Been thinking about the new Octy and car styling in general. To me it is an evolution of the Audi A4 B6 version. Since then cars have gone for the dropped grille and slash line side panel look, and I think have now gone as far as they can. The latest A4 now looks just silly to me, with the B6/ B7 the end of the current styling evolution. Just seen the new Corolla and is is in keeping with the Octy staying. Personally I think the Octy is a fantastic, understated and mature style, and am sure we will see a return to the simpler, cleaner look in future.

I agree, I think the latest Octavia is one of the best styled family cars out there right now, although the extrovert styling of the latest Citroen range is refreshingly different. The VW group sister cars (A3, Golf, Leon) are very dull, the Golf is particularly traditional Golf and utterly boring, Octavia Mk.3 is to my eyes a big improvement on the previous generation Octavia which I always thought was pretty unimaginative.

I think the Octy looks great, especially front on or rear end on. I just took my Yeti in for a service with no intention of looking at anything and while I was waiting I sat looking at the Octy and thought hmmm that looks nice....opened the boot and jaw hit the floor when realised I could fit in there quite easily......and ended up taking one for a test drive, but yes I think it looks quite nice, and when you watch the launch with the designer who did it, he explains why he did designed it that way basically saying if you make radical changes there is more to go wrong so he wanted it to be simpler but with more quality.

Think he did. Video on youtube somewhere and how they get their cars so shiny is amazing lol

Not seen an Octy 3 on the road yet, saw my first rapid yesterday but it was a demonstrator driving into the M53 Skoda dealership! Keep looking at Audi's and its definitely an evolution of the C5 A6 and B6 A4. All the latest Audi's look like they have bits bolted on, which is what happens when they get near the end of their model life. Passat is the same with its Darth Vader grille - the previous models were better looking. Octy 3 is very elegant and understated and bucks the trend of slashes and angles- it will age very well and look great for the 4 years I will have any it. Then maybe the new Superb next?

Its a nice looking car but hardly imaginative....unless looking at it from the side dead-on find it very difficult to tell it apart from a Rapid. Hatch is also slightly awkward looking from the rear ala Rapid; prefer the estate overall which is just as well as it is what i'd need.

Sorry though anyone who says its stunning fair shout to you but I dont personally see it myself, its a bit dull and Passat-like.

The vRS on the other hand....very nice, the additional changes they've made to butch it up really work and if the price is right could well see a TSi DSG estate on my driveway in a year or two...but for me its just the same as the MK2, only the vRS only ever floated my boat because the normal ones were just a bit too ordinary.

Stunning? No. Citroen seem to do best on that count for family sized cars. Fashion statement, not that either. Neat? Tidy? Maybe.

... Personally I think the Octy is a fantastic, understated and mature style, and am sure we will see a return to the simpler, cleaner look in future.

[my bold]

Yup - a car for intelligent grown-ups, not boy racers, poseurs or fashion victims.

Saw my first Octy on the A55 heading West towards Holywell today! Denim blue, looked like a 1.6 SE to me. TBH it looked quite unremarkable in one respect, but the understated elegance will suit me for the next 4 years. Not sure where car styling is going next - I quite like the Citroen DS range but none have the all round ability of my Skoda.

Saw my first Octy on the A55 heading West towards Holywell today! Denim blue, looked like a 1.6 SE to me. TBH it looked quite unremarkable in one respect, but the understated elegance will suit me for the next 4 years. Not sure where car styling is going next - I quite like the Citroen DS range but none have the all round ability of my Skoda.

I saw one too on the M1 yesterday, in silver, did not look as good as the white or blue imo, silver is sooo yesterday's white!

In my opinion its styling improves on some of the stylistic faux pas of the mk2 that I've banged on about previously. Basically, it's done away with the silly extra bits of body panelling (bits under the rear lights, bits round the rearmost side windows (estate only) and the side rubbing strips) to give a cleaner look. However, it's hardly an arresting looking car and looks uncannily like its unimaginative but inoffensive cousin, the VW Jetta. The vRS's sporty appendages definitely give it more character though.

Saw another one today!! Silver S Hatch I think heading south on the A483 towards Wrexham. Black door handles don't look so good though. 2 in 2 days!