Skoda Octavia Estate review

Skoda has carved itself out a comfy little niche over the past couple of decades. Its bargain-basement days are ancient history, and the Czech firm now has an enviable reputation for offering sensible, good value cars that are generally far more capacious than their direct competitors.

That brings us neatly to the Skoda Octavia Estate, a mainstay of the brand’s lineup and a model that did much to lift the company’s image in the 1990s. In fact, the Octavia has become Skoda’s biggest seller, so the arrival of a new generation is something of a big deal.

The latest incarnation sticks to the now familiar formula of taking the underpinnings of the Volkswagen Golf, stretching the distance between the front and rear axles to increase passenger space, and adding a bit more metal to the rump to make more room for luggage. 

For now, three engines are available: a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol (badged 1.5 TSI 150) with 148bhp, and 2.0-litre TDI diesels with either 113bhp or 148bhp. The engine range will expand over time, however, to incorporate a cheaper 1.0-litre petrol, plus mild and plug-in hybrids. There will also be a hot vRS model and a jacked-up Scout with SUV-inspired looks.

Of course, competition in the estate car class is fierce, with the list of direct rivals including the Ford Focus Estate, Toyota Corolla Touring Sports and Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. You might also be tempted by Skoda's larger Superb Estate, which isn’t a great deal more expensive.

So, how does the Octavia Estate stack up? Over the next few pages we’ll run you through what it's like to drive, how practical it is and how much it will cost you. And if, at the end, you decide it's the car for you, make sure you check out the deals available through our New Car Buying service.