Skoda Octavia Estate practicality & boot space

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

The Octavia has always been one of the most spacious vehicles in its class and often those a size above, particularly in terms of boot volume.

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This continues with this latest generation model, coming in at 640-litres with the rear seats in place and 1,700-litres with them folded; surpassing the BMW 5 Series Touring from the class above. Even the Octavia Hatch offers 600 litres of boot space.

On top of this, those sitting at the back are very well catered for. There's plenty of kneeroom and space for feet beneath the front seats, while headroom is vast - with enough clearance for a 6ft tall passenger to sit on the raised middle seat base. No rival comes close.

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Simply Clever

Something Skoda has been doing for years is including handy little objects in hidden areas – most notably an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap and umbrellas in the front doors.

Well the former now includes a tyre tread depth gauge and you can choose a snow brush for one of the doors instead of a brolly.

That’s not all – the windscreen washer bottle top unfolds into a funnel shape to make the job of refilling it easier, while the AdBlue nozzle is large enough to be topped up from a lorry pump at the fuel station.

Those sat in the rear gain phone storage pockets on the front seatbacks and there are a raft of other comfort options, including the sleep package (two larger headrests and a blanket), retractable sun blinds and child safety locks that can be operated electrically from the driver’s seat.

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The boot has a false floor like before but the electric tailgate gains a Tip-To-Close function, meaning a gentle pull will make it close, rather than having to push a button.

Finally – and this is a big one for parents – there are now sensors for the keyless open and close system in all four doors.

Plug-in hybrid iV gives up some boot space

Practicality-wise the gargantuan rear legroom is unchanged in the iV, while the boot is slightly smaller as the space under the floor is taken up by the battery, and cable storage slot.

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In reality this isn't the end of the world as the Octavia’s boot starts off so large anyway, so this reduction in volume means it's merely average for this size of car, rather than compromised.

Dropping from 640/1700-litres to 490/1555 seat up/down means it's broadly similar to an Audi A4 Avant or BMW 3 Series Touring.

Is it easy to park?

The Octavia benefits from large windows and door mirrors to make it easy to judge your dimensions, as well as rear parking sensors fitted as standard on all models. Higher spec SE L models come with sensors for the front, while a rear-view camera is optional on all trim levels.

Safety

• Big update with lots of driver assistance
• LED lights as standard, optional matrix
• New tech protects cyclists and pedestrians

Driver assistance was one area where the outgoing Skoda Octavia was beginning to feel a bit left behind, but the updated car comes with everything you might expect to find.

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LED lights are standard throughout, which are bright enough to offer good distance range ahead, with the option to upgrade to matrix adaptive units. Plus there’s a head-up display for the first time, as well as adaptive cruise control and blindspot monitors.

Here’s the full run-down:

• 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 open
• Local Traffic Warning function - automatically warns of hold-ups in the immediate area
• Area View system – 360 degree overhead camera
• Side Assist blind spot warning
• Predictive Cruise Control – uses camera and sat-nav data to adjust the cruise control speed, works down to stop even on cars with a manual gearbox
• 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 prevent rolling

WATCH: Skoda Octavia Euro NCAP crash test video