Our cars Like a pair of old shoes…
The Octavia Estate impresses us once again with its unrelenting adequacy. Richard Bush
Fish and chips. The Beatles. A Spanish all- inclusive. “Die Hard”. You know exactly what you’re getting with these, every single time. They might not be the most adventurous option out there, but you can rely on them to deliver. The Skoda Octavia Estate can be added to that list. Running a long-term test car alongside other weekly test vehicles really helps put things such as comfort, tech and practicality in perspective. What do we really need? What can we do without? What matters to drivers? And what is a must-have for passengers?
The past month has seen me drive a few different cars, all of which - on paper - were more technically proficient than
Standard equipment: Adaptive cruise control, Wireless Smartlink for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, 17in Rotare AERO alloy wheels, Columbus satellite navigation with 10in touchscreen display, front heated seats, Microsuede upholstery, Climatronic dual-zone air conditioning.
Skoda Octavia SE L Estate 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG
P11D price £29,450 As tested £33,940 Official consumption 58.6-62.3mpg Our average consumption 55.5mpg Mileage 5964
the humble Octavia Estate. Yet, when returning behind the wheel of the Czech- branded car, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort and ease.
The VW Group has long been finessing its family car chemistry, carefully tweaking specific elements that make each car universal, yet seemingly bespoke, to every driver and family. And indescribable quality shared by almost every car in the group. There’s a reason people say “it’s just the same car, but with a different badge on it” when referring to Volkswagens, Audis, SEATs and Skodas. The Octavia Estate is a prime example of this formula at its best.
The past month has been filled with long-distance work trips up and down the country, busy family days out - and even a trip to the golf course. And when clocking up a lot of miles, it’s the little things that count. A quiet cabin, a comfy driving
position, seamless tech integration - all of which the Octavia offers.
Just to be clear, the Octavia isn’t likely to blow you away like a new-fangled, tech-drenched Mercedes. It hasn’t got a 17in Tesla touchscreen. Its suspension doesn’t go up and down with the press of a button. But it’s amazing how the absence of certain basic creature comforts can turn you into a giddy child when you get them back.
With that said, I’m frequently surprised by the amount of people who think the Octavia’s interior is lavish and eye- catching. Maybe I’m just used to the clean- cut VW Group approach to design, but I’ve had several occasions where people who own a five-year-old car have been blown away by the Octavia’s fit and finish. During the two weeks I was driving other cars, my wife quickly got sick of hearing me say things like “the Octavia’s X is better than this” and “you don’t get that kind of Y in the Skoda”.
The Octavia Estate really is a pleasure to drive. From a comfort point of view, the hushed cabin, cushy suspension and well- weighted steering makes everything from navigating twisty roads to changing lanes on the motorway, child’s play. From a family perspective, we’ve always got plenty of boot
space, the heated seats keep us warm, the three-zone climate control keeps us cool, and the quick connect Android Auto keeps my demanding three-year-old’s music taste at bay. It would be nice to have a reversing camera though… but I’m being picky. We are due a new baby in about three weeks, and I’m certainly happy that I’ll be jumping behind the wheel of the Octavia during our intense, contraction-ridden drive to the hospital.
Why we’re running it
to see whether the family estate still thrives in a world of SUVs.
46 | August 2023 |
www.businesscar.co.uk
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