I have a Volvo V50 and it is very good, but it's no VW. Mate has the Octavia vRS estate and loves it to bits - fast, reliable and frugal when driven sensibly.
I'd avoid the usual suspects of Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Tried them all and didn't like any of them. The V50 has some quirks, but that's preferable to the anodyne boredom of the others, and it's that little bit smaller on the road which we prefer. HTH
