Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI Review: Singing at a higher octave

What we like:

Good list of standard equipment

spacious boot is really practical

solid build quality.

What we dislike:

Low-speed DSG jerkiness

some items in the cabin feel cheap

that rather plain-looking rear end.

Badge snobs who can't get over the Skoda name will try to tell you that all you're getting from this car is a cheaper VW clone. They'll argue that the chassis and equipment are basically the same, and will even go as far to say that the Octavia doesn't have its own character.

But don't let those detractors sway you. Despite the use of Volkswagen parts, the Octavia's overall packaging is a combination of more space and equipment level only seen in more expensive European cars. And that's exactly what sets Skoda apart from its parent company...

Credits: Story & pictures by Jeremy R. Chua