What is the best Skoda car?
Skoda offers several award-winning models in its extensive range – but which are the best Skoda cars you can buy? Read our guide to find out
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A company that was once considered to be a budget brand, Skoda retains its affordable pricing while delivering high-quality, safe and reliable models.
The best Skoda car to buy depends on what you want – there are hatchbacks, estates and SUVs, plus petrols, diesels, hybrids and electric models, so there’s something to suit most drivers.
Keep reading to find out what makes each model the best used Skoda car for you, and hopefully, you’ll be one step closer to making a decision on your next Skoda model.
Citigo – the best used Skoda car on a budget?
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Although Skoda stopped selling the Citigo in 2020, it remains an incredibly popular car for first-time buyers thanks to its efficient 1.0-litre petrol engines and nippy electric motors, both of which sit in low insurance groups.
It shares many parts with the Volkswagen Up and SEAT Mii, and is built to a high quality. All three are reliable and should keep running costs low.
Expect things like air-conditioning and Bluetooth as standard, and a range of affordable trim levels including popular Colour Edition and sporty-looking Monte Carlo versions.
Fabia – the perfect Skoda for new drivers?
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The Skoda Fabia is a compact car that’s small enough for the city yet big enough to serve as a genuine family car, with a boot that’s about the same size as something like a Volkswagen Golf – a bigger hatchback from the class above.
It was previously available as an estate, but newer models are hatchback-only.
Fourth-generation models sold from 2021 are noticeably higher quality and even have a premium feel about them thanks to the use of soft-touch materials and large, clear infotainment displays.
There’s a range of engines, but the pick of the bunch is actually the smallest 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol. It’s punchy, smooth and fuel-efficient.
Scala – the top Skoda car for safety?
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Most Skoda models have five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings, but where the Scala shines is in the marks it was awarded.
It scored exceptionally well across all categories, including occupant and pedestrian protection.
It’s a stylish hatchback that’s more akin to a mini-estate, and its 467-litre boot offers more space than many other similarly-sized models.
Standard equipment is good, but this changes with model years, so check any individual listing before buying.
Mid-spec models get car tech like a reversing camera, parking sensors and cruise control.
Octavia – the best Skoda car for families?
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There have been four iterations of the Octavia since the late 1990s, and while all have been incredibly practical, newer ones benefit from more style and quality.
It shares parts with the Audi A3 Saloon, but while it looks like a saloon, it actually has a hatchback-style boot opening, making it incredibly useful for loading large items.
Estate models are even more practical, and can easily swallow a bike with the seats down.
Overall, the Octavia is spacious, comfortable, reliable and good-looking, making it a good all-rounder for families and individuals alike.
Superb – the top Skoda car for long distances?
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The company’s biggest non-SUV model, the Superb is longer than the mechanically similar Volkswagen Passat, which benefits interior and boot space, especially in estate form.
Headroom and legroom in the back are above average, and there’s plenty of width to keep the driver and passenger separated, making it a comfortable long-distance cruiser for families and businesspeople.
Most motorway drivers will opt for a 2.0-litre diesel, which should be able to exceed 50mpg, but there are also petrol and plug-in hybrid variants.
Kamiq – the top Skoda for reliability?
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The Skoda Kamiq is a high-riding crossover designed to offer practicality and comfort in an affordable package.
It has a surprisingly spacious and well-built cabin as well as a large 400-litre boot, so while it may be the Czech brand’s smallest SUV, it’s still a worthy contender for growing families.
As well as being a safe car, it’s also highly reliable. Like other Skoda models, it shares its engines with the rest of the Volkswagen Group (VW, SEAT, and Audi), so all the engines and gearboxes are tried and tested – and highly regarded, for that matter.
Karoq – the best Skoda to buy for a great drive?
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The Skoda Karoq is a stylish SUV that’s recognisable by its large, prominent grille, which is flanked by a pair of slim headlights.
It’s at its most stylish in SportLine trim, which adds black styling details and a more aggressive bumper design.
Because it’s a mid-size family SUV, it benefits from smaller and larger engines, so there’s something for every type of driver.
Besides power, its suspension is well-tuned to iron out speed bumps and potholes, but it’s still rigid enough to keep the car taught through corners, where larger SUVs sometimes tend to lean.
Kodiaq – the best Skoda car for space?
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This seven-seater SUV is immensely practical. In five-seat mode, it has a huge 765-litre boot, which is substantially bigger than its rivals, but even with all seats upright, it has 270 litres of space, which is nearly as much as an entire Ford Fiesta.
Some other Skoda models have been available with four-wheel drive, but this is arguably the most capable thanks to the additional ground clearance that makes this impressive off the beaten track.
As the brand’s flagship model, it benefits from all the latest technology and safety kit. Top-spec models are especially attractive and come with luxuries like heated and cooled front seats and a large panoramic glass sunroof.
Enyaq – the greatest Skoda car for speed?
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For a few years, the Citigo was available with an electric power option, and while it was a mainstream model, the Enyaq is Skoda’s first electric SUV.
It’s a lot more capable – for example, it can do around 250 or 350 miles between charges, depending on which version you go for.
Coupé models are even more efficient thanks to their improved aerodynamics.
Electric motors have instant throttle response, so they all feel quick. Even the slowest does 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds.
If you’re after a bit of speed, performance vRS models have 340hp and can do the same sprint in 5.3 seconds.