ONE of the few car makers to overcome the British disease of badge snobbery is Skoda.

And it has done so through solid achievement in turning out cars with true integrity and representing sound value-for-money.

Latest in a long line of Octavias - the model first appeared in 1959 and the current range dates back to 1996 - has recently been introduced. The line-up is less broad with the diesel and the manual versions no longer being available.

So it was the vRS automatic Estate we sampled with a marginal hike in power, smarter frontal treatment and remodelled cabin complete with larger 13-inch touchscreen. The estate version usually proves more popular than the hatch in UK.

While it's too big to be rated as a hot hatch, the extra inches are put to good use in terms of cargo area offering a further 40 litres over the hatch version putting its total capacity at a not inconsiderable 640 litres with rear seats in place. Fold them down and this expands to an impressive 1,700 litres.

The trusty 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine - a well-used player in the VW-Audi stable - pumps out 262bhp which elevates the practical estate to new potency with 62mph coming up in around the six second mark.

The twin clutch auto box complete with steering wheel paddles is fast-reacting and will suit most tastes, although the option of a six-speed manual would have added a tad more control and fun.

By estate standards, the ride is quite stiff but the benefit is felt with well controlled cornering and low roll angles. Accelerated hard from a corner in greasy conditions and there's some steering tug, but this retreats as soon as the power is reduced.

Cornering adhesion is of a high level with the Skoda neatly and undramatically going precisely where it's pointed. It's sure-footed yet undemanding of its driver.

Steering is precise enough but without much road-feel. Noise levels within the comfortable cabin are generally low with a sporty rasp from the exhaust under strong acceleration.

It pays to have a delicate right foot when parking or manoeuvring as power tends to be fed in a tad abruptly and can make movements somewhat jerky.

Despite the lusty performance and generously-sized body, the vRS is no guzzler. We averaged between 33 and 35mpg on mixed routes.

Most of the main controls are via the touchscreen which makes heating and air con adjustments on the move a somewhat tedious task.

Certainly the vRS Estate is well specced with heated seats, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights and fog lights, sports suspension and dual zone air con all standard issue. You don't, however, get electric seat adjustment or heated steering wheel.

With a price tag of close to £40,000, the Octavia vRS Estate can't exactly be described as bargain basement but when you examine its breadth of ability alongside family practicality and usable space, it has few effective rivals close to its price point.

£39,975

2.0 turbo, 4 cyl, 262bhp, petrol engine driving front wheels via automatic gearbox

155mph

6.5sec

40.3mpg

27

159g/km

34%

3yrs/60,000 miles

4.6