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One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

OCTAVIA

It's a modern family car with reasonable safety levels, but it's not very roomy

Used Skoda Octavia Hatchback 1998 - 2004

The 1.4-litre engine has a group 5 insurance rating and returns an official 42mpg. That makes it cheaper to run than the two 1.6-litre petrols, which return 36 and 39mpg, with insurance varying between groups 7 and 9.

Both the 1.9-litre turbodiesels provide excellent economy, with claimed 51 and 52mpg figures. You won't get that in the real world, but low- to mid-40s is perfectly achievable. Not surprisingly, the turbocharged petrol vRS is the thirstiest - mpg in the mid-20s is going to be the reality - and there's no getting around the group 16 insurance, although that's not so bad for a performance hatch.

Skoda dealers charge within the class average, but your money will go further with an independent expert instead. Servicing is needed every 10,000 miles, and provided you don't incur major mechanical problems, all the evidence shows that this is not an expensive car to run.

It's a modern family car with reasonable safety levels, but it's not very roomy

Skoda doesn't offer the basic 1.4-litre in the estate version, and when you drive it in the hatchback, you'll understand why. Its 75bhp isn't up to the job, certainly not with a full load on board. The Octavia had a face-lift in 2000, and the 1.6-litre petrol introduced then is a better bet than the original one, because power was increased from 75 to 100bhp.

The non-turbo, 68bhp 1.9 SDI diesel is best avoided, but both the 1.9 turbodiesels - 90bhp or 110bhp - are thoroughly recommended. The 115bhp 2.0-litre and 125bhp 1.8-litre petrol are okay, but not as lively as the later 150 and 180bhp 1.8-litre 20v petrol turbo units.

Original LXi cars come with twin airbags, but no anti-lock brakes, which are fitted to GLXi and SLXi models. A post-September '98 GLXi is a better bet because the standard sunroof was replaced with air-con. Post-2000 trims include Classic, Ambiente and Elegance, and of those we'd go for Ambiente.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

Family

Reports from owners have been excellent, as illustrated by very strong results in the JD Power Reliability Index. But, there are still problems to look out for, of course.

Faulty electronic control units can ruin the smooth running of the 110bhp 1.9 TDI engines, resulting in a loss of power and a plunge in fuel economy. Make sure the car shows a consistent service record because if the oil isn't changed at the correct intervals and is allowed to get dirty, it can cause the turbocharger to stick on both turbodiesel units.

If you're buying a 1.8 20v petrol engine, ensure the timing belt is changed by 70,000 miles or you could end up with a bill for a new engine.

Be very careful of high-mileage vRSs. They'll have been driven hard, so check for any evidence of warped brake discs, slipping clutches, ill-changing gearboxes, tired suspension and inaccurate steering.

You can tell this Octavia apart from the later model because it has a much smaller, less prominent grille than the newer one. It's still a handsome car, though, and practical, too, with a big boot. However, long-legged back seat passengers are severely short of sprawling space.

Because the Octavia borrows most of its switchgear from the Volkswagen Golf, quality is good. The controls are clear, the range of driving positions impressive, and the seats supportive and comfortable.

There's a wide range of engines to choose from, beginning with a 75bhp, 1.4-litre petrol and culminating in a 180bhp Turbo vRS version. Although the ride can be firm at town speeds, it's pretty comfortable elsewhere.

The Octavia's handling - even on the faster versions - is competent rather than exciting; okay, but not in the Ford Mondeo league.

Used Skoda Octavia Hatchback 1998 - 2004 review

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