Skoda Octavia vRS
Price: £23,260Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodieselPower: 181bhpTorque: 380Nm0-62mph: 8.1 secondsTop speed: 144mph
You can get a petrol-powered Octavia vRS – using the same engine as the Golf GTI – but we like the diesel model. With the 181bhp 2.0 TDI engine from the Golf GTD under the bonnet, it’s got plenty of mid-range torque. Firmer suspension and some subtle styling updates ensure the vRS looks and handles like a performance car, too. That hugely practical cabin makes it a genuinely usable family vehicle, too.
