The third-generation Octavia was revealed on 11 December 2012, at the Škoda museum in Mladá Boleslav. The car began to appear in showrooms in key European markets in February 2013.
Previously, photos of the car covered in light camouflage were released to the media in late October 2012, after other pre-production cars had already been spotted on several occasions during the same month.
It was once again spotted, this time without camouflage, on 18 November 2012, in Santiago, Chile, in both sedan and estate body styles, during the filming of a TV advertisement.
The car, designed by Jozef Kabaň, recalls the VisionD concept car presented in 2011. The new model is 9 cm (3.54 in) longer and 4.5 cm (1.77 in) wider than the second generation and the wheelbase lengthened by 8 cm (3.15 in). It is also up to 102 kg lighter than the previous model. The interior length of the third-generation ŠKODA Octavia has grown - in comparison to its predecessor - by 33 mm (1.30 in) to 1,782 mm (70.16 in), while the legroom for the backseat passengers grew by 47 mm (1.85 in) to now 73 mm (2.87 in). The headroom in the back was increased to 980 mm (38.58 in) (Octavia II: 966 mm (38.03 in)). The elbow width was also increased, in the front by 39 mm (1.54 in) to 1,454 mm (57.24 in), and in the rear by 26 mm (1.02 in) to 1,499 mm (59.02 in). Similarly, the shoulder room was optimised, in the front to 1,398 mm (55.04 in) by adding 19 mm (0.75 in), and in the rear to 1,378 mm (54.25 in), a plus of 4 mm (0.16 in). The luggage compartment volume is a class leading 590 l (20.84 cu ft), slightly more than the 585 l (20.66 cu ft) of the previous generation model or 565 l (19.95 cu ft) of the larger Volkswagen Passat. From May 2013, Octavia customers wishing to carry more can opt for the Combi (estate) version with its 610 l (21.54 cu ft) luggage capacity.
Facelift
On 10 January 2017 in Vienna, Škoda presented the third-generation Octavia facelift. The main changes brought mainly split front headlights and a new system for predictive pedestrian protection. The first cars were delivered to customers before spring.