For The 1.4-litre engine may sound too small, but it's perfectly up to the job. Elegance is as luxurious as you can get with this engine, with cruise control and dual-zone climate control.
Against If you regularly carry heavy loads, you may well need the extra grunt you'll get from a diesel engine.
We love this little engine, but reckon that Elegance trim just adds unnecessary luxury - and cost - to what is effectively a workhorse. The SE car seems much better value.
The Octavia Estate is one of the best all-rounders in its sector, mixing Volkswagen build quality and engineering with good practicality and strong value for money.
There are loads of trim levels to choose from – including a vRS performance model – but our favourite is SE, in combination with the brilliant 1.4 TSI petrol engine. A 1.4-litre engine may not sound like much in such a big car, but thanks to a turbocharger it manages to blend strong performance with decent fuel economy.
The Octavia is built on the same platform as the old-shape Volkswagen Golf, so it rides and handles well.
Everything feels solidly assembled, and the cabin and boot are huge. Standard equipment is also generally good, although the cheapest versions miss out on stability control.
I have owned this car a few months now and it is a…
This car is very uncomfortable for anyone over 5ft…
Skoda Octavia Est 1.8 TSI Elegance This is a…
Previously commented Feb 2010 when I had 1.9TDI S…