Škoda will revise the value equation surrounding Euro-built cars, writes Motoring Editor BRYAN LITTLEY

Czech brand Škoda this week launched in Australia, driving more value into the European car offerings Down Under.

Bringing two cars to our shores for its launch to coincide with the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Škoda becomes the newest European car company in Australia.

And it is immediately the cut-price Euro car company.

Škoda Australia boss Matthew Wiesner says the vehicles – Octavia and Roomster – and the brand “tick all the boxes” for new-car buyers.

“our vehicles are engaging, refine an packed with exactly the kind of equipment today’s discerning buyers demand,” he says.

There’s plenty of history at Škoda. The brand is one of the oldest automotive builders and one of only a few that have been in continuous production for more than 100 years. It started in 1905.

But it’s the future Škoda Australia is interested in, with Mr Wiesner leading the charge here on the back of great success for the company overseas in the past couple of years.

Škoda this year will make more than 600,000 vehicles and s selling into 90 countries.

The two new vehicles on sale in Australia, the Octavia sedan and wagon range and the funky Roomster, deliver on equipment, safety and practicality.

Octavia is Škoda’s top-selling car and will be in sale here with a “smorgasbord” of choice. The range will feature two diesel engines, three petrol engines and sedan and wagon body styles, with the availability of five-speed and six-speed transmissions, including the popular VW DSG package.

Base-model Octavias come with a 77kW 1.9-litre TDI turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine with 250Nm of torque. A five-speed manual is standard and a DSG, which can be driven in either manual or auto modes, is an option.

All Octavia wagon versions are available with an AWD system as an option and standard features across the range include electronic stability program, remote central locking, automatic air-conditioning, 15in alloys, power windows and an MP3-compatible CD player.

The performance flagship of the range is the RS, which is available in sedan and wagon form, and is driven by a two-litre TFSI in-line four-cylinder petrol engine.

The Roomster defies categorisation and happily departs from tradition – combining driver, passenger and cargo-friendly storage options in a funky little package.

The Roomster, powered by either a 1.6 litre in-line four-cylinder petrol engine or 1.9-litre turbodiesel, offers a practical four-seat runabout or a roomy two-seater with 1780 litres of cargo space. The petrol engine produces 77kW of power and 155Nm of torque, with the diesel engine also getting 77kW of power and 240Nm of torque.

A five-speed manual and a six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission are available on the petrol-engine models, with the manual-only option for the diesel model.

Roomster comes in one specification level, which includes electronic stability program, ABS and traction control. Also on the Roomster features list are remote central locking, front and rear power windows, eight- speaker radio/CD/MP3 system, cruise control and 15in alloys.

Just who will buy this unique car? Considering it has, since its international launch in Geneva last year, been judged Car of the Year in Estonia, Finland and Bulgaria and Family Car of the Year in Sweden and Belgium, it would suit families and small businesses.