Skoda Octavia (1998 - 2004)

Galvanised body has 10-year warranty. VW Golf Mk IV underpinnings. Excellent 1.6 litre 100 bhp, 1.8 litre 125 bhp petrol engines and 1.9TDI with 90 or 110 bhp. Very well built. Estate car much better than saloon. 

2.0 litre VAG 115 bhp engine replaced non-turbo 1.8 20v from autumn 1999. 

150bhp 1.8 20v Haldex clutched 4x4 estate from February 2001 priced at a reasonable £16,200. 180bhp RS front drive from April 2001 at low £15,100 OTR got a great reception from journalists. 4x4 150bhp hatchback introduced in October 2001 at £15,500.

TDI PD 130 engine available from May 2003 from £14,990, emits low 146g/km CO2. Skoda generally lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index. 4th best in 2006 survey

Rated one of the cheapest 'large' cars cars to run in 2003 Which survey 1998-2000 diesels and 2001-2003 petrol models average for breakdowns, problems and faults; 2001-2003 diesels had fewest breakdowns, average for problems and faults in 2003 Which survey.

3rd top car out of 137 in 2003 Top Gear survey. 2nd top marque in 2004 J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey and Octavia joint 4th top model. Came 4th = from top in 2005 JD Power/What Car Survey of 23,000 cars reg Sep 2002 to Aug 2003 with satisfaction score of 84.7%.