Hello
I agree with your husband. I am no petrolhead, but have worked on automotive accounts in advertising for many years, which guess does make me a brand/perception/reality expert
It's almost a VW (if you consider that a good car). Skoda are really good cars, you get a lot for your money and I personally think it's the smart choice. Realiable.
But yes, you'll have 'to live with' the skoda badge