Used Skoda Octavia cars for sale ...

All versions handle tidily and are fun to drive over a twisty road, yet retain their smooth ride in the process. There’s plenty of choice to be had from the engine range, with economical diesels and a hot 197bhp vRS version. Admittedly, all of them can sound gruff when they're worked hard, but at cruising speeds refinement is excellent. Inside, the dashboard plastics may not be quite as top notch as you’ll find in a Volkswagen, but they are still very good indeed. And, unlike in the previous model, rear passenger legroom is good. The boot provides a massive 540 litres of space, extending to a sizeable 1620 once the 60/40 split folding rear seats are lowered, and only a high boot sill limits the car's practicality.

Running Costs
With the 1.9 TDI Ambiente, there shouldn’t be too many concerns over running costs. It has the best fuel economy of the range - a claimed 53.3mpg - and it’s the cheapest to insure - a mere group 7 insurance rating. However, coverage isn’t expensive for the range as a whole: most run no higher than group 8. You’ll have to make an exception if you want the vRS, which incurs a group 15 rating, but that’s still not bad for what is essentially a hot hatch. Fuel economy isn’t so good, though. Use the petrol turbo engine at all enthusiastically, and you’ll be lucky to get 28mpg. Perhaps the big surprise is that you shouldn't expect to pick one up for next to nothing. It won’t be as expensive as an equivalently aged VW Passat, but it hangs on to its value much better than a Ford Mondeo or a Vauxhall Vectra estate.

Hatchback
This is a fine family car. It's roomy and practical, and, unlike the old version, there is no longer any problem with poor rear legroom - tall passengers now have plenty of space in the back. The boot is massive, too, and the only problem is that there is a step in the floor once the 60/40 split-folding back seats are tipped forward. Up front, the cabin feels solid and plush. With this Skoda, you are certainly not sitting in the cheap seats. Everything is well laid out, there’s lots of cabin stowage, and a huge range of adjustment in the steering wheel and driver’s seat. There’s a wide range of engines, and the ride and handling are very impressive. Skoda has worked very hard with this model to improve refinement, and a slight flutter of wind noise around the front pillars is about the only fault that hasn’t been ironed out.

Running Costs
You may well be able to pick up a bargain if you’re patient and peruse the small ads, but don’t expect to get a cheap Octavia. Although this car doesn't hold its value as well as a Volkswagen Golf, its strong residuals mean it’s not as cheap to buy as previous Skodas. Despite the two cars sharing many components, the Octavia doesn’t cost as much to service as a Golf, but don’t expect it to be quite as cheap to look after as a Ford Focus. Servicing aside, average repair costs tend to be lower than most of the opposition. Good fuel economy and relatively low insurance costs will further help keep running costs down. Most frugal is the 53.3mpg 1.9 TDI, while cheapest to insure is the group 4 1.4i Classic. However, even the fast 197bhp vRS strikes a reasonable balance, with 35.8mpg and group 15 insurance.