Skoda Octavia practicality and boot space

• Huge boot remains a selling point
• Great rear legroom 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.

This continues with the new car - the Estate version coming in at 640-litres with the rear seats in place, 1,700-litres with them folded, surpassing the space available in a BMW 5 Series Touring from the class above. Even the Octavia Hatch offers 600 litres of boot space.

On top of this, the new edition improves on back seat space, particularly when it comes to passenger knee room. No rival comes close.

Enlarge0videoEnlarge16photo

Long-distance driving comfort is improved with new seats similar to the ErgoComfort ones you’ll find in the VW Passat range. A higher degree of adjustability with electric lumbar support and massage function is available in a variety of fabrics and materials depending on the model you opt for.

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.

Enlarge0videoEnlarge16photo

Those in the back 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.

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.

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.

LED lights are standard throughout, for example, 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