The Skoda Octavia is a practical, comfortable and affordable sedan that embraces its humble and honest nature. The Octavia may only be equipped with a minute 1.0-litre engine, but it is very usable for daily driving.

Nicely paired to the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, it tosses out 114bhp and 200Nm of torque - from as low as 2,000rpm - to the front wheels. This makes for acceleration that feels a lot faster than what the spec sheet may suggest.

With its light steering and soft suspension, the Octavia also proves that it is made for comfortable and easy driving, of which it does very well. It will get you from one place to another in an entirely fuss-free manner.

But more importantly, the Octavia impresses with its cargo-hauling capabilities and well-insulated cabin. It can swallow five occupants with ease while its generous 590-litre boot is wide and deep enough for a week's supply of groceries.

As if that's not enough, the Octavia also comes with features that are mostly associated with premium models. In the glovebox, for instance, air-conditioning vents are available to cool your drinks, which is a great idea in sunny Singapore.

Ticking all the right boxes for a practical sedan, you can be assured that the Octavia deserves its title as the best in its class. It may be 'new' to its segment here in Singapore, but it is big on doing what it does well.