SKODA, once the butt of comedians and something of a joke to the whole motoring world, has just been named as the best-value family-size car.

The top award went to the Octavia, and two other Skoda models reached the top ten more than any other manufacturer.

The Mitsubishi Carisma and Toyota Avensis each make two appearances in the list.

The Skoda brand has gone from strength to strength since it became part of the VW empire, and next month sees its latest challenge a new large saloon which has been given a name that says it all: the Superb.

Skoda's success in making the most frugal family-size car comes in the latest report from the independent observer of the motor industry, CAP.

Top position went to the 1.4-litre Octavia Classic 5-door, while the 1.6 version came third, and the 2.0-litre Octavia Ambiente took ninth place.

Second place went to the Mitsubishi Carisma 1.6 Classic, and CAP's costs specialist Spencer Loney says: "The top three are also the cheapest cars to buy."

The Octavia 1.4 costs £9,620 and has a running cost of 20.1p per mile (based on a three-year/60,000 mile period).

The Mitsubishi costs £9,830 and has a running cost of 20.9p per mile. The Octavia 1.6 costs 21.9p per mile.

Others in this table for family -size cars are: 4 Daewoo Nubira 1.6; 5 Proton Impian 1.6; 6= Toyota Avensis 1.6, and MG XS 1.8; 8 Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8; 9 Skoda Octavia 2.0; 10 Toyota Avensis 1.8.

Overall, the cheapest car to run is the little-known Perodua Kelisa, at 13.5p per mile, with the tiny Smart City at 13.8p.

But it's the Daewoo Matiz SE 5-door, at No 3, which is the first mainstream car in the list of cheapest to run models.

The Top 30 is made up of cars costing from £5,300 up to £8,815. but the bulk are priced between £6,000 and £7,000.

Diesels feature strongly in the Top 30 and CAP says: "Although they tend to be more expensive to buy, their new growing popularity on the forecourt means strong residual values and therefore low overall ownership costs.