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Hi David,

Oh yes. In fact, I couldn't recommend it highly enough. Smooth, powerful, terrific to drive and yet decently economical too. Aside from a touch too much road noise, the Octavia RS TDI is one of the most accomplished all-round performance cars we've ever driven.

Here's our full road test of the Combi estate version

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Hi Francis,

I reckon you should be looking at a Kia cee'd Sportwagon. Handsome to look at, excellent 1.6-litre diesel engine, lots of space, massive boot and, even if you're buying nearly new, a long, loooooong warranty. A tough package to beat and it's more enjoyable to drive than you might expect. Does it fall foul of your 'not boring' requirement?

OK so, one man's meat etc. How about a Skoda Yeti? Not as practical or big in the boot department, but funky and fun to drive and if you get a 4x4 version, a proper off-roader too.

What do you think?

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Hi Penny,

I'm assuming you mean the second-generation Octavia, introduced that year? If so, they're a pretty solid car but one that needs a few checks. If it's the 1.4 petrol, have the cam belt inspected. They need doing every 60,000 miles anyway, but the 1.4 has a history of belt failures so it's important to make sure that the one on the car is sound. Check the cabin for rattles or loose trim, check the boot floor for damp carpets (the rear screen wash bottle can leak) and if it's a diesel check for any juddering or poor acceleration, which can be a sign that the dual-mass flywheel is giving trouble. Also, check again for damp carpets in the main cabin, which can be a sign that the door seals are leaking.

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Hi Ash,

It very much depends on your price bracket and what your requirements are in terms of size. If you want something small, cheap and fun to drive, why not try either a Nissan Juke or MINI Countryman? Need something with a bit more space and practicality? Nissan Qashqai then, or better yet, a Skoda Yeti. Want to get something with a lot more size and some proper 4x4 ability? Go for a Honda CR-V, a Hyundai Santa Fe (you can get those with seven seats by the way) or, a Nissan again, this time the under-appreciated X-Trail. Want something seriously big and impressive? Well, a Range Rover Sport is always a good buy but be sure to put aside plenty to cover the running costs. A Toyota Land Cruiser is rather less exciting to drive or to look at but its reliability is little short of legendary. Or, if you want something really cheap and old that can pack some abuse and come back for more, try either a Suzuki Grand Vitara (smallish) or a Mitsubishi Pajero (big). Both are reliable, both can off-road properly and both can be tracked down at bargain prices, as long as you buy according to condition, not age or mileage.

Come back to us if you need more help

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Hi Bernadette,

Both are good but I'd go with the Jazz - it's more spacious, slightly sweeter to drive and Honda's quality and reliability ratings are just astonishingly good.

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Hi Eddie,

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Hi Dan,

Hmmm. Generally for your mileage I would recommend a petrol car, but the bad news is that in your size bracket, petrol engines are a little thin on the ground. You could go for either a straight replacement for your Corolla by getting a Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D, which is a very fine car, or you could, as you suggest, branch out and snap up a Hyundai i30 1.6 diesel - again a very fine car and with that five-year warranty, a very tempting buy. 

But, with your mileage profile, I would suggest taking a good long look at petrol alternatives. The Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost is a terrific car with a great engine and well worth a look. That said it's a little tight in the back seats for two teenagers so I'd say the best all round bet is a Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI. It's more affordable than the diesel version, damn near as economical and has a big boot and lots of space in the back seats for those teenager-filled weekend runs. Great quality and reliability too.

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Hi Mary,

You wouldn't go wrong with a Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI DSG. Cracking car, great gearbox.

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Hi John,

I'm afraid without knowing the year of your S40 it's impossible to give you an idea of the value but I would suggest trading it in rather than trying to sell it yourself - it saves an awful lot of hassle and heartache. As for what to get, try either a Skoda Yeti or a Nissan Qashqai. Both are as reliable as they come, comfy and with a higher (but not too high) seating position. And both are spacious enough that when those reared kids start dropping off the grandkids for a weekend, you'll have room in the back...

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Hi Mike,

You know what? Most of our answers have to be equivocal, caged in careful speak, allowing for error and trying not to be too definitive just in case we're wrong. In this case though, it's an utter pleasure to say yes, the Superb Greenline really is just an excellent machine and I honestly can't think of a better all round family car. Enjoy.