The Skoda Octavia 1.8 T FSI is a polished all-round family car. The engine offers strong performance coupled with reasonable economy while the Octavia package has space, build quality and value for money on its side. If only it had a bit more by way of character.

There are definitely cars that excite you more readily than Skoda's Octavia. Indeed, many people will have completed tax returns that gave them more of a buzz. As a 'ticks all the boxes' compact family car, though, Skoda's Golf-based stalwart doesn't have a lot wrong with it. For people who really need their daily drive to display a touch of sparkle, Skoda even lay-on the hot vRS model but with 198bhp and an £18,000 pricetag, that car is creeping away slightly from the core Skoda values. A good compromise might be the 1.8-litre T FSI we feature here. It's just about as exciting as sensible gets.

Skoda has benefited hugely from being subsumed into the Volkswagen Group. At a time when the brand's journey from running joke to respectable contender is all but complete, its range of value for money vehicles based on VW platforms looks stronger than ever. The Octavia feels closer than any other Skoda to its Volkswagen progenitor. From the engine range to the interior, echoes of the Golf abound and along with Skoda's tighter pricing, this is key to what makes the Octavia appealing. There are differences though and amongst them, is this 1.8-litre T FSI engine. It's unique amongst the Octavia's powerplants in that it's not found in the Golf.

The 1,798cc petrol engine uses Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) technology and turbocharging so its nearest VW group relative is the 2.0-litre T FSI unit found in the Golf GTI, the Audi S3 and the Octavia's own vRS. The smaller capacity means there's 158bhp of grunt available here instead of the 198bhp from the 2.0-litre turbo unit but it still makes for an eager feeling Octavia that retains the silky-smooth power delivery of the more powerful unit. The full 250Nm maximum torque is available from 1,500rpm up to 4,200rpm so between those engine speeds, a flex of the throttle brings instant results. The turbocharger remains largely anonymous with the power flowing seamlessly through the gears and very little trace of lag even from a standing start. The 0-60mph sprint takes 8.2s and the top speed is 138bhp.

"It's just about as exciting as sensible gets.."

The Octavia never feels less than competent on the road. Keen drivers might bemoan the rather dead steering and the suspension set up that isn't the sharpest but they could be accused of missing the point. The 1.8 T FSI isn't the vRS. The car is tuned for comfort and it soaks up the bumps very well while staying composed over larger undulations. If you do throw it into a few corners, the body is well controlled and there's no shortage of grip. Engine noise the whistle of the wind and the roar from the road are well insulated in the Octavia so the driver's free to sit back in the firm seats and get on with the job.

If the Skoda Octavia had been given beguilingly sculpted bodywork and an interior that bristled with surprise and delight, Volkswagen's Golf would have had a big problem on its hands. In the interests of preserving the group's complex hierarchies, the Octavia was kept simple and, if we're honest, rather plain. In no way is the styling ugly or stupid and there are none of those nagging awkward details that crop up on cars from time to time. The Octavia employs a classic shape that suggests saloon but is, in reality, a hatchback with neat lines and very little that even hints at being out of the ordinary.

Inside it's more of the same but in a way it matters less. Again the design is straight down the line but the built quality certainly isn't. There's a real quality feel to the Octavia cabin that exceeds the expectations that most of us have for a car in this price tag. It's all done in dark grey plastic as is the Volkswagen Group tradition but the plastics look and feel expensive while everything fits together impeccably. The Octavia is also a very practical car. That hatchback opens to reveal a boot of epic proportions. Its 560 litres of space can be extended to 1,350 litres by way of the split folding rear seats. When those seats are occupied, passengers benefit from good amounts of head and legroom. Despite being based on the Golf and having the same wheelbase, the Octavia is longer and fractionally wider. It feels like a larger car.

The 1.8 T FSI engine is available across four of the Octavia's trim levels. The entry point is the £14,655 Ambiente, then there's the Sport, the Elegance and the range-topping L&K derivative that commands a price tag of £18,430. Estate versions of the Octavia come at an £850 premium. Standard kit is quite generous with the Ambiente featuring a 6 CD autochanger, electric windows, remote central locking and alloy wheels.

The Sport has 17" wheels and sports suspension that sharpens the handling up a notch or two plus a range of additional styling features. Elegance models have rear parking sensors, climate control and cruise control while the L&K has just about everything else that Skoda could think of. Safety provision is reasonable but you need to get up to the lofty L&K level before you get ESP stability control and curtain airbags.

The upfront costs of the Octavia are certainly attractive when you weigh up what you're getting in the package but what about running the car? The 1.8-litre T FSI engine produces just over 38mpg on the combined cycle which is around 10mpg less than the Octavia's desirable 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel that costs £1,400 more. The 1.8 is faster over the 0-60mph sprit but the oil-burner's torque will be preferable to some, it's very much a case of horses for courses. CO2 emissions are measured at 176g/km in the 1.8 T FSI and the Octavia manages to cling onto its value better than many rival models. All in all, this isn't a car that's going to prove a catastrophic drain on your resources.

The Skoda Octavia will appear a dull choice to many family hatch buyers but there's a definite satisfaction to be gleaned from choosing such a resolutely capable family car and paying such a sensible price for it. The 1.8-litre T FSI engine is a modern powerplant that suits Skoda's hatchback well. It's moderately sporty and there's not too much of a hit in terms of running costs.

If you prioritise style and design innovation, the Skoda Octavia probably isn't the car for you but on more practical criteria like build quality, equipment, space and price, there isn't a lot that beats it. The 1.8-litre T FSI engine even adds the prospect of some driving enjoyment into the bargain. It combines with the Octavia platform to produce a great value and, whisper it, desirable car.