I have had a 2008 1.6 Ceed Diesel Hatch for nearly 3 years.

Comfortable, goes and handles OK. It has quite a hard ride but is on 17inch 45 profile tyres. The newer models are supposed to have a better ride.

The warranty is very good. I have just had a wheel bearing replaced at 70K/5years.

The washer jets and a rear suspension mount were replaced under warranty a couple of years ago.

We have a Ceed SW 1.6 CRDi, had it nearly 3 years excellent car. 51 mpg overall, reliable, comfortable and very well equipped.Only one problem, the A/C condenser spung a leak, replaced under warranty.

Before we bought the Ceed we had a good look and a couple of drives in the Octavia Estate. Nice as it was it just did not do it for us as well as the Ceed. Firstly the diesel engines, the 1.6 was totally useless and the 2.0 was over budget. The seating position was very low compared to our old C-Max wheras the Ceed is nice and easy to get into. The Skoda was pretty spa***ly equipped even in SE form. Only 2 airbags as standard, no parking sensors, no privacy glass etc. Add on all these bits and it got even more expensive. Nice radio in the Octavia. The Ceed "3" we bought has everything you could possibly want.

Don't believe the luggage capacity figures, they misslead. The Skoda has no spare as standard and the quoted figure of 605 litres is in this spec. Add a spare and the raised boot floor and the capacity falls to just below 500 litres. The Ceed has a space saver as standard but you can also fit a full size spare in the well without affecting the 535 litre capacity. We do exactly that when we go on holiday, being stuck on the motorway with a moped tyre does not excite me.