2300 option that replaces the default six-speed manual gearbox.

Apart from the usual low-speed shunting from the DSG – more noticeable in stop-start traffic or while parking – the Octavia Ambition’s cabin ambience is pretty good. The facelift interior is largely unchanged with the same mix of hard and soft surfaces covering high-use areas, ride comfort on the 17-inch Bridgestone rubber is well sorted although the suspension gets a little busy at higher speeds and rides better with more bodies on board, and the electrically assisted steering has enough bite to feel engaging. The previous Octavia’s other main flaw – unacceptably high levels of road roar – appears to have been partly addressed: it seems quieter than we remember.

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Skoda’s Octavia suddenly has something it has lacked for some time – a real sense of value for money. It also takes the safety game a fair way forward, showing even cars a class below it that oscillate around the same price point, there is no reason to not offer autonomous emergency braking.

All the Czech needs now is a little more polish.

SPECS Model: Skoda Octavia Engine: 1395cc 4cyl, dohc, 24v, turbo Max power: 110kW @ 6000rpm Max torque: 250Nm @ 1500-3500rpm Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Weight: 1234kg 0-100km/h: 8.2sec Fuel economy: 5.3L/100km Price: $25,290