• Huge boot remains a selling point
• Spacious for rear passengers too
• Lots of Simply Clever touches

How much space is there?

Overall room is the strongest selling point of the Skoda Octavia Estate (though it is nice to drive and well-equipped, too). Passengers are treated to lots of head and legroom front and rear, as well as a bright and airy cabin. The cabin design is conventional aside from the infotainment screen and touch-sensitive controls – and it’s well trimmed with tasteful materials that are well screwed together. The 2024 facelift has brought a wider choice of cabin finishes, allowing a greater amount of personalisation.

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The front seats are inviting and comfortable, and it’s easy to get into a good position regardless of your size. Those sitting in the back are also very well catered for. There are phone storage pockets on the front seatbacks as are a raft of other comfort options, including the sleep package (two larger headrests with supporting ‘wings’ and a blanket), retractable sun blinds and child safety locks that can be operated electrically from the driver’s seat.

Boot space and storage

The Octavia Estate has always been one of the most spacious vehicles in its market sector and the current model is no exception, particularly in terms of boot volume. This fourth-generation model provides 640 litres of load space with the rear seats in place and 1,700 litres with them folded. That’s more than the Audi A6 Avant from the class above, let alone any of the Octavia Estate’s direct rivals.

The boot has a false floor to make it level with the seat backs when they’re folded; the result sadly still isn’t completely flat – which might be important if you want to carry delicate items – but it’s certainly a cavernous space. Some models also have a fold-down front passenger seat, useful for longer loads, while beneath that boot floor you’ll find a useful storage area for items you might regularly want to carry.

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This space can also swallow the load covers when you’re not using them. Skoda offers a large number of accessories to enhance the load space, too, making it easy to stop things moving around while you drive or simply to improve organisation. We’ve tested a lot of these items and found them to be as well put together as the rest of the car, and thoroughly thought through.

The Tip-To-Close function for the electrically closing boot lid (where fitted) means it will shut automatically when you pull on it, making life easier it you would struggle to reach the button. In-cabin storage is good, too, including plenty of useful cubbies (some hidden) and large door bins. A new ‘Simply Clever’ feature for the facelift is a storage box add on for the rear centre console.

Is it easy to park?

While the Skoda Octavia Estate is one of the larger cars in the compact estate sector, it’s still not that big and benefits from large windows and door mirrors that make it easy to judge its dimensions. Add in light steering and engines that respond quickly, and it’s pretty easy to manoeuvre.

Rear parking sensors are fitted as standard on all models, while moving to a higher-spec SE L sees front sensors added, too. Cameras are available as well, including a 360-degree system.

Safety

• Lots of driver assistance included
• LED lights standard, optional matrix LEDs
• New tech protects cyclists and pedestrians

Euro NCAP tested the Skoda Octavia Estate in 2019, where it earned a full five-star rating. While the test has got tougher since, the Octavia is available with pretty much every safety modern safety aid you might expect to find.

As well as seven airbags, all models get LED headlights – with second-generation LED Matrix headlights on higher-spec facelift variants – and a variety of active kit. Notable examples of this include Turn Assist, which aims to stop you crashing into other traffic when turning, which is now standard on all Octavias. Facelifted models also get the EU-mandated speed limit exceeded warning.

A button on the steering wheel gives you quick access to several safety features, making it a quick process to turn off (or back on) the active lane keeping and the speed limit warning.

Here’s a full run-down of the Skoda Octavia Estate’s available safety equipment:

• Collision Avoidance Assist – steers around pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles to avoid a collision
• Turn Assist – detects oncoming traffic when turning left at a junction
• Exit Warning system – warns if a vehicle or a cyclist is approaching from behind when a car door is about to be opened to prevent you opening it into them
• Local Traffic Warning function – automatically warns of hold-ups in the immediate area
• Side Assist – blind spot warning
• Predictive Cruise Control – uses cameras and sat-nav data to adjust the cruise control speed, works down to a full stop, even on cars with a manual gearbox; this can be a little too keen if you’re not using the built-in sat-nav, as it may attempt to slow you down for junctions you’re not taking
• Crew Protect Assist – prepares the car for a head-on or rear-end collision, or even a roll, by tensioning the front seat belts, and closing the windows and panoramic roof
• Multi-Collision Brake – stops the vehicle after a collision to reduce the chances of further impacts

WATCH: Skoda Octavia Euro NCAP crash test video