96% of respondents praised Octavia for practicality
The UK is in love with Škoda. The Czech brand has scooped first place in the Auto Express Driver Power survey… for the second year in succession.
More than 32,000 independent members of the public vote in the reliability and satisfaction poll, making it a true reflection of how pleased people are with their cars. This year, as with last, Octavia owners are the happiest of the bunch. This latest glowing report means that 2008 is the fifth consecutive year that a Škoda model has finished in the top five.
The survey asked respondents for their opinions on all aspects of car ownership. They were quizzed on their vehicle’s reliability, build quality, running costs, performance and ease of driving: basically everything that contributes to a favourable ownership experience.
David Johns, Auto Express’ Editor in Chief, said, “The Octavia’s achievement in winning the overall Driver Power title two years in a row - first in 2007, and now again in 2008 - cannot be overstated. This is a car which has bullet-proof reliability and which gives its owners huge satisfaction. Its top ranking in Driver Power puts it ahead of so-called prestige brands with cars that cost many, many times more to buy and to run. It’s a great result for Skoda.”
Škoda has picked up a plethora of titles and gongs over the years, both for its cars and for customer satisfaction. From the first-generation Fabia (Auto Express and What Car? Car of the Year in 2000), to the Fabia vRS (Diesel Car Best Performance Diesel, 2004), to the Octavia (What Car? Best Small Family Car, 2005, 2006), Octavia vRS (What Car? Hot Hatch 2006) and the new Roomster (Scottish Best Family Car 2006), Škodas continue to impress.
Škoda UK Brand Director, Robert Hazelwood, is delighted, but not surprised by this latest success. “We’re delighted with the news that Octavia is the top car in this latest survey from Auto Express. This is even more evidence of Škoda’s secret weapon – our outstanding customer service. We put our customers at the heart of everything we do, from the design and quality of the cars that ensures they are easy and rewarding to live with, through to our retailers who take pride in the service they provide throughout the ownership of the car. It proves yet again that we are, indeed, the manufacturer of happy drivers.”
