Skoda Octavia review - Practicality & boot space

Practicality is an area in which the Octavia has won over many buyers in the past, and there's no sign of that changing anytime soon. Now 19mm longer than before, passenger and luggage space are both excellent for a family hatchback.

Skoda Octavia interior space & storage

While there was no shortage of space in the outgoing Octavia, the latest version is incrementally better again. Rear passengers should be particularly impressed with the amount of knee room, legroom and headroom available, making the Skoda an accomplished long-distance cruiser.

There are also plentiful neat features, from the five USB-C charging ports (two front, two rear and one at the top of the windscreen that’s ideal for a dashcam) to large door bins that can hold a 1.5-litre drinks bottle and a deep central cubby between the front seats. Not only that, but we know from experience that the hidden umbrella in the driver’s door and ice scraper tucked away in the fuel-filler cap can be lifesavers when the British weather isn’t playing ball.

Boot space

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It's a similar story for the boot, where there's a 10-litre increase in volume to 600 litres. If you need one reason to choose the Octavia over a Golf, it's here; there's a huge 220-litre size difference. Fold down the back seats (which can be done using a handle just inside the boot) and space increases to 1,555 litres. Not only is that lots of space, the floor is also flat and free from obstructions.

Towing

Most versions of the Octavia can tow up to 1,500kg, which means you can haul a fairly substantial caravan. This extends to 1,800kg for the 2.0-litre diesel engine, making it one of the top family hatchbacks in this department.