Richard A Thackeray
Legendary Member
I suppose that much as I love Toyota's approach, i am far from an admirer of their new design architecture.
Put simply, it's hideous!

I don't like the look of it either, but it's hers, not mine
I did try & talk her into a Skoda Superb estate instead (or if still hybrid, the Auris estate)
It does seemingly have a teas-maid!!

The regenerative braking is (presumably) more that the traction motor generates, as there's not the retardation that I'd expect, so like any automatic there's still a reliance on the discs
There's only 'Drive', Reverse, no other gear positions (1st/2nd, etc...) and 'B', which is supposed to be for descending steep hills
The big (8"?) touchscreen isn't as obtrusive as I'd thought it might be
In the back though, it's a different story; (silly - to me) 'privacy' glass, black leather, black head-lining, the reducing headroom, the weirdly shaped doors/windows make it claustrophobic (& I'm not)
The Auris we get as a courtesy car, when the Octavia's being serviced is far nicer in that aspect (even allowing for the 'vinyl wrap')
NB;
I've had this, from my Octavia