Lots to like in Škoda

You may wonder why some even bother to turn up in the showrooms, but this is a democracy, apparently, of which freedom of choice is a mantle. Which brings me to Škoda.

At $35,790 here, the test Octavia hatchback auto diesel has a difficult – but not insurmountable – battle against some heavyweight rivals, including Mazda, Toyota and Ford.

This year in Australia, Škoda sold 267 cars. In perspective, that’s fewer than Ssangyong (273), Porsche (318), Hummer (271) and less than half Citroen’s 548 sales. Yet, the product is very good. It’s just perception.

The Octavia Liftback tested looks like a sedan, but enjoys the appeal of being exceptionally versatile for cargo and human cargo, while retaining a neat – if a tad conservative – design.

Externally, there is nothing to show that this Octavia – only updated a couple of months ago – comes from the year 2009.

This might not be the car for the style-seeking buyers, but for the pragmatist, it’s close to perfect.

The Octavia is externally a medium-sized car, yet it has a vast interior to seat five adults in comfort and one of the biggest boots on the market. And that’s despite its standard full-sized spare wheel.

It is very well built – better than most in its class. It imbues confidence with its deep, secure thud of closed door and the solidity of its road holding.

It is generally quiet, feels taut and is free from body rattles and grumbles. Close your eyes – preferably stop the car first – and you could be in an Audi.

More elephant stamps go to the excellent driving position enhances by tilt and telescopic steering-wheel adjustment, good visibility and ease of operation.

The up-specced test car has Volkswagen’s neat two-litre turbo-diesel engine and the dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission.

It is incredibly economical, despite me giving it a bit of a heave. On test it recorded 7.6 litres/100km though that could drop to about 6 litres/100km in the country. That’s brilliant.

I really liked this. The lift-up hatch made carrying big, bulky goods a breeze. It’s definitely worth a test drive.

Specs
Škoda Octavia Elegance TDI
Origin: Czech Republic
Price: $35,790
Engine: 2-litre, 4-cyl, turbo-diesel
Power: 103kW @ 4000rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 1750-2500rpm
0-100km/h: 9.6 seconds
Fuel: Diesel
Fuel tank: 55 litres
Economy (official): 6.4 litres/100km
Economy (tested): 7.6 litres/100km
Greenhouse: 169g/km (Corolla: 175g/km)
Transmission: 6-speed dual clutch DSG, sequential; front-drive
Brakes: 4-wheel discs, ESC, ABS, EBD, brake assist
Wheels: 16-inch alloy; full-sized spare
Length: 4572mm
Width: 1769mm
Height: 1462mm
Wheelbase: 2578mm
Weight: 1560kg
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km, roadside assist
Service: 15,000km
What we like: Economy, quality, room
What we dislike: Engine/gearbox lag

Features: Dual-zone climate airconditioning; trip computer; ipod/CD audio; cruise control