Skoda Octavia Estate Pre Model L&K 1.8 TSI DSG 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Delivering 158 bhp of power through a four cylinder diesel engine, the Skoda Octavia Estate L&K 1.8 TSI DSG offers loads of power. A top speed of 138 mph is great for a car of this class and acceleration speeds are fast for a large family estate, with the car taking just 7.9 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

The handling feels stable, even at high speeds, and the suspension does a great job of cushioning bumps on the road.

Unfortunately, the efficiency of the car is not as high as other models and the petrol engine burns through a fair amount of fuel to reach those impressive performance credentials. Fuel economy is an average 42.8 mpg and carbon emissions of 155 g/km mean that road tax is fairly high under tax band G.

From the outside, the Skoda Octavia Estate is fairly attractive and the arrangement of instruments within the cabin is logical, which should make operating the controls easy whilst driving. This trim level offers a great range of features to buyers as standard fittings, but there are still some which are only available for an additional cost.

Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, cruise control, electric front windows, leather seats, rear parking sensors and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 connectivity.

Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in sat nav are available for an additional cost of £400 and £1,490 respectively.

The family estate is a highly practical car and there is loads of space both in the cabin and in the boot. The boot capacity offers a generous 605 litres when the seats are up, expanding to 1,655 litres when the seats are folded down. This gives owners plenty of room within the vehicle, but the boot has a slightly awkward size and the high lip of the car also means that loading can be a little tricky.

For the comfort of the driver, both the front seat and steering column offer plenty of movement, which should mean it is easy for drivers to get the best driving position.

The car scored four out of five for overall safety in the NCAP crash tests and comes with electronic stability as standard, which is only available for an additional cost on other Octavia Estate versions. The L&K version also benefits from a standard fitted alarm, increasing the security.

Features which are fitted as standard include driver, passenger and front side airbags as well as an immobiliser to protect the car from theft.

The car is expected to perform well and comes with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles to give buyers peace of mind in terms of reliability.

Priced at £23,370 this model is more expensive than others in the range and incurs higher running costs due to its lower efficiency levels. Road tax falls under a moderately high tax band (G) whilst insurance premiums fall under insurance group 22 making them manageable but higher than other models.

This model does offer better performance and higher levels of comfort and this means buyers need to decide whether they prioritise performance and style over efficiency when choosing between Octavia Estate versions.