Skoda Octavia
Price: £11,135
For: Volkswagen engineering and quality in a great-value package; very roomy
Against: Looks a bit dull
Sharing many components with the Mk5 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3, the larger Octavia is roomier and more practical than those models – and much better value for money. There’s a spacious hatchback with huge boot, or a square-backed estate. Engines on offer include the turbocharged 2.0 TFSI (as in the Golf GTI and Audi TT), direct-injection 1.6 FSI and the excellent 2.0 TDI diesel in 140bhp and 170bhp formats.
The Octavia even comes in properly sported-up trim: the vRS is suitably, though subtly, be-spoilered, lowered and blinged-up. 
Alternatively, there are four-wheel-drive models and estate versions called Scout, with raised ground clearance and SUV-type styling - the smart-money alternative to the Audi allroad, perhaps.
