THE ART OF THE ESTATE

Fast estates have always been cool, but today they can take many forms. We pitch Peugeot's updated hybrid 508 PSE against Skoda's more conventional but equally compelling Octavia vRS

- YOUSUF ASHRAF

I LIVE 180 MILES FROM THE EVO office. That means that while I'd love to daily drive the Fast Fleet Toyota GR Yaris or Caterham Seven (if I'm feeling especially bold), I'd be much happier commuting in either of these. I'm not a mountain biker, a dog owner or frequent IKEA customer, but I am a huge sucker for a stealthy, well-executed fast estate. There's just something about a spacious, plain-clothes wagon with serious performance that's endlessly appealing. For me, it's their ability to surprise. Some of the best moments on evo shoots are watching photographer Aston Parrott whipping our long-term Cupra Leon estate along at about Mach 9 between locations, followed by a crackle on the radio to ask why none of us can keep up in our sports cars.

Neither the Skoda Octavia vRS nor the Peugeot 508 PSE is as fast or conspicuous as Aston's Cupra, but they still pack hot hatch speed beneath their hire-car-spec appearances. We know the Octavia well- it's on our Fast Fleet and has already impressed with its ability to soothe on every journey and entertain when the moment allows. Its platform and 242bhp 2-litre turbocharged TSI engine are derived from the Golf GTI, but being a 1.5-ton estate car it's a little slower to 62mph with a time of 6.7sec. These Octavias have a reputation for punching well above their weight, but comparing these specs to the hybrid, fourwheel-drive Peugeot - which costs a massive £17,390 more than the £37,785 Skoda - I worry that this might be a bit of a mismatch.