I need the boot space of a Skoda Octavia but don't want an estate car...

[DaytimeIsCrazy]

We need a new car. DH wants to get a Skoda Octavia. I hate the idea of driving one as travel a lot for work and find a lot of multi-story car parks right in a focus, let alone manoeuvring an estate car.
I'd prefer something higher rather than longer. Anything I can suggest?

Octavia's are saloon cars as well as estates.

I drive an SUV and the boot space isn't a patch on the Octavia's.

Though check out the new focus as it's much bigger inside and in the boot.

Don't get the estate version then?

Tbh the Octavia saloon is looooong and I couldn't see the front and back. I wasn't confident driving ours for ages.

The Octavia isn't massively long it's not much longer than a focus.

Watching with interest

Every time I find myself getting excited about things like boot space a tiny voice inside me pipes up 'I used to be a raver'.

Higher doesn't necessarily get more usable space and is more of a pig to manoeuvre because you can't see well out. We had an Octavia now have an old Legacy and Mondeo (all estates). Legacy is easiest without parking radar as it has the lowest waistline but has crap turning circle. Mondeo is huge. Octavia was generally fine to park.

Insignia has a humongous boot

I was worried about driving an estate when dp bought ours (bmw tourer) but is no different to driving a saloon. It’s actually the same length just a different body shape.

Saloons followed by SUV;

Tesla Model S = 744L + 150L in front
Skoda Superb = 625L
Skoda Octavia = 590L
VW Passat = 586L
Ford Mondeo = 550L

As for SUV's

Kia Sorento = 660L
VW Tiguan = 615L
Honda CRV = 589L

Beware that there are two methods for measuring boot space - VDA is measured by using 1 litre blocks stacked inside, whereas SAE is volume (boot filled with liquid).

We currently have a mondeo estate, but I don't often drive it.
I'm pretty sure it's the estate version of the Octavia that he's after.
Thanks for the useful info on boot sizes and models to take a look at.

I recently got the Skoda fabia estate. Big boot but not as long as the Octavia.

Are you only looking for new?

I have a Ford B-Max but the last ones are 2018 plates so you might be looking second hand.

It depends what you want to put in the boot - these have a lot of space as the seats (including the front passenger) go totally flat, so if you have something large and/or long, you can fit it in (if the driver is alone). Or with the passenger seat in the normal position, there is still quite a bit of room with the back seats flat. If you have passengers in the back, then not so good, as the actual boot itself isn't that big. The back doors are sliding, so easier to get things in and out of, especially when parking is tight.

Octavia estate boot is not that much bigger than saloon (610 vs 590) but also its not that much longer either (4658mm vs 4569) so basically only 9 cm longer (3.5 inches). VW Tiguan is actually shorter than both at 4486 but it managed the large boot capacity by sliding the rear seats forward which increases the capacity from 520 to 615. I think Skoda Karoq is the same if you fit the optional varioflex seats, perhaps worth a trip to local dealer!

Seat Leon ST ( estate) isn't massive but has a good boot space, they are cheaper than Skoda so you could spend a similar amount & get further up the range. As long as you have parking sensors or a reversing camera it shouldn't be a problem to park. If you are buying second hand, look for an ex motability model, they are well looked after, have parking sensors as standard.

We have the Skoda Octavia, the boot is enormous, which is lovely, but it does feel like a very long car! DH says with the tow bar it's as long as a Landrover? It certainly feels huge compared to our old Renault Clio

The Insignia boot is a really funny shape though, we had one after a Passat and an Octavia and felt we couldn’t get as much in it. We got rid after a year and now have a Focus estate which is lovely to drive. Out of all four of them though, the Octavia boot was by far the largest - cavernous!

Ford Mondeo has a huuuge boot! Lovely car to drive too.

We aren't looking to buy new, 2-3 years old if we can afford it.

Consider electric vehicles. The lack of a petrol tank and an engine mean that you get a lot of boot space in a smaller footprint.

We had same dilemma. Went for a kia ceed estate in the end. Similar shape to focus estate, but better boot

Skoda Roomster lives up to its name!

The Octavia is a fab car, dead easy to park too. Wish I still had mine!

I've got an Octavia estate company car, 2 dogs and 2 kids under 3. It's amazing boot wise and doesn't feel big to drive. Not stylish though. And not what I would choose if I was paying, I'd go Passat or A4 avant (all essentially the same tbough)

I have a focus estate and it is not a huge car, but even though its an estate the boot isn't very deep but perfect of us/dog. With front and back parking sensors and automatic parallel parking (which I love!) it is no problem at all.