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One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

FELICIA

It's a solid and spacious supermini made with Volkswagen involvement

Used Skoda Felicia Hatchback 1995 - 2001

Skoda owners always get value for money - that's the cars' big selling point. And, although the Felicia enjoyed surprisingly strong residual values when it was new, it's old enough now that even the newest examples can be picked up for under £1000, provided you're prepared to look away from Skoda dealers' forecourts.

Fuel economy is fairly strong for the class, if not outstanding. All versions will return in excess of 40mpg, but none of them, not even the diesel, will beat it by that much. Our favourite 68bhp 1.3-litre engine offers the best compromise between fuel economy and performance. Insurance groupings are fairly unspectacular for the class, ranging between groups 4 and 6 for all versions.

It's a solid and spacious supermini made with Volkswagen involvement

The entry-level engine is a 1.3-litre petrol. In base LX trim, this gets 54bhp, which is a bit too sluggish. However, with the loftier LXi and GLi trims, it gets a more palatable 68bhp, which feels meatier, although it's not that much faster in reality. The entry-level model also misses out on basic kit such as power steering and a driver's airbag.

The next engine up is a 1.6-litre petrol with 75bhp. This extra power is useful, and it doesn't cost much more to buy than the 1.3, but fuel economy suffers a little. It's available with GLXi and SLXi trims, and both get power steering, metallic paint and anti-lock brakes, while the SLXi also gets air-conditioning, a passenger airbag and alloy wheels.

There's also a 1.9-litre diesel, but fuel economy isn't much better than the petrols, and performance is similar to the entry-level 1.3.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

Family

The reputation for wretched reliability suffered by Skodas of yesteryear was well deserved. However, the cars are now among the most reliable you can buy, and the good news is the Felicia was built after the company's rebirth.

There are a few things to look out for, though. Early cars may well have problems with rust by now, and faults with the transmission and electrics aren't uncommon, either, so make sure the car drives smoothly with no suspect noises, and that all the electrical functions work properly.

If you're buying the 1.3, check the service history to make sure that routine maintenance has been carried out rigorously. This engine has been known to suffer a leaking head gasket if not maintained properly. Check for water or white residue under the oil filler cap for signs of trouble. The suspension would benefit from a thorough inspection, too, because this is a common reason for MoT test failure.

Most people will concede that today's Skodas are nothing to be laughed at - they're among the most reliable and best-built European cars you can buy. However, Skodas of a certain age still fill buyers with trepidation. In the case of the Felicia, it really shouldn't. It was built after the company got its act together, so what you get for your money - and not a lot of it - is a very solid and dependable little hatchback.

There's plenty of room front and back, and the big boot makes this one of the most practical cars in the class. The build quality was right up there with the Volkswagens of the day, a big improvement over earlier Skodas.

The drive isn't exactly thrill-a-minute, but it is by no means appalling, and the ride is pretty good. The engines are sufficiently punchy and impressively economical.

Used Skoda Felicia Hatchback 1995 - 2001 reliability

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Used Skoda Felicia Hatchback 1995 - 2001 review

The reputation for wretched reliability suffered by Skodas of yesteryear was well deserved. However, the cars are now among the most reliable you can buy, and the good news is the Felicia was built after the company's rebirth.,There are a few things to look out for, though. Early cars may well have problems with rust by now, and faults with the transmission and electrics aren't uncommon, either, so make sure the car drives smoothly with no suspect noises, and that all the electrical functions work properly.,If you're buying the 1.3, check the service history to make sure that routine maintenance has been carried out rigorously. This engine has been known to suffer a leaking head gasket if not maintained properly. Check for water or white residue under the oil filler cap for signs of trouble. The suspension would benefit from a thorough inspection, too, because this is a common reason for MoT test failure.

What to look for when buying a Skoda Felicia 1995 - 2001, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Skoda Felicia Hatchback 1995 - 2001 reliability

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