The exceptional environmental credentials of the Octavia GreenLine II have been put to the test for a competitive fuel economy event.

The popular hatchback took part in the respected annual ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon, organised by the publisher of Fleet World magazine.

Driven by freelance journalist Sue Baker, with navigation by Peter Thompson, the car was driven for 370 miles across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset. The Octavia used just 4.31 gallons of fuel and achieved an outstanding average consumption figure of 85.98mpg. “Against an official combined cycle fuel economy of 74.3mpg, that’s a 15.7 per cent improvement,” said Ross Durkin, Managing Editor of Fleet World Group.

“This performance earned the Octavia a respectable third place in the ‘Best Overall’ fuel economy category. But as the models ahead were a two-seater city car and a supermini, the ŠKODA Octavia GreenLine II can justifiably claim the honour of ‘Best Family Car.’”

That's amazing, I can't get my Greenline II Fabia over 78mpg!

That's amazing, I can't get my Greenline II Fabia over 78mpg!

Got 71.9 out of my mk1 VRS before remap years ago but it was hard work no way I could get it all the time 65 on a good long run but average for 25000 miles I had it was around 54mpg its last year with me saw it only doing local runs to shops etc really hit my average :(

78mpg! !!!!! id be happy with that your doing well BossFox

I used to work for ALD and managed to join this MPG Marathon a few years ago - it was a great laugh. Me and the chap I did it with were given a brand spanking Alfa 159 with all the trimmings.

This was the same year a Corvette was entered and it actually won the prize for the biggest improvement over official manufacturers MPG - it averaged something ludicrous over the weekend like 32mpg