Small-capacity Octavia big on everything

This should not work. It definitely should not work.

I mean, a one-litre turbocharged, three- cylinder engine hauling along a big, sturdy family saloon does not sound like a very workable proposition. In fairness, it does not, does it?

In times past when small one litre engines were only made for microminis or fancy-dan lawnmowers, people would have — rightly — scoffed at the concept of a substantial four or five door car being powered by such a thing. And not only would they have scoffed, they would not have bought one either, thinking it to be a ridiculous, puny waste of time.