The diesel gives good fuel economy (44mpg on the Combined cycle) and the petrol versions are reasonably economical for their size. Skoda dealers offer good value-for-money parts and servicing plus they’re generally cheaper than Volkswagen – Skoda’s parent company. Depreciation isn’t a major concern and insurance is good for this size of car. The best endorsement comes from owner satisfaction and reliability surveys where Skoda – and in particular the Octavia – perform very well.

The Octavia is quite a polluting model, not helped by the fact it’s a four-wheel drive. The TDI is the better engine and emits 173g/km of CO2 while averaging 44mpg.

The Octavia is proving to be very reliable, matching – and beating – the standards set by its parent company Volkswagen. Skoda regularly performs well in customer satisfaction and reliability surveys. The only Scout-specific concern will be previous owners who have been a bit too enthusiastic off-road.