Should you buy one?

Yes, the Skoda Octavia is a car we recommend very highly. Based on our experience of several versions, Skoda has produced a very capable, likeable family hatchback with very little worth criticising. Tech and spec are on the pace with the best of the rest, and real-world efficiency is impressive. Comfort, interior room and refinement are also hard to beat elsewhere.

The latest facelift doesn’t bring huge changes – but it didn’t need to – and arguably, it’s slipped slightly behind the Volkswagen Golf, which made greater strides at its latest facelift. Neater looks, more interior choice and a bigger infotainment screen hardly seem like vital updates, but Skoda has provided them anyway. It’s a shame the engine range has shrunk in the process, but the petrol and diesel options that remain should cover most customer needs.

What the Octavia now lacks is a means of appealing to more eco-conscious buyers – the addition of more sustainable plastics on the inside doesn’t feel like much compensation for the loss of the plug-in hybrid variant. But if rumours are to be believed, plug-in Octavia may be making a return soon after all, plugging just about the only gap in this Skoda’s armour.

What we like

Loads of space for people and luggage and suspension that emphasises comfort makes the Octavia an excellent everyday companion. The engines are fuel efficient, it handles well, and the interior is easy to get to grips with. We really rate the diesel version, and as a car that can regularly notch-up 500-mile days without breaking a sweat, we’d still be happy to recommend one to long-distance drivers.

What we don’t like

Some of the plastics are a little cheap in the cabin, the infotainment has previously proven laggy (the facelift seem better in this area), road and wind noise are higher than we’d like, and it’s not the most exciting choice. But as a family friendly all-rounder, the Skoda Octavia is very tough to beat.