It is practical, comfortable, economical, and comes without the unnecessary fanfare of an SUV.  

Yet, despite its rational appeal, it has always been somewhat underappreciated. That is, until you step inside one, drive it for a while, and suddenly realise why it is so well-loved by those in the know.  

Now, with a new facelift, Skoda has refined an already impressive package. There are updated front and rear bumpers, a new grille, redesigned lights, and a refreshed interior with upgraded tech.

It is not a radical reinvention, but then again, it did not need one.  

Refined, Understated Design  

No one buys an estate car to turn heads. The Octavia has always been about understated sophistication, and the facelift continues that theme.  

It is now 9mm longer than before, though you would not notice unless you had a measuring tape on hand. The real changes are in the details; the new grille is sharper, the lights are sleeker, and the bumpers give it a more modern look.  

And yes, for those who believe practicality is king, the boot space remains a cavernous 640 litres, more than any other wagon in this segment. 

Interior Is Still A Mixed Bag  

This generation of the Octavia faced some criticism for its minimalist approach to interior controls, and none of that has changed in the facelift.  

Climate controls, for example, still live within the infotainment system, rather than being dedicated physical buttons. That said, Skoda has at least made the system more intuitive, with quick-access buttons for key functions like climate, settings, and drive modes. 

The build quality is still solid, though I did notice a slight vibration on the touchscreen when driving over rough roads.

On the tech front, there is a larger 13-inch infotainment screen, an updated 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and faster USB charging ports.  

And for those who love their AI assistants, Skoda is apparently integrating ChatGPT into its voice assistant, Laura. In theory, this means Laura can answer general knowledge questions.

But It’s Still Extremely Practical 

There are flip-out hooks in the boot to keep your shopping bags from sliding around, hidden umbrella storage in the front doors, and even an ice scraper tucked inside the fuel filler cap.  

For parents, small secondary pockets behind the front seats are perfectly sized for smartphones, keeping kids entertained without the risk of them dropping their devices under the seats.

There is even a USB-C port above the rear-view mirror, specifically for dash cam users. It is small, thoughtful touches like these that make the Octavia Combi such an easy car to live with.

It Isn’t That Quick

Skoda is not one to limit your choices, and while you can get the VRs, this one’s the more sensible 1.5-litre variant.

115bhp and 220Nm doesn’t sound like a lot, but it enables the Octavia to park under the Cat A COE banner. 

The mild-hybrid system pairs with a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The electrical assistance under acceleration is a welcome touch, making the car feel smooth in stop-start traffic.  

The car will complete the century sprint in 10.5 seconds, which on paper might seem pedestrian, but in real-world driving it is more than sufficient.  

If you’re not going anywhere in a hurry, you can easily average more than 16.4km/litre, the claimed figure from Skoda. Impressive for a car of this size.  

But It’s Still Decently Sporty  

For those who prioritise driving dynamics, the Octavia Combi is not going to set your pulse racing. But that is not the point.  

This is a car designed to be a refined, effortless cruiser, and in that regard, it absolutely delivers.  

At highway speeds, it feels planted and secure, with excellent sound insulation and a ride that absorbs imperfections beautifully.  

The steering is precise but not particularly sharp, and the chassis is clearly tuned for comfort rather than sportiness. The suspension is well-judged, and while soft damping means it floats slightly over crests, it never feels unsettled or disconnected.  

For those wanting a bit more control, the slightly older Sportline model come with progressive steering and a slightly stiffer suspension that lowers the ride height by 15mm.  

Of Course, There Are Some Minor Annoyances  

No car is perfect, and the Octavia Combi has its quirks.  

Speed warning and lane-keeping assist systems automatically turn on every time you start the car. A legal requirement, but still mildly irritating.  

Thankfully, Skoda has not buried the off-switch in endless touchscreen menus. A few flicks of the scroller on the steering wheel, and it becomes muscle memory.  

Come On Guys, You Don’t Need An SUV

Let’s be real: most people do not actually need an SUV.  

The Skoda Octavia Combi is proof of that. It is more economical, just as practical, and better to drive than most crossovers on the market. With its updated design, refined tech, and thoughtful practicality, the facelifted Octavia is smarter than ever.

It may not be the most exciting car to drive, but that is not why you buy an Octavia. You buy it because it makes everyday life easier.

Simply clever.

Technical Specifications

Skoda Octavia Combi Mild Hybrid

Engine: 1,498cc 4-cylinder Turbocharged, Mild Hybrid
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Power: 115 bhp
Torque: 220 Nm
Gearbox: 7-Speed (A) DSG
0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 203 km/h
Fuel Economy: 16.4 km/litre (claimed)

Price: S$189,900 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Skoda Centre Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Contenders need to be stationwagons aka estates. Easy.

Meet The Contenders

Representing Germany is the BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 (left), flying the Czech flag is the Skoda Octavia Combi Sportline (right), and championing Japan is the Subaru WRX Wagon GT-S.

The BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 is not only spacious on the inside for passengers but more practical for barang-barang as well. Suitably upmarket and executive looking and feeling, the i5 is festooned with tech and premium materials, is quick on its feet and comfortable while cruising.

The Skoda Octavia Combi looks sharp and wouldn’t feel out of place being driven by a junior executive. It has nifty touches on the inside, sufficient tech, serious practicality and an overall sensible and straightforward atmosphere. It’s no wonder that Skoda is often referred to as “the thinking person’s Volkswagen.”

The Subaru WRX Wagon GT-S takes the car enthusiasts’ rally-heritage turbocharged all-wheel drive formula and plonks a useful stationwagon rear-end onto the car. This, along with the refined newer FA-series turbo engine makes this WRX feel much more mature. It can still take turns in anger and rocket out of corners, all the while lugging your family and their luggage with aplomb.

And the winner is…

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Wagon
BMW i5 Touring eDrive40

The winner with 349 points is the BMW i5 Touring eDrive40. It’s premium. It’s comfortable. It’s got lots of tech. It’s practical. And… there’s no escaping the brand cachet of the BMW roundel.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the BMW i5 Touring eDrive40 for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Wagon!

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(Updated 23 October 2023)

Save for the AMG C63 or E63 Estate, you would really need help finding a wagon with lots of space and pace.

Well, enter the BMW M3 Touring. The car that everyone has been waiting for. A compact yet spacious, practical wagon with so much grip and grunt (more than 500 bhp), your family will be tossed like a salad by the time you arrive home.

Equipped with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine that produces a mad 503 bhp and 650 Nm of torque. The car will go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. That’s supercar-fast.

If all you wanted was speed, then an M3 or M4 would have sufficed. But, no, you’re someone who thinks of their family too. Or you’re simply different. So you want something that says you’re a discerning driver and unique.

Which is why you’re looking at the M3 Touring. Aside from looking totally different from the sedan and coupe, this car has the added practicality that the other M3 variants lack. So you can take it on a road trip with your family and friends and not worry about having enough room for your luggage (and shopping).

Okay, with 500 litres of space, it’s not much larger than the sedan, but the opening is taller, making loading large items much more accessible. You can also fold the rear seats down and liberate even more space. Did you know that BMW Touring variants also have a rear window opening that allows you to load small items without needing to open the whole hatch? This is especially useful when you park too close to a wall or tree.

In order to find out how the M3 Touring would fare in daily-driven scenarios, we stuffed our resident fuel economy tester in the driver’s seat and sent him on his way. He returned with an average fuel economy of 11.9km/litre across 509.4km, which bettered BMW’s claimed 9.6km/litre average.

Naturally, how you drive will determine the actual economy you’ll achieve, but with your inner Zen-mode engaged, the M3 Touring can be lived with and daily-driven.

Inside, the wagon is sporty and has bits of carbon fibre with lots of leather and racy red highlights to remind you that you’re in an M.

Like most modern BMWs, the M3 Touring has a pretty innovative infotainment system designed to keep drivers connected and informed on the road. The system features a high-resolution touchscreen display that, once you’re familiar, is easy to use and navigate. It also includes advanced voice recognition technology, allowing you to control the system without taking your hands off the wheel.

For all the performance that the M3 Touring wields, it also comes packed with some safety driving assistance tech that includes features like lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring.

With BMW’s xDrive (AWD), the M3 Touring has loads of grip and feels planted through a series of bends I put it through. In addition, the tuning work done to the car to allow it to cope with the added weight and dimensions work well to make it feel as nimble as the sedan.

The BMW M3 Touring is like a Swiss Army knife on wheels. It’s fast, luxurious, and practical. It’s also expensive. Depending on the COE, the car retails for around SGD 600,000. This puts it beyond the reach of mere mortal humans.

It may have taken a while to be created (and land on our shores), but it’s an exceptional car meant for that special few.

Photo Credits: Joel Tam (@joel_tam)

Technical Specifications

BMW M3 Touring Competition xDrive
Engine: 2,993cc inline six-cylinder, turbocharged
Gearbox: Eight speed automatic
Drive: 4WD & 2WD switchable
Power: 510hp @ 5,510-7,200 rpm
Torque: 650Nm @ 2,750-5,500 rpm
0-100km/h: 3.6 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 250km/h (280km/h de-restricted) (claimed)
Fuel Economy: 10.4-litres/100km or 9.6km/litre (claimed)
Price: S$622,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: BMW Singapore

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