Skoda Octavia Estate (05 on) - Review

No car maker is closer to the IKEA ethos than Skoda. Like the famous flat pack furniture maker, its products are stylish, robust, practical and - above all - affordable. The Octavia estate is the perfect example of this. It's big enough to carry five adults - and their luggage - in comfort, has a wide range of petrol and diesel engines plus it's very well equipped as standard. Prices start at sensible levels and as many of the components have been tried-and-tested by Volkswagen, it's very reliable. Go for the 1.9 TDI for value and comfort or the 1.8 TSI for performance. Low emissions Greenline versions are available, with the most current claimed to average 67mpg. There's also an excellent vRS model which is covered in a separate review. In early 2009 the Octavia was revised with a sleeker front end, new engines and an improved cabin.