Many farm families are torn between opting for either a 4x4 or a large estate car. The price difference is significant, not to mention the running costs. There is an in-between option, however, a compromise in the shape of a 4x4 estate. While these cars are not widely available, they are worth thinking about.

I’ve taken the new Škoda Octavia 4x4 estate on the road recently and it makes you think again about what type of car would best suit some farming and rural families. Space and the ability to carry big loads are a priority. So is comfort and the skill of the car to cope with difficult road conditions.

Can a 4x4 estate car provide the answer? There are a limited number of 4x4 estates on the market and the Škoda is the most competitively priced. It is powered by a very capable 2.0-litre diesel engine, allowing it to dig deep for that extra torque if the road holding talents of the 4x4 system are called into play.

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Separate from its 4x4 skills, the new Octavia is bigger than the older model and that means more space inside. Škoda claims that the Octavia is longer and wider than the model it replaces, and you do get the feeling of more space inside. This is especially noticeable in the rear, where there is considerably more legroom. The boot is huge, even bigger than before, and easily accessible. There is a proper spare wheel and plenty of scope to tie loads securely.

The new Octavia’s styling is more impressive than the older model. The comfort is better and it feels like a stronger car.

I had driven the standard Octavia estate just before getting into the 4x4 version and you can feel the extra effort needed to power the heavier 4x4. Škoda claims only a marginal difference in fuel economy, but for me this was quite noticeable as the car felt heavier to drive. The rated fuel economy figure is very impressive, on paper, at 23.8km/litre (4.2l/100km or 67 mpg). There was no chance of me getting within 25% of that figure across a range of driving conditions that covered over 820km.

The economy and CO2 rating is lower than the 4x4 estate competition of the Subaru Legacy, the Volkswagen Passat 4Motion or the Volvo XC60, all of which offer a similar system.

The fact that the Škoda Octavia is lighter helps it to combine the best economy with acceleration. What makes the Octavia that bit more attractive is the price. With the entry models starting at €30,110, or £23,610 in Northern Ireland, this car is about €5,000 cheaper than its nearest price rival – the Subaru Legacy.

The Octavia has the benefits of the others with equal towing ability at two tonnes with a braked trailer. While that’s in the bigger end of the 4x4 league, it’s not far off some mid-range 4x4s.

While the Octavia has the extra on-demand 4x4 system when needed, the extra weight that this brings has brought the car just slightly closer to the road, with a ground clearance of 139mm. That’s the only weakness to an otherwise good 4x4 offer in terms of driving ability, running costs and price. In terms of ownership costs, this 4x4 Octavia estate option has to make sense. In terms of safety, performance and comfort, it certainly does.