Lexus ES vs Skoda Octavia

The Lexus ES starts from $73,900 before on-road costs, while the Skoda Octavia opens at $39,990. That makes the Skoda Octavia the more affordable entry point by $33,910.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $81,290 and $43,989 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Lexus ES and Skoda Octavia hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 95% for the Lexus ES and 92% for the Skoda Octavia.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Lexus ES packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the Skoda Octavia.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Lexus ES and 8 in the Skoda Octavia. The Lexus ES adds a 360-degree camera that the Skoda Octavia misses.

The Lexus ES features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Skoda Octavia gets a 10-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Lexus ES stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, power tailgate and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Skoda Octavia. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Lexus ES uses a Hybrid producing 160kW and 221Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.9 seconds.

The Skoda Octavia responds with a Petrol making 110kW and 250Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.1 seconds.

The Lexus ES has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the Skoda Octavia is 0.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Lexus ES measures 4,975mm long on a 2,870mm wheelbase, 286mm longer than the Skoda Octavia at 4,689mm (2,686mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus ES generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 473L in the Lexus ES and 600L in the Skoda Octavia, giving the Skoda Octavia a 127L advantage.

For towing, the Skoda Octavia leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,511/year for the Lexus ES and $1,482/year for the Skoda Octavia. That is a $29 annual difference in favour of the Skoda Octavia.

Estimated annual total: $1,511 (Lexus ES) vs $1,482 (Skoda Octavia). The Skoda Octavia saves you roughly $29 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus ES) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Skoda Octavia). The Skoda Octavia has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: 4yr (Lexus ES)—.