Used Skoda Octavia Estate 1998 - 2004 review

What's the used Skoda Octavia like?

Introduced in 1998, the Skoda Octavia was the car that really turned Skoda around. It was the first of its fleet to be designed and built under VW's stewardship, and it shows.

Behind the wheel, everything feels nicely put together and it's all well laid out. Getting a decent driving position should be no problem, thanks to a good range of seat and steering wheel adjustment. And, the seats are well bolstered, remaining comfortable even on long motorway journeys. However, back-seat occupants are not so well catered for, with an obvious lack of legroom.

Overview

It's a good choice of practical family transport that should give reliable motoring

Pros

• The Octavia is a well-built, solid, reliable workhorse that's perfectly good to drive too

Cons

• It's not the largest family estate, and some of its engines could be quieter

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Skoda Octavia

1.9 TDI Elegance Euro 4 5dr

£999

Skoda Octavia

1.9 TDI Ambiente Euro 4 5dr

£1,095

Skoda Octavia

1.9 TDI Elegance Euro 4 5dr

£1,195

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2.0 TDI Laurin & Klement DSG Euro 4 5dr

£1,195

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1.6 FSI Elegance Euro 4 5dr

£1,849

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI Laurin & Klement DSG Euro 4 5dr

£1,850

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2.0 TDI Laurin & Klement DSG Euro 4 5dr

£1,995

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2.0 TDI vRS DSG Euro 4 5dr

£2,475

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2.0 TDI Laurin & Klement DSG Euro 4 5dr

£3,500

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Practicality is good, though, even if the mid-sized Octavia can't match the more commodious Peugeot 406 estate. The boot is large, and the seats fold down to produce a spacious and well shaped load area.

There is a wide range of variants to choose from, including a hot 180bhp vRS. The drive on all models, though, is competent and capable, rather than outright exciting.

Our recommendations

Which used Skoda Octavia should I buy?

If you're after a countryside hauler that's going to earn its living in all weathers, the 4x4 Elegance - introduced in 2001 - could be the car for you. It uses a 150bhp, 20-valve, 1.8-litre petrol turbo motor. There's only one other version that's faster - the high-spec 180bhp vRS, which was introduced a year later.

If you're not after performance, either of the 1.9-litre turbodiesels will do the job. They were around right from the car's launch, and sound a little clattery on start-up, but quieten down once on the move. Overall, they're the pick of the range, and the non-turbo 1.9 SDI diesel and the 1.6-litre and early non-turbo 1.8-litre petrols are not so impressive.

Safety is good across the range, with most models getting twin airbags and anti-lock brakes. Classic trim is basic, but Ambiente adds air-con and a CD changer, while Elegance gets side airbags, alloy wheels and a sunroof.