Skoda Octavia Estate

No car maker is closer to the IKEA ethos than Škoda. Like the famous flat pack furniture maker, its products are stylish, robust, practical and, above all, affordable. The Octavia estate is the best example of this to date. It's big enough to carry five adults - and their luggage - in comfort, has a wide range of petrol and diesel engines and is well equipped. Prices start at sensible levels and, as many of the components have been tried-and-tested by VW, it's likely to be very reliable. Go for the 1.9TDI for value and comfort and the 2.0 FSI for performance.

TDI, PD, FSI

Classic specification has four airbags (front and side), ABS, central locking, three-point seat belts in the rear with pre-tensioners, tilt and reach, four-spoke adjustable steering wheel, electrically-operated front windows, side indicators integrated in the door mirrors, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, stereo radio with four speakers and single CD player, rear centre seat folding armrest, two ISOFIX fixtures for a child seat on the rear seat, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and coat hooks. Ambiente adds remote central locking, electric front and rear windows, six-CD autochanger, air conditioning, alarm system, onboard computer, tinted glass and body coloured door mirrors and handles. Elegance adds to the above ‘climatronic’ two-zone electronic air conditioning, front fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, remote-control central locking with folding key, heated door mirrors, cruise control, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming rear-view and side mirrors and rain-sensing windscreen wipers, and an eight speaker stereo.

2.0