Skoda Octavia

OUR PICK 1.0 TSI SE (2018/18, 40k miles, £9,444)

IT’S not the most glamorous choice, but if you’re looking to make your budget for a used family hatchback stretch further, then the Octavia is a top pick. Not only is it great value for money, the Skoda is also the roomiest car in its class and backed by the sort of customer satisfaction scores that have seen the brand score regular high finishes in our annual Driver Power surveys.

Like all the best family cars, the Octavia appears to have been designed from the inside out. Despite only being a little longer than its most obvious rivals, the Skoda features enough legroom in the rear seats to shame most large executive models, while the car’s vast 590-litre boot will swallow everything you can throw at it. Then there are the numerous thoughtful touches, from the umbrellas stowed under the front seats, to the ice scraper behind the fuel filler flap, and the numerous cubbies and cup-holders that mean this big Czech hatchback takes family life in its stride.

You won’t be left wanting for kit, either. All versions are generously equipped, but the mid-spec SE genuinely has everything you’ll need. Not only does it come with climate control, electric windows and parking sensors, it also has an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment set-up with Apple

CarPlay, Android Auto and crisp graphics. Importantly for a family car, there’s also lots of safety gear, with autonomous emergency braking and a full complement of seven airbags.

Underneath its handsome exterior, the Octavia is underpinned by the same Volkswagen Group MQB platform as the VW Golf and Audi A3, which means it’s good to drive. Accurate steering and grippy handling combine with a composed ride to ensure that the Skoda is a car that’s as comfortable in the corners as it is cruising on the motorway. And while there’s a wide range of engines, the smooth turbocharged 113bhp 1.0-litre petrol punches well above its weight and delivers wallet-friendly running costs.

Last but not least, all this is yours for less than the price of a new entry-level Skoda Fabia supermini. What’s not to like?

On top of all its other talents, the Octavia is also a good car to drive, with grippy handling and a composed ride ON THE ROAD

INTERIOR Even the midspec Octavia SE comes well equipped, with a touchscreen and climate control

COMFORT Rear-seat space in the Skoda doesn’t just dwarf its rivals, there’s enough to put executive saloons to shame

PRACTICALITY By class standards, the Octavia’s boot is simply enormous – and well up to coping with family life