2026 CarExpert Choice winner: Best Affordable Mid-Size Car

The Skoda Octavia has been named Australia’s best affordable mid-size car in the 2026 CarExpert Choice Awards.

It beat out two finalists: the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry.

The Octavia is related to the Volkswagen Golf, a finalist in another CarExpert Choice Awards category, but has a larger footprint that slots it into the mid-size passenger car segment.

It's the only model in its segment to offer a choice of practical liftback and wagon body styles, and it's also one of just two vehicles in this segment in Australia to offer a wagon body style.

Both the liftback and wagon are available as a thrifty 110TSI or a sporty RS.

The RS is a brilliant all-rounder for enthusiasts with families, boasting excellent handling, a punchy powertrain, and sharp styling, as well as comfortable ride quality thanks to the fitment of adaptive dampers plus surprisingly decent fuel economy.

You owe it to yourself to push for the wagon in particular if you need a new family car but have an SUV-loving spouse.

The 110TSI is no penalty box, with a long list of standard equipment, a practical interior and sufficient grunt. It's now more efficient for 2026, too, with the move to a new turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid powertrain, bringing the Octavia closer to the hybrid Camry in terms of fuel economy.

No matter which Octavia you select – and that includes the base Select – you're getting an excellent mid-size car, plus something that'll stand out in a sea of SUVs. Especially if you get an RS in Mamba Green...

2026 CarExpert Choice – Best Affordable Mid-Size Car

• Winner – Skoda Octavia
• Finalist – Hyundai Sonata
• Finalist – Toyota Camry

To see all the CarExpert Choice winners, click here.

MORE: Explore the Skoda Octavia showroom