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All-New Octavia crowned Auto Express New Car of the Year 2020

The all-new, fourth-generation Octavia has swept the board at the 2020 Auto Express New Car Awards, taking home two category wins and the overall Car of the Year title. The Octavia comprehensively outscored and outperformed a host of high-profile newcomers to take top spots in every category it was eligible for.

The Octavia’s two category wins came in the fiercely competitive Compact Family Car and Estate Car categories. Remarkably, by taking the Estate Car crown, ŠKODA recorded its fifth win in succession with the fourth-generation Octavia taking over from the previous model and delivering a seamless supply of ŠKODA silverware.

Commenting on the Octavia Estate’s win, Auto Express Editor-in-Chief Steve Fowler said: "For estate-car buyers space is always a priority, and there aren’t many family wagons that offer more room for either passengers or their luggage than the new Octavia Estate. The main thing that makes this our winner for 2020 is the way it combines 640 litres of luggage room with class-leading technology, comfort, performance and efficiency."

Not to be left out by its load-carrying sibling, the Octavia hatch was crowned Compact Family Car 2020 by the Auto Express judging panel. The Octavia inherited the category title from the Scala, which took top honours in 2019. “Since launching in the UK in the late nineties, the Octavia has become a byword for space, practicality and comfort” said Steve Fowler. “In this latest generation, it adds handsome looks, efficient engines, improved tech and even a couple of hot versions into the mix.”

Such was the performance of the new Octavia in its categories that the judges named it overall Car of the Year - one of the most prestigious titles in the automotive world. Explaining how the fourth-generation model had impressed the judging panel, Steve Fowler said: “The new Octavia not only represents all the car you could ever need, but it’s all the car you could ever want, too. It is a very worthy winner, and the Auto Express Car of the Year 2020.”

The Octavia wasn’t the only ŠKODA model taking home Auto Express silverware. The Superb was named Family Car of the Year – reclaiming a title it last won in 2017. Fully updated last year, the Superb leapt to the top of the sector thanks to its increased value and new technology. “The Superb offers family-car buyers all the space, practicality and comfort they could ever need in a handsome, tech-laden package. Petrol and diesel models have been joined this year by the iV plug-in hybrid; emissions as low as 30g/km make it very attractive for company-car users” explained Steve Fowler.

Auto Express is one of the UK’s most prominent car publications. With more than 25 awards, covering every part of the UK car market, the Auto Express Awards honour everyday excellence.

The 2020 Auto Express awards are expected to be the first of many for the fourth-generation Octavia. Its predecessor racked up more than 20 key industry titles during its production run, including a string of Auto Express, What Car? and Car Buyer awards.