Sector: Lower Medium Price: £17,990 Fuel: 55.4mpg CO2: 117g/km

If the Golf is said to be the benchmark for small family hatches, as capitalised upon by VW in its ad campaign of a few years ago, then the Octavia has become the benchmark for space.

This is especially true of the third-generation model, particularly the estate which offers impressive front and rear cabin space and class-leading boot capacity of 610 litres, rising to 1,740 with the rear seats folded.

So it’s somewhat ironic to see such a Goliath of a car teamed up with the David of engines in the form of the VW Group’s 1.2 TSI.

The entry-level engine in the line-up, this turbocharged unit offers 104bhp and 129lb.ft of torque at 1,400-4,000rpm, making it more palatable for fleet drivers than its cubic capacity would imply.

And whilst its 117g/km and 55.4mpg official combined fuel consumption fall short of the 99g/km and 74.3mpg of the 1.6 TDI and the 87g/km and 85.6mpg of the forthcoming GreenLine model, throw in a £2,050 cost reduction compared to the standard 1.6 diesel and the savings start stacking up for lower-mileage drivers.

There’s little feeling of being short-changed on performance either. Delivering a 0-62mph time of 10.5 seconds, it’s actually 0.1 seconds quicker than the diesel. It feels lively enough pulling away from junctions and at home on motorways although it can struggle a bit uphill and feel a little stretched. It’s also notably quieter than the diesel, particularly at start-up, although it bears a rather lively exhaust note.

And without the extra weight of the diesel, it actually feels sharper to drive, with well-weighted steering, whilst offering a comfortable ride.

Regardless of engine choice, the Octavia Estate excels in practicality in all other areas too. Not only does it offer a capacious cabin and boot – with a one-touch tonneau cover and quick-release levers to collapse the rear seats – but there are also other practical features such as a folding front seat.

And the practical approach has been carried over to the interior design, which whilst not flying the flag for avant-garde features, is clearly laid out, easy to use and offering an excellent driving position.

All in all, it’s a comprehensive package that’s impossible to fault.

Verdict:

With prices starting at £16,790 – just £800 more than the hatch – and offering impressive boot space, the Octavia Estate puts forward a mightily practical proposition for fleets. A tidy, if not stand-out, approach to both design and the driving experience add to its attractions while the small but somewhat mighty 1.2 TSI provides an alternative to the ubiquitous 1.6 TDI for lower-mileage drivers.