The Skoda Octavia may not seem the most glamorous car on the market but its reasonable starting price of just under £14,000 means it can compete with any mid size saloon in terms of value. Skoda long ago shook off its label as a low end manufacturer and is now a worthy part of the VW Group.
The body a shape is wide and angular without being overly pointy. The interior is vast and it has one of the biggest capacity boots in its class.

There is a good range of engines reflecting the price gap between bottom and top of the range models (a ten grand variation). In total there are 87 variants of the Octavia. The 1.4 litre seems small for a car of these proportions but there is a 1.6 and an impressive 1.8 TSI which delivers 160bhp at 30mpg. The 2 litre TDI could prove to be the best seller due to its combination of economy (43.3mpg) and power.

Suspension is soft but the Octavia corners well. Roll is minimal, grip is good and the steering feeds back to the driver in an assuring way. There are sports models with firmer suspension.

Its value is very good compared to other models in its class such as the Golf or the Vectra. Higher specification models can reach up to the £25,000 mark which is a long way off the base price but anybody buying new will be impressed by the Octavia’s lack of depreciation. After 3 years it still retains 50% of its original value.

The Skoda Octavia is of a high quality finish with a well made interior. The ride quality is of a soft nature making it a good long distance companion. If you want a large family car and you are willing to sacrifice some power, the 1.4 is an excellent price for the amount of car you get.