Skoda Octavia Estate

The Octavia continues to lead the compact estate class for space and versatility. There are lots of neat features, and the generous standard kit pushes it further ahead. However, the 1.6 TDI isn’t the best engine, and we’d steer clear of the 18-inch wheels, as they give a very firm ride.

As long as the Octavia has been in showrooms, Skoda has offered an estate version. And the combination of good value and no-nonsense practicality has made this car the perfect choice for buyers looking to maximise their space-per-pound ratio.

The new Octavia Estate is the biggest yet, although surprisingly it’s exactly the same length and wheelbase as the latest hatch. As a result, it’s arguably more stylish than the five-door, as the extended roofline and rounded tail are better integrated with the rest of the car.

• Skoda Octavia Estate review

The combination of curves and straight edges means the Octavia appears conservative in this company, but the design is neat and unfussy. Even the top-spec Elegance has black roof rails – they’re not colour-matched on any model – although our car’s optional 18-inch alloys add a touch of style.

Inside, it’s clear Skoda has been taking lessons in quality from other VW Group brands. With its soft-touch plastics and metal trim, the Octavia leaves the Toyota and Kia trailing, while the layout is really easy to get on with. The standard-fit sat-nav even has a motion sensor that brings up the controls for the system when it senses your finger close to the touchscreen.

Elegance models have standard leather and Alcantara seats, which give the Octavia an even greater air of quality, and it’s simple to get comfortable at the wheel as there’s so much seat and steering wheel adjustment.

Access for rear passengers is easier than in the Toyota, thanks to wider-opening doors, and there’s more space when you get there, too, with plenty of head and knee room for three adults. Plus, although the cabin has lots of dark trim, the large windows and light-coloured headlining mean it feels spacious.

The old Octavia had the edge over its rivals for boot space, and that continues with the new car. There’s 610 litres with the seats up or 1,740 litres with them folded – that’s more than in a VW Passat, and well ahead of the other cars here. The boot is 1.05 metres long from seatbacks to tailgate, while the gap between the wheelarches is a metre wide.

But it’s not all about maximum space. There are four retractable bag hooks, you only have to press a handle to roll back the load cover and levers for folding the back seats are set into the sides of the boot. Plus, the floor lifts to divide the boot in two and there’s a large cubby where the optional spare wheel goes. And once you’ve loaded up the boot, the wide-opening tailgate is far lighter to close than the Toyota’s.

So the Octavia has the measure of its rivals for space, but its performance on the road is more of a mixed bag. Fire up the 104bhp 1.6 TDI, and you’re left in no doubt that it runs on diesel, as it’s quite rattly. It’s also 32bhp down on the Auris’ engine, so the Skoda was slower in all of our performance tests – although the margin wasn’t quite as wide as you might expect. The TDI is hooked up to a five-speed gearbox with long ratios, so the Skoda trailed the Cee’d during our in-gear tests at the track.

Still, the box is slick and easy to use, while the steering is accurate and there’s plenty of grip. Our car’s optional 18-inch alloys made the ride firm, though, while rough roads caused a booming noise to resonate through the interior. We’d stick with the standard 17-inch wheels, but the ride will still be firm.

At £21,890, the Octavia costs around £400 more to buy than the Auris, but you get more kit as standard, and there are more options available with the flagship Elegance. The Skoda is a more expensive company car, but road tax is still free, fuel economy of 45.2mpg on test was as good as the Toyota’s and the residual value predictions are stronger. Overall, the new Octavia Estate will be tough to beat.

Next: Kia Cee'd Sportswagon