Skoda Octavia

Alright, I admit it; I'm sick to death of the Volkswagen Golf. I know how good it is, particularly the GTI, but nowadays it's a bit like Delta Goodrem. Sure, she's talented and nice to look at; but thanks to her ads for long-life milk, video games and face wash that boosts your confidence, ‘our Delta' has become completely over-exposed, much like a certain trendy hatch applauded by motoring journos.

No surprise then, my money's on this new Skoda Octavia 90TSI as a real contender for the Golf's press. Benefiting from the clever engine tech found in VW's hatch; the 90kW turbo engine is towy, ample and frugal, despite a requisite heavy foot to get the Octavia moving in the DSG version driven. The turbo-lag can be a tad irritating at take-off, a problem I'm told that's remedied in manual transmission; but an initially sluggish first gear is not insurmountable. Once you're moving, driving the Octavia is a bowl of cherries.

Despite the fact that you can fit a small child through the Octavia's engine bay, with only a small 1.4 litre under the hood, it does a brilliant job of not feeling underpowered. It drives like a European car should too; its stance isn't as doughy despite its dimensions, its steering is direct and there's more than enough grip to navigate alpine switchbacks or in my case, erm, U-turns when the directions from Skoda's press department fail; no sat nav to save me unfortunately.

Aside from the aforementioned lack of directional tech-trickery (that's optional), the interior is quite anodyne. Inside you'll find all the usual VW/Audi/Skoda fare, including a nice, big, thick steering wheel, a rather basic, but quality stereo unit, and my personal demand for any modern car, soft plastics on the dash. The trim doesn't quite have the panache of the Golf's quirky tartan, but it's smart enough.

Did I mention the price? At a measly $24,990 for the 90TSI sedan in manual (an extra $2300 for the DSG) this is where Skoda will certainly pull punters away from Volkswagen. Despite being a similar spec to the Golf, the Octavia feels like it has more space, and most importantly, it's a few thousand dollars cheaper. What this really comes down to is brand. Skoda is certainly miles away from its smoke-spluttering Czech farmhouse beginnings, but it doesn't quite have the flash trendiness of the VW or something with an Apple logo on it. This is a good thing. Let the beardy architect-types be smug about their Golfs, the Octavia is every bit a worthy alternative. If you're really feeling edgy, go the wagon and put some bigger rims on it - the Golf set won't know what to make of it.

We say: A great alternative to a great car. Don't let the badge fool you.

Kurt McGuiness

Price: $27,290 (as tested)
Fuel Economy: 5.5
Performance (0-100km/h): 9.7s
Tech: 1390cc, 4cyl, FWD, 90kW, 200Nm
Weight: 1410kg