Skoda Octavia Estate review

Prices start at £27,755. That’s for the lesser-powered 1.5-litre petrol engine in base-spec trim. The mild hybrid starts from around £2k extra, and the lowlier (manual) diesel from £30,300. The bigger (auto) diesel is £32,700. You can save around £1k in like-for-like spec by going for the hatch. Don’t be that person, the estate is undoubtedly the cooler car. The vRS meanwhile is a smidge under £40k.

Other than the Seat Leon Estate, the Octavia undercuts pretty much everything including the VW Golf Estate, Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, Peugeot 308 SW and Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. So it's the biggest and (nearly) cheapest. Compelling sell, that.

Is speccing one going to fry my brain?

Not at all, there are just three trims to choose from: SE Technology, SE L, Sportline. Above all of which sits the vRS. 

Base trim it may be, but SE Technology spec is hardly basic. It includes 16in alloys, LED front and rear lights, electric folding and heated door mirrors, a 10.25in virtual cockpit, 13in infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging with inbuilt cooling function, heated front seats, and keyless start/stop.

SE L adds bigger 17in alloys, LED rear lights, a two-spoke heated leather multi-function steering wheel and heated windscreen, artificial leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, lane assist plus, electrically operated boot with virtual pedal, and keyless entry.

Sportline trim adds metallic paint, 18in alloys and gloss black styling, sports suspension (lowered by 15mm), progressive dynamic steering, sports seats with fabric and artificial leather upholstery.

The vRS - if you’re going to go there - rides on 19s and gets carbon effect trim, red brake calipers, a black sports exhaust (and other bits of gloss black detailing), full matrix adaptive LEDs, privacy glass, ambient lighting and much in the way of red stitching, plus plenty else. Including garish yellow paint if you really want to shout about its extra power.

And if it was your money?

We reckon the 1.5-litre petrol mHEV is probably the pick of the bunch here, for the slight performance and economy improvements, plus the excellent DSG gearbox.

It’s only available in lesser-powered 113bhp guise in our preferred SE Tech trim, which is a shame. But the electrical assistance means it rarely feels underpowered. There, you’re looking at the most sensible £30k you'll ever spend. Stick 10 per cent of the value down and you’ll be looking at monthly repayments of £370 (ish) over four years with an allowance of 10,000 miles annually, through Skoda’s finance scheme. Never hurts to shop around, of course.

A three-year/60,000-mile warranty is standard.