[Closed] Skoda Octavia owners, Hatchback or estate?

Only speaking from an estate owners point of view but when they have the seats down they are massive at the back end. Oooh err. Can Chuck two bikes in mine with the wheels still on easy peasy

Got a hatch. Will fit a bike in but because of the sloping roof it has to lay down. If I was buying again I'd go for an estate.

If it's just loading flatpack from Ikea then the lack of height in the boot area is less of a problem.

had an estate for 4 years before changing to a superb estate. the useable space in the octavia estate is great, easy enough to e=get bikes in or load with a weeks camping kit for 3 people and a dog. the estate doesn't feel 'big' to drive, so no reason not to go for the estate other than if you don't like the aesthetics

I have the estate and as well as the bigger boot the estate has a lower and wider lip (just above the bumper)

I've got a 2012 hatch, the boot is huge. I think the estate just gains in the height.

I have a 68 reg Octavia Scout estate and my bike (XL SC Bronson) doesn't fit in with both wheels on. It fits on its side with the front wheel off, or upside down and strapped down with both wheels off. I am a bit disappointed in the lack of headroom in the boot with the backseats folded flat, due to the bit of the backseat you sit on not flipping up. Great car otherwise. I think two big bikes in the hatchback version might be a bit of a squeeze.

Ive got an estate, great car. I personally prefer the look and the practically of an estate. That said the hatch isn't short on space at all. Id just say loading is going to be less hassle in an estate

I've a hatch..

I keep my bikes on the roof..I'm lazy and just leave the 4 racks up there!

But, you can easily get a couple of bikes inside with a wheel off. I've just never been a fan of laying bikes flat in a car, one on top of another....

DrP

(I also got it lowered by 30mm, and bigger wheels, and I painted the calipers gunmetal grey. But that's cos I R Gangstarrrr)

Unlike a lot of cars, the octavia estate isn't any longer than the hatch so the floor area of the boot is pretty much the same in both, it's only really if you're loading above parcel shelf height that the estate has an advantage. Two bikes will go in a hatch laid down with front wheels off no problem.

We had an 2009 Octavia estate and the wheel arches intrude a lot so it is difficult to get a bike in without taking a wheel off. Changed to a Focus Estate which is down on volume but wider with no wheel intrusion and a flat load bay so you can just lay a 29er in without taking any wheels off.

Interesting regarding the Focus estate as that is an option I'm considering.

I've got an estate and my mate has just handed his hatchback back to the lease company.

Both are cavernous, but the extra height on the estate is really handy (especially for bikes).

At least one wheel off though if you're going to use it to carry bikes though. I've got one of those rock bros suction bike racks so the boot is free for all the gear and front wheels.

2011 hatchback here. Two bikes with front wheels off or one with front wheel still on.

Think they are the same length, so we got an estate. Mate has the hatch. You can lay two bikes down on top of each other - with padding in between - in the estate without worrying about anything catching the rear screen.

I've got the estate and with the seats down its essentially a van.

With the wheels off, the bike frames will sit upright even without the dropper down, which is miles better than lying them flat. I doubt you'd get away with that with the hatchback. I've had 3 bikes and a weekends camping gear in there, no problem

I had a 2016 Focus estate and there was no way my Ripmo would go in with both wheels on without fighting far too much with the car.

Maybe if I pushed the front passenger seat all the way forwards, but who wants that faff when a wheel off is so easy.

Started off with a hatchback, got an estate. Bikes, dogs, mates with bikes and/or dogs - had to rescue a pair of friends after a mechanical and it fitted 2 bikes 2 passengers + driver.
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We had an ex-demo 2010 vRS Diesel Hatch for about 8/9 years. Loved it. Solid. Great drive, particularly with DSG. V. good MPG, even loaded. Great for space - family, holidays etc.

Huge boot that will easily take 2 bikes but as has already been alluded to, I would suggest the space isn't as usable as the estate?

The wheel arches come in fairly significantly but the hatch in particular has a fairly large bumper lip that makes loading/maneuvering a bike into the boot quite tricky.

Also, the back seats fold 'flat'... ish! Actually, the seat backs have a slight rear-facing slope and the boot floor is lower still which meant that loads, unless secured really well, had a tendency to work their way backwards - annoying!

We carried our bikes on the roof. It was easier to load and left loads of space for all our other kit.

As an aside, not sure what mk/MY/mileage etc. you're looking at but thought it worth mentioning our experience with an engine management issue.

Regularly maintained, regardless of cost, ours was amazing until it was 8 years old.

At 90k it developed (apparently fairly common) serious engine issues. Most of the air intake system (swirl flaps/inlet manifold/throttle body etc.) needed replacing. The air con compressor (another common failure) then also went. The parts alone were well into 4 figures and all in, it would cost as much to fix as the car was worth! We couldn't justify repairing it.

Sad to see it go for next to nothing but relieved not to have a huge 4-figure bill!

Appreciate it's an anecdotal experience but nonetheless, hope it's worth sharing.

I have had both in the last 12 months and have the estate now.

I would go for the estate every time.

Been looking at one for a company car just now, but the spec I am allowed is a bit measly compared to an equivalent Focus, which I have had before and loved.

I have the Golf Estate which is pretty similar to the Octavia Estate. Brilliant, wouldn't have a standard hatch again. Massive boot but handles like a hatchback. Easy to live with but very versatile.

By way of comparison both the Golf Estate and the Octavia have a bigger boot than a Mondeo Estate...

I found my octavia hatch FELT LIKE it had a bigger boot than the passat estate we were looking at at the time..? might just have been the floor space, rather than volume..

DrP

Makes no odds really for a bike or two put flat on the floor with the seats down.

Estate gives you more room for boxier things, and it gives more rain cover when you're sat on the edge of the boot. Estate has roof rails too, so easier to fit bars if you take them on and off a lot - or if you leave them on all the time it won't damage door seals over time.

I went from a 2004 Octavia Hatch to a 2012 Passat Estate. My next car will be an estate.

Take a look at the Passats, seats can fold fully flat if that floats your boat. Also I love the electronic handbrake and autohold.

EDIT: My next car will most likely be an Octavia estate, I will miss the handbrake and autohold.

I found my octavia hatch FELT LIKE it had a bigger boot than the passat estate we were looking at at the time..? might just have been the floor space, rather than volume..

Most likely was. My Jetta has a bigger boot than the B6 Passat estate and my neighbours octavia saloon has a considerably bigger boot than the Jetta.

I've had an Octavia Estate for almost 18 months now. Really like it. Loads of room in the back (don't forget the split rear floor) and with the seats down it's even better. I have my bikes on the roof anyway, so the boot gobbles up all my gear with plenty of room to spare. I have the 1.5 TSi engine with DSG (150bhp) and I've been really impressed with it. Long runs it can give you 48-50mpg or more, and I haven't had it lower than 40mpg yet over a full tank.

So, great car, even if it does have a wiff of taxi driver/grandad about it.

We currently have one of each and every time I go riding I always take the estate.

It's easier to get the bikes I'm, the boot gives a bit of cover too.

I find the estate easier to see out of too.

Buying an Octavia hatchback is like buying a Volvo saloon. Some cars are born to be wagons.