For The four-wheel drive transmission adds some extra versatility to the already very practical Octavia package.
Against Unless you really need the 4WD, it's hard to ignore the fact that it makes the car more expensive to buy and run, as well as slower and less economical.
This may make an interesting alternative to a budget compact SUV, but unless you're desperate for 4WD, give this a miss and choose one of the more basic models instead.
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.
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