Added: 13 July 2021
Image Credit: Manuel Selbach from Pixabay.
Skoda has always been seen as a car manufacturer that likes to innovate. That’s been seen in quite a few ways throughout the company’s long history. While some of these changes have fallen by the wayside, there have been many more that have become standard in their vehicles. Others have been slowly implemented into different ranges to critical and commercial success. The Skoda virtual cockpit is one such innovation. The system was introduced into a small number of the manufacturer’s ranges when it debuted. Since then, however, it’s been making its way to other models. An optional upgrade, it costs a little bit extra, which could make you ask, ‘is Skoda cockpit worth it?’ You’re not the only person to think this. As it’s optional and relatively new, many people wouldn’t know too much about it. If you’re in a position to consider adding it to your vehicle, then there are a few things that you’ll want to think about before doing so.
There’s a decent chance that you could be thinking, ‘what is a virtual cockpit?’ If that’s the case, then you’ll need a relatively in-depth explainer of what it does. That’s especially true when it comes to Skoda’s version of the system, as this has been seen with other manufacturers in different ways. The closest example to this may be the one that’s seen in quite a few Volkswagen vehicles. If you’ve taken advantage of one of these in the past, then you’ll have a relatively accurate idea of what Skoda’s virtual cockpit is. But what are they?
These are essentially screens in front of your wheel on your dash that provide you with a wealth of information about your vehicle. Typically, this will include your speed, how much gas you have left, and other essential information. So far, that makes it sound like any other standard dashboard that you’ll see in other vehicles. Where a virtual cockpit differs, however, is that it provides multiple menus and settings for you to look through and change. You can also find out more information about your vehicle. It will also provide you with access to maps, entertainment, and multiple other features. That makes it somewhat of a control center for your Skoda, although there will be several things that can’t be controlled with it. A lot of this is quite customizable, so you can change certain screens to suit your needs and provide you with only the information that you need. You can control this with buttons featured on your wheel, making the whole system quite easy to use. The majority of virtual cockpits follow the same principles, although each car manufacturer will add their own unique stamp on them. As a result, it could take a little while to get used to a particular virtual cockpit.
There’s a decent chance that you’re wondering how to set up the Skoda Virtual Cockpit. While it might seem complicated, it can be much simpler than you might imagine. Thankfully, you should only have to do this once. As a result, you shouldn’t have to go through any more headaches. If you ever have to do it again, then you’ll at least know what you’re doing, which should make things much faster. When you first start up the engine, you’ll be presented with the default view of the cockpit. This is what’s known as the ‘classic view,’ and will be reminiscent of what you’re used to with previous dashboards. You might want to change this to the modern view, however. Doing so is surprisingly easily, as there’s a button for the view on your steering wheel. Pressing this will switch between the modern and classic view. There’s also the likes of the advanced view, basic view, and sporty view. These will all offer the core information in different ways, while also presenting additional data, depending on the mode.
You can also take advantage of a customization which, thanks to the Skoda virtual cockpit navigation, is surprisingly easy. This can be done by clicking the ‘settings’ option, proceeding to ‘virtual cockpit settings,’ and highlighting the areas that you want to be changed. Here, you’ll notice an ‘auto’ view, which will change your cockpit automatically, depending on what your typical driving mode is. Once you’ve chosen your view and customized it to the way you want it, your virtual cockpit should be completely set up. Using the Skoda virtual cockpit is also much easier than you may have imagined. Since the majority of the buttons associated with the system are on your wheel, switching between things should be a breeze. Naturally, it’s recommended that you figure these out before setting off. The Skoda virtual cockpit navigation system is also surprisingly intuitive. That should make it relatively quick and easy to get used to. Once you’ve spent a few minutes with it, you shouldn’t have too many problems navigating through it. The longer you have it, the more comfortable you’ll be with it. As such, spending a certain amount of time looking through each of the features is recommended. With the different customizations and features that are on offer, you shouldn’t need much persuading to do so.
Considering how much the Skoda virtual cockpit costs, a minimum of £450 depending on the model you buy, you could wonder whether or not it’s worth it. As simple as that question might be, it could be trickier to answer than you might think. That’s primarily because it depends on what you like in your vehicle. The virtual cockpit offers quite a few features that you wouldn’t see on a traditional dashboard. As a result, it can definitely be seen as an upgrade. Coupled with the additional information that each of the views can offer, it’s hard not to think that it’s worth it. If you’re planning on buying some of the more expensive Skoda models on offer, then it could be worth buying even more. That’s despite the price increase that comes with the upgrade. The prime reason for this is that the virtual cockpit matches the interiors and other features much better than a standard option. So, is the Skoda virtual cockpit worth it? Yes, but only if you’re already interested in the features that it provides.
With how complicated the system is, you might be wondering whether a Skoda virtual cockpit manual is available. Thankfully, there is one available, which you should be able to get from any local Skoda dealership. The car manufacturer’s website will also have more information about it. If you’re unable to get your hands on a Skoda virtual cockpit manual, however, you’re not completely out of luck. The system itself is quite intuitive, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out. Spending a certain amount of time going through each of the screens and areas can be quite a benefit. Since there are some customization options available, this might be something that you want to do anyway. It should also make you much more comfortable once you’re driving, as you’ll have all of the information you need on the screen in front of you. If you’ve ever used a virtual cockpit on another vehicle, regardless of the brand, then you should be more prepared for Skoda’s option than you might think.
While you might assume that Skoda’s virtual cockpit is available for all of its vehicle ranges, that’s not the case. Instead, it’s currently only available on a select few models. These are:
It’s worth noting that the price of the virtual cockpit changes depending on what model you’re buying. For the Superb and Octavia ranges, regardless of variant, it will cost you £450. That’s also the case of some of the SUV options, namely, the L&K, Sportline, and Edition variants. With each of the other Skoda SUV variants, that figure jumps to £550. Whether or not this increase in price is worth it is debatable.
So, is Skoda virtual cockpit worth it? That depends highly on what you’re looking for in your car’s features. While you’ll get by fine without it, as evidenced by the models that are excluded from the upgrade, it does add a few nice things to your vehicle. That’s predominantly seen in the information that it provides you with. When it comes to repairs and ongoing maintenance, this information can be vital. It can be a wise investment for any forward-thinking car owner, alongside anyone who likes to have a few extra gadgets in their car. That being said, it might only be worth getting if you’re upgrading your vehicle anyway. Swapping out your old Skoda and getting a new Skoda with all of the bells and whistles may be worth it.
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