SKODA has not had too much success in Australia so far, but one of its few shining lights has been the Octavia RS, a Golf GTI-style package offering more space, a more supple ride and the sort of cargo-carrying capabilities that would make owners of medium-sized cars envious. It’s also softer and more refined than the sizzling Volkswagen hot hatch, but that’s no bad thing for the more family-focussed demographic that Skoda hopes the facelifted version will lure. We reckon the MY09 Octavia upgrades have what it takes to increase the Czech firm’s market share.