The study compared a total of six compact estate cars and found that the Octavia Combi achieved forecast future RVs between 49 and 40% depending on the country, clearly beating its direct competitors.

The study looked at the markets in Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Italy and Great Britain and also included the Ford Focus Combi, the Hyundai i30 Combi, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer, the Peugeot 308 SW and the Renault Mégane Grandtour.

The Skoda took the lead in all five countries based on service of three years/90,000km and criteria such as mileage/CO2 emissions, price-value ratio, quality and reliability. Design and brand aspects also played a role.

The model scored the highest figure of 49% in Germany, the brand’s second-strongest market worldwide, with the Octavia Combi in “Ambition” trim and with the 150hp 2.0 TDI engine leading the way compared to an average residual value of 43% for rivals.

And in the brand’s home market of the Czech Republic, the Octavia Combi scored 45%, 7% better than its competitors.

‘The new Skoda Octavia Combi not only offers space in its most beautiful shape, it is also a giant in residual values,’ said Werner Eichhorn, Skoda board member for sales and marketing.

‘The fact that it came tops in no less than five European markets in the study is just one more proof of this car’s high quality and stability in value, advantages in other words which our private and business customers appreciate so much that they made the second-generation Octavia Combi the bestselling estate car in Europe in 2012,’ added Mr Eichhorn.