THE first hint that a car is something special often comes from the delivery men who ferry test vehicles around the country.
Some come and go with no comment, but occasionally, they voice an opinion.
In the case of the attractive Skoda Octavia, the delivery man was well impressed.
"It's a great car," he said. "Looks good and it's a terrific drive."
He's not wrong.
Not only does it hold its own in the looks department with most of its competitors, but it also has power to spare.
For the Octavia vRS is the most powerful production Skoda ever made, with the emphasis on hot-hatch dynamics, class leading practicality and good equipment levels.
Skoda says the latest Octavia has an "extra bit of car" - in this case a dollop of sportiness and extra carrying capacity.
The combination makes the vehicle the most powerful road-going Skoda yet - and that extra bit certainly makes you want to motor an extra mile or two.
The resulting drive is exhilarating and uplifting. Lessons learned in Skoda's World Rally Championship programme have clearly been put to good use in pursuit of driving excellence.
The car actually has a sporting tradition dating back 100 years and the vRS badge has become synonymous with performance motoring.
Design wise, the exterior conveys a real air of sportiness thanks to deeper bumpers, a new rear spoiler, green brake calipers and new 17-inch alloy wheels.
It reflects the great attention paid to it by designers who recognise that a car's profile often becomes its signature.
There are some clever touches. Tucking the front windscreen wipers underneath the edge of the bonnet may not sound like much, but at motorway speeds, the difference in wind-noise is considerable.
In addition the door mirror-mounted indicators are highly visible yet contribute to the smooth, seamless appearance of the front wings.
The cockpit scores highly, too. The centre console blends smoothly into the tunnel that passes between the seats and creates an impressive driving environment.
But where the Octavia vRS really stands out from the crowd is in terms of interior, family friendly practicality.
There is great space. My wife and two children, aged 11 and 14, combined with the usually baggage they seem to need - sports kits, shopping bags, CDs etc - can usually make most cars feel fairly jammed.
But this is one car which, when it says it can comfortably accommodate five adults, it actually means it.
And the boot, load compartments as they are now being described, offers 560 litres in the hatchback and 580 in the estate - 1,350 and 1,620 respectively when rear seats are folded down.
The new TFSI two-litre turbo engine is friendly both on the wallet and the environment, but not at the expense of performance.
The six-speed manual transmission is constructed with a lightweight aluminium alloy case and features double synchronizing, enabling really smooth changes at low speeds.
Meanwhile the car's suspension has been lowered by 12mm and features modified shock absorbers and springs that ensure whippet-quick responses without affecting the Octavia's ride quality.
Safety wise, the Octavia has achieved a higher than average four-star Euro NCAP rating for passenger protection, and two stars for the pedestrian test.
FAST FACTS
Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TDI PD
Price: £18,550
Mechanical: 170bhp, 1,968cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 140mph
0-62mph: 8.5 secs
Combined mpg: 49.6
Insurance group: 14
C02 emissions: 154g/km
BiK rating: 20%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 10yrs anti-rust