Skip advert
Advertisement

Skoda Octavia (new)

Overall Average Rating - 90.37%
Position in the Top 100 cars - 1st

Repeating its victory in last year’s survey, Skoda’s Octavia is once again crowned the UK’s most satisfying car to own. No model in the Top 100 offers greater strength in depth, and the Mondeo rival is the consummate all-rounder, bagging five top 10 positions and not dropping out of the top 25 in any category.

Advertisement - Article continues below

So what makes the Octavia so good? Well, from the smallest turbodiesel to the range-topping vRS hot hatch, you love the performance of the VW-sourced engines. And crucially, the pace doesn’t come at too high a price. The Octavia scores the lowest running costs for any family car in the Top 100.

With a spacious hatchback model and enormous load-lugging estate, practicality gets the thumbs-up, too. When you consider that the Octavia finishes 15 positions ahead of the Golf and 41 places ahead of the Passat, it’s clear that parent company VW has much to learn from Skoda. Drivers, though, have known this all

WINNER OF CLASS - Family Car

No prizes for guessing the winner in the family car class – the Octavia reigns supreme in the Top 100 and in its sector. No rivals could get close to its strong ratings in every category, resulting in a 90.37 per cent total. A highly respectable second goes to Mazda’s 6. The practical Japanese car finishes just ahead of Honda’s Accord, but the real surprise comes in fourth. The Rover 75 is an ageing design from a defunct firm, but you tell us living with it is more rewarding than ever. Seeing off competition from Ford and Vauxhall, it finishes well ahead of its nearest rival. Fifth goes to Toyota’s Avensis, but at 28th overall it can’t get close to the top four in the family car premier league.

Ratings

Position in the Top 100 cars
Reliability: 20th
Build Quality: 11th
Running Costs: 7th
Performance: 5th
Braking: 9th
Ride Quality: 15th
Handling: 22nd
Practicality: 3rd
Comfort: 22nd
Ease of Driving: 9th

Your Quotes

“Excellent package, great to drive, economical, comfortable, well equipped and superbly finished. The new model met all my expectations and more. ”

David Hill, Edlesborough, Bucks

“A great performer that can be used every day. It turns heads, too, and is the best car I’ve ever owned. A brand that sells not by its badge, but by its sheer quality.”

Spencer Maidment, Paignton, Devon

Manufacturer Verdict (Position - 2nd)

Well done, Skoda. New cars such as the Fabia and the success of the Octavia have helped it hold on to second. Owners love the low running costs, practicality and driving experience.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Skoda Octavia review
Skoda Octavia - front cornering
In-depth reviews

Skoda Octavia review

The latest Skoda Octavia cranks up the quality, but it’s just as practical and family-friendly as ever
22 May 2023

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024