Skoda Octavia Pre Model Elegance 1.6 MPI 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The engines power output of 101 bhp at 5600 rpm is adequate for a car of this size and combine with torque figures of 109 lb-ft at 3800 rpm to give this model fairly decent performance credentials. Unfortunately, these still fail to live up to those offered by other vehicles within the range and the top speed of 118 mph seems a little low compared to the 131 mph limit offered by the Skoda Octavia SE 2.0 TDI CR model. Acceleration is also fairly average with the car taking 12.3 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

In terms of efficiency, this model performs fairly poorly compared to other models within the same range. Fuel efficiency of just 39.8 mpg is offered and carbon emissions are fairly high at 166 g/km – placing the vehicle into road tax band H.

As for performance, there is plenty of grip and the handling is stable which makes the car comfortable to drive, despite the steering lacking a bit of feeling. Noise disturbance from the engine is fairly limited and this petrol engine works quietly. Road noise is fairly high however, especially on coarse surfaces, and there can also be a high volume of disturbance from wind noise when travelling at speed.

As an Elegance model, this car comes with the highest trim level of the range although some features are still only available for an additional cost and this means that the overall price of the car can be fairly high.

Standard equipment which comes with the model includes power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors and an advanced stereo system with both CD and MP3 connectivity.

Optional extras available at an additional cost include leather seats for £1,495, Bluetooth connectivity for £575, a built-in sat nav for £1,660 and stability control for £395.

This is a practical car with a sizable boot; with the rear seats in place storage space totals 585 litres, expanding to 1,455 litres when these are folded down. To make the space within the cabin even more practical there is plenty of adjustment available in the seats and this allows both passengers and drivers to be comfortable. The driver also benefits from a large range of movement within the steering column allowing for the optimum driving position.

The arrangement of internal instruments is logical and well organised, allowing drivers to operate controls whilst driving with ease. The visibility from the car is also high and this means the car feels safe to drive. The advanced safety kit comes with the car as a standard feature and offers driver, passenger and front side airbags with an immobiliser and fitted alarm also included as standard features.

Reliability is expected to be a strong point of the car and the car comes with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles to give customers increased assurances.

Attractively priced at £16,045, this model is cheaper than some of the others in the range. However, the lower price is reflected in the poorer performance and efficiency and more expensive models may be a wiser option. The resale values are pretty strong across the range however and this means any model is a good investment.

Unfortunately the running costs are fairly high for this model and that means long term value is diminished. Those interested in long term ownership and a combination of performance and efficiency will be better off with one of the slightly dearer diesel models.