Friday 2nd October 2015

Octavia vRS goes 4x4

A spin of the MQB platform roulette wheel results in a new diesel four-wheel drive vRS

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Well somebody had to do it. At some point one of the Volkswagen Group brands would be compelled to start talking about the 2.0-litre TDI engine again, after that little mild controversy in the 'States.

The spinning bottle obviously stopped on Skoda, which has just told us that it will be offering a new four-wheel drive version of the Octavia vRS, available in both hatch and estate forms, and exclusively fitted with a DSG transmission and the 184hp version of the familiar 2.0-litre TDI, although in fully-legal-honest-guv Euro 6 form. (We thought this was one of the engines that Volkswagen group announced it was suspending sales of yesterday, but Skoda says all Octavias are already Euro 6 compliant.)

Perhaps the surprising thing - other than the timing of the release - is that Skoda hasn't done it sooner. The vRS has always sold in respectable numbers, but the first- and second-generation versions went through their entire production runs without spawning any additional variants. Whereas in the last month we've driven the new 'performance packed' vRS 230 and now have the TDI 4x4 as well.

The obvious question is when we can expect to see the Golf R/Audi S3 rivalling 300hp four-wheel driven version. And the answer to that, sadly, is probably not. At the launch of the vRS230 Skoda's chassis and powertrain boss Martin Hrdlicka told us that Skoda will always struggle to justify the extra cost that Volkswagen group charges it for the higher-output engines, hinting that SEAT gets a more favourable deal. Which is a shame; a 300hp four-wheel drive Octavia wagon would tick a lot of boxes.

Sales of the vRS TDI 4x4 start in November and it will cost £27,315 as a hatch and £28,515 as an estate, a £1,450 supplement over the front-drive versions. Skoda has also announced it will be increasing the price of all vRS variants by £400, although the Amundsen sat nav system - which was previously a £755 option - now comes as standard.

[Oz83]

These and the inevitable Scout (Allroad/Alltrack) version will sell like hotcakes here in Sweden and other countries with harsh winters.

Ford have just released a 4 wheel drive Mondeo diesel over here too.

[MrHooky83]

Do like these especially in that grey but those 19" wheels look horrid to my eyes...

[Ozzie Osmond]

Oz83 said:

These and the inevitable Scout (Allroad/Alltrack) version will sell like hotcakes here in Sweden and other countries with harsh winters.

Yup, smart people in cold countries who need traction buy regular cars in the 4wd version.

Dim people in UK who don't need traction but want to impress the neighbours buy expensive 4wd SUVs.

[liner33]

The 4x4 Scout has this engine and is quicker to 60 by around 1/2 a second thanks to the drivetrain so i expect the VRS will match its numbers, its never been ideal imo than the diesel VRS wasnt the fastest Octavia diesel

[budgie smuggler]

Shame there's no petrol available, no interest in a diesel but that's otherwise just what I'm after. Guess it would poach too many sales from the premium lines.

[ManOpener]

budgie smuggler said:

Shame there's no petrol available, no interest in a diesel but that's otherwise just what I'm after. Guess it would poach too many sales from the premium lines.

Think you can get the Scout with the 210bhp EA888 petrol engine and AWD.

-E

Oh, no you can't. No petrols in the UK at all. Disappointing.

[court]

This is a Euro 6 engine, nothing to see here PH. The Daily Wail is that way --------->

[Hobojim]

Finally, I don't have to buy an overpriced Audi now.

[Tom_C76]

Is it actually the dirty engine though? I have it on good authority that the 184bhp engine is EU6 and therefore not implicated. Better not be as I've got it in my new Leon and the dealer said it was fine...

[Phil74]

Wow! Have new car prices moved as much as that in the past 10 years?

I remember ordering a brand new MK1 Octavia VRS hatch as a company car in '05. Was about £14K.

I haven't had anything remotely like a new car since so wouldn't know the relative prices nowadays.

[JonoG81]

Phil74 said:

Wow! Have new car prices moved as much as that in the past 10 years?

I remember ordering a brand new MK1 Octavia VRS hatch as a company car in '05. Was about £14K.

I haven't had anything remotely like a new car since so wouldn't know the relative prices nowadays.

They have gone ballistic, the best part of 20k for a spec'd up fiesta/polo super mini is the norm now

[Dr Interceptor]

These cars have the Euro 6 engine fitted, so these are NOT the cars which VW took off sale yesterday, that only affected Euro 5 engined cars.

This is lazy scaremonger reporting IMO Pistonheads.

[Catatafish]

JonoG81 said:

Phil74 said:

Wow! Have new car prices moved as much as that in the past 10 years?

I remember ordering a brand new MK1 Octavia VRS hatch as a company car in '05. Was about £14K.

I haven't had anything remotely like a new car since so wouldn't know the relative prices nowadays.

They have gone ballistic, the best part of 20k for a spec'd up fiesta/polo super mini is the norm now

Ever heard of Inflation?

[budgie smuggler]

Phil74 said:

Wow! Have new car prices moved as much as that in the past 10 years?

I remember ordering a brand new MK1 Octavia VRS hatch as a company car in '05. Was about £14K.

I haven't had anything remotely like a new car since so wouldn't know the relative prices nowadays.

They were £17.5k list which is £24k in todays money.

[eltawater]

It's getting a bit daft.

You now can spec up a Laurin & Klement trim Skoda Superb Estate in 280PS form to £40k. Then add on the forthcoming £40k+ VED rates.

I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the Jaaaaaag for a Skoda at that price....

£35,825 Superb Estate L&K
£1,150 Panoramic sunroof
£425 Ventilated front seats
£100 Temporary space-saver spare wheel
£95 3 spoke leather MFSW with DSG paddles
£100 Smart light assist with Lane assist and BSD
£600 Premium WLAN and Phone box
£85 Media Command
£50 Heated windscreen washer nozzles
£300 Rear-view parking camera
£100 SmartGate
£90 Rear backrest release from boot
£630 2 year extended warranty
£528 Service Plan

[Clivey]

Shame wages haven't increased by the same percentage.

Still, even with the controversy, these cars are dull, dull, dull.

[Phil74]

budgie smuggler said:

They were £17.5k list which is £24k in todays money.

That's the mk2 list price. The original mk1 Vrs Octy was £14k list.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-reviews/skoda/o...

What's £14k in todays money?

[JonoG81]

Catatafish said:

Ever heard of Inflation?

Yes

[kambites]

eltawater said:

You now can spec up a Laurin & Klement trim Skoda Superb Estate in 280PS form to £40k.

I'm sure you can, but that doesn't mean you have to.

This is certainly far more than I'd ever pay for a moderately powerful, rather mundane family hatch; but then so is every other mundane family hatch new, that's why I don't buy new cars. This doesn't look particularly expensive compared to its new competition.

[Phil74]

JonoG81 said:

Catatafish said:

Ever heard of Inflation?

Yes

Indeed.

According to this

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1...

It's just over £19k