Skoda Octavia

We were big fans of the previous generation Octavia estate, and the new model further strengthens Skoda's badge appeal. This car offers abilities that are unmatched for the money, and with the promise of a 4x4 variant and even a hot vRS model due in the future, it's also a range that will have a broad appeal.

It's a whole loada Skoda, and it Czechs the value-for-money box like no other! This is the new Octavia estate, due to go on sale early next year, and Auto Express is the first magazine to get behind the wheel.

Based on the latest-generation Octavia model, the newcomer has the same choice of engines and trim levels as the hatchback. We drove the 1.9-litre TDI version, which will account for the majority of sales in the UK.

Estate versions will cost £700 more than the equivalent hatchbacks when they arrive in British showrooms in January, which makes the asking price for this Elegance model £15,600. For that, buyers get a load-lugger that is compact and stylish on the outside, yet offers a vast luggage bay as well as a highly practical interior.

With the rear bench in place it will carry 580 litres, but once the seats are folded, capacity increases to an outstanding 1,620 litres - that's more than most estates in the class above. The Octavia becomes an even more tempting proposition when you consider it's priced at the same level as hatch versions of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, and cheaper than their station wagon variants.

So the Octavia estate is an attractively priced and well packaged machine - but how does it fare on the road? With the 105bhp variant of the VW Group's proven 1.9-litre TDI engine on offer, it's never going to offer jaw-dropping performance or refinement. However, the Octavia acquits itself well enough, with reasonable acceleration and mid-range torque, while the ride is smooth and motorway cruising hushed.

The powerplant shows its age when pushed, though, getting raucous higher up the rev range, but it's still a tractable and rewarding unit to use, while the five-speed gearbox is reasonably precise. The steering could be sharper, but this isn't a car you choose for its driver thrills.

What it is, though, is a car you buy for its all-round usefulness - and at the proposed £15,900 price, the Octavia has few peers. It's comfortable, equipment levels are generous and it exudes an air of exceptional build quality.

The Octavia was the car that originally transformed Skoda's fortunes, and now the latest version proves the Czech maker is a mainstream force to be reckoned with. The estate is set to become one of the undisputed bargains of 2005.