MODEL ON TEST: SPORTLINE 1.5 TSI e-TEC DSG AUTOMATIC – MILEAGE – 6,413

Generally speaking, I’m an ‘estates’ kind of guy. Not the sort of estate with a team of gardeners who call me“your lordship”, sadly, but the sort of estate that gives you enough room to carry mountains of luggage without strapping your passengers to the roof. As a result, I was a little disappointed to find the new Diesel&EcoCar Octavia would be a saloon.

Yes, I know the Octavia is technically a hatchback because the glass rises with the rest of the boot lid, but somehow there’s less differentiation between a hatch and an estate, and the Skoda is very much a saloon shape. So, I tend to think of it as a saloon. Now I have nothing against saloons, but I’m an estate owner, and, quite simply, I like big boots (and I cannot lie). Especially in a car that’s supposed to be practical and roomy. In my mind, Volvos should be estates, and so too should Skodas.

However, I have to admit I don’t feel as though I’m missing out with the Octavia Hatch. Officially, Skoda pegs the boot volume at 600 litres, which is just 40 litres less than you get from the estate version. Perhaps more impressively, it gives the humble Octavia Hatch almost exactly the same boot space as an Audi Q8 diesel SUV, and much more than the plug-in edition.

I know that doesn’t tell the whole story, because the volume is only measured to the tonneau cover, and the estate will definitely be better at carrying bulky items to the recycling centre, but it’s still a difference of less than 10%. As a result, even the better half cannot seem to fill the Octavia’s boot for a weekend away, no matter how hard she might try. I find myself constantly packing gaps with coats and jumpers in a bid to prevent stuff shifting on the way. So 99% of the time, the Octavia Hatch is more than roomy enough to be getting on with, but I do have one slight criticism.The Estate is better looking.

Admittedly, Skoda’s design team have done a good job with the current-generation Octavia no matter which body shape you choose, but every so often the Octavia’s rear end will catch my eye for all the wrong reasons. Side-on, it looks great, but as you move towards the rear it betrays some proportional issues between the rear wheel arch and the shape of the back end. It’s difficult to put my finger on, but there’s something awkward about it. That said, the Octavia is generally a good-looking car, and Skoda has created a fantastic colour palette for this generation. It’s just a shame the best colours – Water World Green,Dragon Skin,and Royal Green – are exclusively for the no-longer-diesel-powered vRS model. Still, this Velvet Red paint job pops nicely on the page, and the striking Race Blue is another lovely choice. And the design is more upmarket than ever before, with smart lights and scrolling indicators, as well as some sharper creases in the bodywork.

Of course, all of this is subjective, but Ford once told me the vast majority of customers cite design as their primary reason for choosing a car, while another study recently suggested practicality was key. So perhaps it’s fitting that we talk about these things a little more and worry a little less about suspension damping. Although the Octavia isn’t bad on that front, either.

JAMES FOSSDYKE

WHAT’S HOT: The massive boot is difficult to fill, so there’s little need for the estate.

WHAT’S NOT: From certain angles, to me, the hatchback shape looks a bit awkward.

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FACTS & FIGURES

ARRIVED: 2nd June 2026

PRICE WHEN NEW: £36,235

PRICE AS TESTED: £37,370

ECONOMY: 51.2mpg (official WLTP) 53.9mpg (on test)

COSTS: None

FAULTS: None