WINNERS SKODA S AWARD. More cars u Bigger tests u Data and advice. The best value in their class

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Felicity Caldwell
6 years ago
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Family Car prize, while the Skoda Superb is named our top Estate The best value

1 More cars u Bigger tests u Data and advice Britain s biggest and best car buyer s guide Reprinted from Awards SKODA S AWARD WINNERS The Skoda Octavia takes the Family Car prize, while the Skoda Superb is named our top Estate The best value in their class The Citigo, Karoq, Fabia Estate and Superb all score Buy price point wins

buy 18,000-23,000 Skoda Octavia SINCE LAUNCH, THE Skoda Octavia has been the go-to choice for families who want a comfortable, practical and well-appointed hatchback.

2 buy 18,000-23,000 Skoda Octavia SINCE LAUNCH, THE Skoda Octavia has been the go-to choice for families who want a comfortable, practical and well-appointed hatchback. But don t go thinking that this is a functional car and nothing else. Following a round of updates last year, the Octavia is far more well rounded than that. Our favoured 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine is punchy, loves to rev and never sounds thrashy or unrefined, no matter how hard you work it. And thanks to well-judged suspension and predictable handling, the Octavia is more enjoyable to drive enthusiastically than, say, the rival Peugeot 308. However, the biggest selling point remains its huge 590-litre boot. Not only is it far bigger than that of anything else in its class, but it can also squeeze in more luggage than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate without folding down the rear seats. In fact, the Octavia can swallow 11 carry-on suitcases. On top of that, it costs less to run than the equivalent Golf and 308, whether you re a private buyer or a company car driver. In short, it s one heck of a compelling package. List price 22,365 Target Price 20,479 Monthly PCP cost mph 8.6sec Top speed 136mph Official economy 56.5mpg CO 2 114g/km Company car tax band 21% Insurance group 18 93% 86% 66% 66% (2013) 19, Winner Family car Skoda Octavia We described the Octavia last year as the family car that offers more for less. But that doesn t quite do it justice. Not only is the car priced competitively against key rivals, but it also comes close to matching the more expensive Audi A3 for build quality. The Octavia is more practical than our runners-up, thanks to its hatchback layout, and gives buyers Volkswagen Group s fantastic 148bhp petrol engine at a lower price point than that offered by VW and Audi. As a package, no other hatchback gets close. In fact, it could be a while before the king of the family car relinquishes its crown. Photography: John Bradshaw 2 Reprinted from Awards Issue whatcar.com Reprinted from Awards Issue whatcar.com 3

3 buy 20,000-30,000 Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology WE VE SAID IT many times before, but if you re looking for as much space as possible, both for people and for luggage, you re going to struggle to beat the Skoda Superb Estate. The interior is cavernous, with plenty of room for five and more than enough leg room for the tallest passenger to sit behind another equally lanky one. In fact, the boot is so vast that it feels like you could easily park another Superb inside it. You also get a flat load bay (if you specify the variable floor) and handles on the sides of the boot to drop the rear seats, giving an additional touch of practicality. Our favourite engine is the 148bhp 2.0 TDI diesel, which has plenty of pulling power and is i for lugging a fully loaded car around, while CO 2 emissions of 113g/km help ease the tax bill burden for company car drivers. In SE Technology trim, which is very well equipped and includes Alcantara and leather seats, sat-nav and front and rear parking sensors, the capacious Superb Estate offers an unbeatable all-round package, its extra practicality giving it the edge over its two closest rivals, the Ford Mondeo Estate and Volkswagen Passat Estate. List price 25,445 Target Price 23,720 Monthly PCP cost na* 0-62mph 9.2sec Top speed 135mph Official economy 65.7mpg CO 2 113g/km Insurance group19 86% 86% 71% 76% (2015) 22, * PCP finance not available on SE Technology trim Winner Estate car Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology It s victory for the Superb Estate, even though it s up against two other great estate cars. The Superb Estate is classy, comfortable and so spacious that we struggle to think of another car that offers quite so much room inside. In addition, it s exceptionally good value, offering all the quality and equipment of far more expensive cars. It pips the impressive Fabia by virtue of its immense practicality and, in the end, its affordability sees off the 5 Series too. The Superb Estate excels in every area a good estate car should, and it s a worthy winner. Photography: John Bradshaw 4 Reprinted from Awards Issue whatcar.com Reprinted from Awards Issue whatcar.com 5

The same basic recipe still applies. Don t fear our favoured 1.

The Citigo also remains one of the best-riding and most agile city cars currently on sale.

The good news continues inside, where four adults can sit in reasonable comfort. Build quality is among the best in this class, too.

SE cars now also get a handy smartphone cradle that works with an app to turn your phone into a rev counter and trip computer, as well as for music and navigation.

4 buy ,000 Skoda Citigo SE 3dr FOLLOWING A MILD facelift last year, the Citigo remains fresh enough to be our middle price point entry in this category once again for the sixth time since 2013, in fact. The same basic recipe still applies. Don t fear our favoured 1.0-litre petrol engine s 59bhp power output; that might sound weedy but, in fact, the Citigo can zip through town traffic with no issues and haul itself down a motorway slip road without fuss. The Citigo also remains one of the best-riding and most agile city cars currently on sale. And crucially, in comparison with its Volkswagen Up and Seat Mii stablemates, the Citigo s keener pricing continues to mean it makes more financial sense to most buyers. The good news continues inside, where four adults can sit in reasonable comfort. Build quality is among the best in this class, too. As part of the facelift, improvements were made to the infotainment system, which had been feeling long in the tooth. SE cars now also get a handy smartphone cradle that works with an app to turn your phone into a rev counter and trip computer, as well as for music and navigation. List price 9780 Target Price 9285 Monthly PCP cost mph 14.4sec Top speed 101mph Official economy 64.2mpg CO 2 101g/km Company car tax band 19% Insurance group 2 89% 80% 46% 86% (2011) buy 20,000-30,000 Skoda Karoq IN THIS RAPIDLY growing class, our mid price point is teeming with quality competition, with everything from the Nissan Qashqai to the Peugeot 3008 vying for recognition. It s seriously impressive, then, that the Skoda Karoq has arrived this year and marched straight to the top. In SE L trim, it is both competitively priced and extremely well equipped compared with its rivals, with luxuries such as LED headlights, Alcantara seats, a rear-view camera and a responsive 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system setting it apart. What also stands out are the standard VarioFlex seats, meaning its rear pews can be slid back and forth, folded flat or removed entirely, giving loads of flexibility. There s enough space for a family and their luggage to stay comfy on long journeys, while enjoying a high-quality interior. And despite being based on the same underpinnings as the Ateca, Skoda has managed to make the ride smoother without ruining the car s handling. The strong and relatively economical 1.5-litre petrol engine completes this outstanding family package. List price 24,515 Target Price 23,626 Monthly PCP cost mph 8.4sec Top speed 126mph Official economy 51.4mpg CO 2 125g/km Insurance group 15 93% 79% 73% 58% (2017) 23,626 na buy Less than 20,000 Skoda Fabia Estate 1.0 TSI 95 SE THE SKODA FABIA hatchback is one of our favourite small cars, so it s not surprising that the estate version impresses as well. Those looking for something small and practical in this class for less than 18,000 really can do no better. The Fabia Estate is one of the roomiest cars you can get for this money, with plenty of space for passengers and a large boot that, if specified with the optional variable-height boot floor, offers a completely flat load area. However, the car s trump card is that, like its hatchback sibling, it s a delight to drive. Our favourite 1.0 TSI 95 three-cylinder petrol engine is smooth, flexible and easily up to motorway or heavy load duties while still being able to return impressive fuel economy figures. Moreover, the Fabia Estate rides and handles well and is decently refined at all speeds. To seal the, our preferred trim level, SE, comes with air conditioning, parking sensors, a DAB radio and steering wheel-mounted audio controls as standard, alongside a 6.5in touchscreen to control the infotainment system. List price 15,515 Target Price 14,263 Monthly PCP cost mph 10.8sec Top speed 116mph Official economy 64.2mpg CO 2 101g/km Company car tax band 19% Insurance group 9 81% 81% 69% 69% (2015) 13,975 na buy Less than 25,000 Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technology JUST BECAUSE THIS is our lowest price point doesn t mean you ll be left feeling shortchanged. Quite the opposite, in fact: the Superb is a remarkably complete car that just happens to be tremendous value. For starters, it s massive inside, with few cars this side of a Bentley offering as much rear passenger space. Even most SUVs struggle to match the size of the Superb s boot. You also get fixtures and fittings that feel a step up from those in a Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport. Meanwhile, our favoured SE Technology trim is designed with company car drivers in mind, containing all the kit they might need, including an infotainment system with sat-nav and online connectivity for the latest traffic information. Skoda s 2.0 TDI 150 diesel engine will also suit them, because it can whisk the car along at speed with minimal fuss and is clean enough to keep tax bills low. But if you re a private buyer and do less than 15,000 miles a year, you should consider the 1.4 TSI 150 petrol. Whichever version you go for, the Superb s easy-going ride soaks up most bumps, making it a fine long-distance cruiser. List price 24,165 Target Price 22,530 Monthly PCP cost na* 0-62mph 9.1sec Top speed 137mph Official economy 65.7mpg CO 2 112g/km Insurance group 19 86% 86% 71% 76% (2015) 21, * PCP finance not available on SE Technology trim 6 Reprinted from Awards Issue whatcar.com Reprinted from Awards Issue whatcar.com 7

5 To find out more about the Škoda range visit:

special Issue No. 1, Car of the Year

special Issue No. 1, Car of the Year special Issue No. 1,275 2.95 SEAT wins New car Awards...any model capable of putting the combined might of BMW s 1 Series, Skoda s Octavia and VW s Golf in the shade was always going to be in with a good