FOR several years now if you asked anyone in the know what the best family car to buy was there's a good chance the answer would be a Skoda Octavia.

The Octavia is perhaps the best example of the revival of the Skoda brand in that it offers Volkswagen levels of quality but also something more besides.

With the Octavia it's always been the fact that while it shares a platform with the VW Golf, Audi A3 and SEAT Leon it's actually considerably larger than any of the others.

The latest version is no exception but it's even bigger.

It's as if the Octavia has taken a leaf out of the Skoda Superb's book - the Czech car-maker's larger saloon and estate - which offers limo-like levels of comfort, particularly for rear seat passengers.

Its expansion this time around would seem to be more strategic than accidental, in part because the line-up now also boasts another saloon in the shape of the smaller Rapid.

Good as the Octavia always was it was arguably let down by somewhat dull and uninspiring design lines.

While the third generation version is unlikely to win automotive beauty contests or be hailed as a modern design classic its looks are definitely far more appealing.

It's as if a lot more time and care has gone into its creation to deliver something that people will actually look at and admire, rather than just thinking it drives well and does the job, so who cares what it looks like.

It's still a relatively simple and straightforward profile but it is sleeker and more streamlined with more presence, flair and individuality.

On the inside quality levels have been upped further still - not that they were lacking previously - but the finesse, precision and finish of almost every element is difficult to fault.

This particular model might have been a 2.0-litre diesel Elegance model, which sits at the top of the range, and had a fair few additional bells and whistles, but a bit like the automotive equivalent of a show home it really showcased the strength of the brand and just how far it has come.

Perhaps the best accolade I could pay it is that at times I thought I was sitting in a BMW rather than a Skoda.

Perhaps the new Octavia's defining character is its roominess, it really is like a slightly scaled-down Superb with a level of spaciousness one might expect to find in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class or an Audi A6.

It's most noticeable in the rear where passengers can really stretch their legs, more so if those travelling up front are children or smaller adults.

I undertook one journey as a rear seat passenger and was amazed at just how comfortable it was.

Add to this a truly cavernous boot (590 litres) that has the capability to swallow pretty much anything you can throw at it and hatchback versatility and this Skoda scores maximum marks when it comes to practicality.

It also drives like a dream - again I would be tempted to make some BMW comparisons and they would be thoroughly deserved.

It's always been one of the car's strengths but once again the game has been upped and the Octavia will leave you with a smile on your face every time you get behind the wheel.

Certainly the 2.0-litre diesel unit ensures there's plenty of power at your disposal, making for an excellent match for those first-rate driving dynamics but I'd imagine the experience is almost as joyous in an entry level 1.2-litre petrol TSI S.

On the engine front there are four choices, 1.2 and 1.4-litre TSI petrols and 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels.

About the only criticism I could level at this car would be the price.

Its base price of £23,315 is reasonable enough, though a step up from the previous model.

But those afore-mentioned bells and whistles, which included a Columbus touchscreen sat nav system, leather upholstery, a Canton sound system, a flashy upgraded lights package and plenty more besides took the price up to a figure not far off £30,000, which is right up there in premium territory.