Repair and maintain one of Britain's best-loved family carsFew family cars have earned their place in the market as convincingly as the Skoda Octavia. The name stretches back to 1959, but the modern Octavia story truly began in 1996, when Skoda, by then part of the Volkswagen Group, launched the first of the current lineage. By the time the third generation arrived in showrooms in early 2013, the Octavia had become a firm favourite with British buyers: spacious, keenly priced and quietly capable in a way that left many a pricier rival looking overrated. We cover all the key petrol and diesel engines you are likely to find: the 1.4-litre TSI in 140 PS and 150 PS forms, the 1.5-litre TSI at 150 PS, the 2.0-litre TSI in 220, 230 and 245 PS outputs including the vRS, along with the 1.6-litre TDI in 90, 105 and 110 PS guises and the 2.0-litre TDI producing 143, 150 and 184 PS. We also address the faults these cars are known for: DSG gearbox hesitancy and mechatronic wear when fluid services are neglected, EGR valve carbon build-up and diesel particulate filter blockages on TDI models used mainly for short trips, water pump and thermostat failures on the 2.0 TSI, and timing chain stretch on higher-mileage petrol engines. We show you how to diagnose and fix these issues, and, just as importantly, how to carry out the preventative maintenance that keeps them from occurring in the first place.