For It's amazing that, for the price of a mid-range Ford Fiesta, you get something that can rival some family cars. This is an awful lot of car for the money.
Against The engine has less than 80bhp and isn't really up to the job of hauling a car as big and heavy as this. For not much than £1000 extra, you can upgrade to the stronger 1.4 TSI.
This model comes in at a headline-grabbing price, but the engine is too weak for us to recommend. Save a little more and go for one of the 1.4 TSI engines instead.
The Octavia is one of the best all-round small family cars, combining Volkswagen build quality and engineering with Skoda practicality and value.
Our favourite version is SE trim with the great 1.2 TSI petrol engine. That may not sound like much in such a big car, but it manages to give an impressive blend of performance and economy.
The Octavia is built on the same platform as the previous-generation Volkswagen Golf, which is why it strikes a fine balance between stable handling and a comfortable ride.
All materials feel solid, and the interior shames those of many more expensive models for its fit and finish. All models are very spacious, too, with more rear legroom than most rivals. Equipment is generally good, although the cheapest versions miss key items of safety kit.
The exterior styling might look a bit staid, but the Octavia is very capable and comes at a great price to boot.
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