Skoda Octavia Estate review

Right now there are no sparsely equipped models with small engines, so the Octavia Estate has a higher starting price than the Ford Focus Estate and Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. However, model for model it's competitive, and it undercuts the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports.

Skoda is usually generous with deposit contributions, too, so expect a competitive monthly PCP rate unless you go for the business-oriented SE Technology model. Meanwhile, insurance costs sit between the Focus and Corolla.

CO2 emissions are broadly in line with the Focus, although the hybrid Corolla performs noticeably better. It’s worth pointing out that the Octavia's diesel engines aren’t currently RDE2 compliant, so company car users are liable for a 4% BIK surcharge. This will change towards the end of the year, when updated versions of the 2.0 TDI 115 and 150 are introduced.

The 2.0 TDI 150 is certainly a frugal engine in the real world – we consistently averaged more than 50mpg during testing on a mixture of roads that included plenty of motorway driving. 

SE Technology trim offers the best value for money, costing barely any more than SE First Edition trim despite gaining voice control, floor mats and more distinctive alloy wheels, plus the aforementioned front parking sensors and infotainment upgrade.

Not that SE First Edition is poorly equipped, with 16in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, auto lights and wipers, heated door mirrors, keyless start and even an umbrella in the door.

There’s a bit of a price jump to SE L First Edition, but you do get plenty of extra luxuries and some useful kit for your money, making it an excusable indulgence.

This generation of Octavia is too new to have appeared in the 2019 What Car Reliability Survey, but Skoda as a brand ranked an impressive 9th out of 31 manufacturers. The previous-generation Octavia was third in the family car class, with only the Mini Clubman and Audi A3 proving more dependable.

If things do go wrong, you’ve got a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty that can be extended to five years and 100,000 miles for a fee. Toyota gives you a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard, however, while Kia trumps that with its seven-year, 100,000 miles of cover.

The Octavia received Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating and was found to be better at protecting adult occupants than the Focus in the event of a crash. True, the Corolla scored better marks for side impact protection than both, but it didn't perform as well as the Octavia in some frontal crashes.

Automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assistance and an e-call system that notifies the emergency services if you’re involved in an accident are standard on all models. SE L First Edition adds a handy system that flashes a light on the exterior mirror if something’s in your blind spot, as well as adaptive cruise control, which maintains a steady gap between you and the car in front, braking to match its speed where necessary.

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