RE: 2025 Skoda Octavia vRS Estate | UK Review

RE: 2025 Skoda Octavia vRS Estate | UK Review

Sunday 1st December

2025 Skoda Octavia vRS Estate | UK Review

Facelift time for the supposed 'all car to all folks' - only now with less breadth in its line-up...


In its 20-odd years on the planet thus far, the Octavia vRS has been offered with petrol, diesel and hybrid power, hatchback and estate bodies, front- and four-wheel drive and a manual and automatic gearbox. I recall attending the launch of the Mk3 a decade ago and being flummoxed as to where to start. Yet despite its varied plundering of the VW Group parts shelves, we’ve always been denied a full-strength performance model, be it a GTI Clubsport-esque special or an all-conquering R equivalent.

That doesn’t change with this Mk4 facelift; indeed the car you see here is one of only two options in a slimmed-down range. The vRS is now either a five-door hatch or estate, each exclusively with a 2.0-litre TSI engine driving the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG ‘box. Rather foolhardy when you consider how favourably the fleet sector looks upon hybrids…

For private buyers, though, this is surely the powertrain of choice in a post-Dieselgate world. And a newly simplified range only enhances the ‘classy pragmatism’ vibes of the Czech brand. It’s a handsome car whichever shape you choose, its smartly chiselled exterior only slightly undermined by its fussy 19-inch wheels. I didn’t love them at first but with repeated glances they do start to bring a ‘natty trainers on a smart-casual suit’ feel. A look most car designers seem to rock, perhaps not coincidentally.

Clamber beyond this example’s dazzling paint (Phoenix Orange, a £410 option) and you’ll find a compact umbrella and burly, cossetting sports seat for each front occupant. And praise be: the Octavia retains buttons on the steering wheel rather than the glossy pads still lurking in a Golf R. Turning off its annoying assistance systems constitutes a couple of scrolls on the ‘wheel controls or an easily accessed icon at the top of the 13-inch touchscreen. Where you can also easily flick the ESC into Sport with a couple of button presses, too. The climate controls are within the screen but stay fixed in place and thankfully aren’t too distracting.

Such is 2024 life, those feel like the points to prioritise. Not least when the mechanical makeover is relatively modest. Much like the Golf GTI, its EA888 four-pot has had a light tickle, now 20hp fruitier with 265hp though its 273lb ft of torque figure is unchanged. That means 0-62mph happens a weeny bit quicker: 6.4 seconds in the hatch, 6.5 in this estate. Top speed remains 155mph.

The engine is a strong performer as always, just a little coarse and droney with speed despite an uprated sports exhaust system. All the better for not chasing the revs – the DSG doesn’t trust you with redline upshifts anyway – instead riding the torque. The Octavia feels little slower with earlier, more prudent flicks of the right-hand paddle. And you don’t really miss the option of a manual – well, I didn’t – as this feels like a different sort of car. It’s also harder to chastise its deletion here than in the Golf, with no dimpled knob to mourn the loss of. Even if the paddleshifters are of the petite, plasticky variety.

It feels more softly sprung than the GTI and its optional DCC damping isn’t especially punishing even when ramped right up to the top of its (15!) settings. It’s usually an extra worth having, but at £1,185 it’s 50 per cent pricier here than on the VW options list and given the less gnarly vibe, losing it might be an easy way to keep under the psychological £40k barrier. We know Skodas are fab now, but that does suddenly seem a lot for an Octavia, right?

Or perhaps this car should be given its chance to swing expensively the other way. Skoda’s never truly loosened the Octavia’s leash – well, beyond its 227mph Bonneville special – and there are lots of areas where this car could sharpen its focus. The wintry conditions of our photoshoot triggered wheelspin and scrabbling out of junctions, despite the standard-fit VAQ locking diff. Its influence is not as obvious here (perhaps inevitably) as in a Golf Clubsport and more assertive inputs reveal a car that’s a bit more aloof and fallible than a stock GTI. 

But then the Skoda is cheaper and larger in hatchback form and this is undeniably going to be the car with greater bandwidth for everyday life. Skoda UK’s own Superb Sleeper expertly proves that some considered modifications can create a real ripsnorter for those clear of their lease deal and wanting to play. This base product is evidently good, its centre of gravity tangibly low beside heavier SUVs and its throttle pleasantly precise in a market swamped by PHEVs. It’s a nourishing steak and ale pie amongst the fusion food.

“When it's six o'clock on a Saturday morning and there are 300 miles to do, the Octavia's cabin is difficult to find fault with,” said Mr Bird of the pre-facelift Mk4 back in late 2020. It’s a feeling that permeates the whole car. There are few things I’d rather find parked in a wet ‘n’ windy long stay after a delayed flight, its blend of speed and sanctuary probably unbeaten for the price - even if it’s gained seven grand since Matt typed those words. The world is fraught and divisive right now – the vRS continues to be a car that takes the middle of the road with welcome panache.

Mind, photographer Oli bemoaned getting just 22mpg out of it – almost half Skoda’s official claim – but then this shoot did take place over tumultuous, sub-zero tarmac with a few tastier cars to hang onto the coattails of. Which the Octavia relentlessly did, its easygoing pace as swift as you’d ever want to go in the real world of potholes and dash cams.

Whether there’s enough panache to tempt SUV devotees a little lower to the ground, I’m less sure, but there’s already a new Kodiaq vRS with the same powertrain to help solve any stalemated family car discussions. But for those of us keen to dig our heels into the ground of a turbulent car market, the tried and trusted formula on display here is hugely admirable. It might be a little sad that Skoda’s trimmed its famed versatility down with the powertrain offer – not least when the Cupra Leon Estate configurator is awash with choice – but fear not: it’s picked the purest option possible in the current market. And the one with which the vRS surely always felt strongest.


SPECIFICATION | 2025 SKODA OCTAVIA VRS ESTATE

Engine: 1,984cc, four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 7-speed DSG, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 265@5,250-6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 273@1,600-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 6.5 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,534kg
MPG: 40.3 (WLTP)
CO2: 159g/km (WLTP)
Price: £39,775 (£41,570 as tested)

Author
Discussion

bigyoungdave

Original Poster:

155 posts

35 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Can't think of a better way to get something new, practical and fast enough that dips under the 40k luxury tax bracket. I can look past the tacky wheels and slightly cheap looking touchscreen, I'd get over that quite quickly. Half the price of an electric macan

theicemario

891 posts

83 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Another diesel bites the dust thumbup

GTEYE

2,175 posts

218 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
theicemario said:
Another diesel bites the dust thumbup
But in the real world, is 22mpg as tested that appealing? Yes you can get much better with restraint but the real hero of the vRS range was the TDi 4x4 - that’s the car that made most sense to most people.

The comment in the article about not being a hybrid affecting its fleet appeal - No sorry, unless it’s an EV fleet sales will be close to zero - thank the tax rules for that!

plfrench

2,958 posts

276 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
GTEYE said:
But in the real world, is 22mpg as tested that appealing? Yes you can get much better with restraint but the real hero of the vRS range was the TDi 4x4 - that’s the car that made most sense to most people.

The comment in the article about not being a hybrid affecting its fleet appeal - No sorry, unless it’s an EV fleet sales will be close to zero - thank the tax rules for that!
Clearly Diesel was never going to make the cut due to Euro 7 kicking in next year, but given the fleet average CO2 limits being under 100gCO2/km it’s quite surprising they didn’t go hybrid. I guess they’re confident enough to offset with sales of Elroq and Enyaq.

Andy86GT

461 posts

73 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Based on the price, simply choosing a non-standard colour is going to mean luxury tax rolleyes

Edited by Andy86GT on Saturday 30th November 07:37

Jag_NE

3,115 posts

108 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Very slow and expensive to run vs an EV.

Chicken Chaser

8,158 posts

232 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
GTEYE said:
But in the real world, is 22mpg as tested that appealing? Yes you can get much better with restraint but the real hero of the vRS range was the TDi 4x4 - that’s the car that made most sense to most people.

The comment in the article about not being a hybrid affecting its fleet appeal - No sorry, unless it’s an EV fleet sales will be close to zero - thank the tax rules for that!
Does a 55mpg diesel cause less emissions than a 22mpg petrol?

GTEYE

2,175 posts

218 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Chicken Chaser said:
GTEYE said:
But in the real world, is 22mpg as tested that appealing? Yes you can get much better with restraint but the real hero of the vRS range was the TDi 4x4 - that’s the car that made most sense to most people.

The comment in the article about not being a hybrid affecting its fleet appeal - No sorry, unless it’s an EV fleet sales will be close to zero - thank the tax rules for that!
Does a 55mpg diesel cause less emissions than a 22mpg petrol?

Well, according to the official stats, yes the diesel has lower emissions.

The removal of diesel is part of the green “agenda” and Skoda are doing what they need to do to avoid the fines, but they served a pretty useful part of the market.

Doing a quick Autotrader search on the Octavia vRS of all ages suggests a pretty much 50/50 split petrol to diesel…so clearly someone was buying them.


hammo19

5,764 posts

204 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Brilliant cars. Had quite a few, all petrol DSG.

Not sure about the multitude of angles on the front on this one though.

loskie

5,724 posts

128 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
The options do look pricier on Skodas than other VAG group cars. "Build" a car on Drive the Deal look at the towbars and IIRC Skoda is massively more expensive than SEAT AUDI VW

James6112

5,458 posts

36 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Andy86GT said:
Based on the price, simply choosing a non-standard colour is going to mean luxury tax rolleyes

Edited by Andy86GT on Saturday 30th November 07:37
Mad isn’t it

White Tesla3 under £40k
Want a red one sir?, that’ll be £2k + luxury car tax
Will be a lot of white cars on the road!
Unless they see sense & reduce the RRP..

Forester1965

2,944 posts

11 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
400kg lighter than an M3 Touring yet more luggage space.

heisthegaffer

3,664 posts

206 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
I really like these. I considered one before I opted for my S5 but I fancied the Audi a fair bit more.

I couldn't find a vRS to look at but sat in an ex rental estate and it did feel a bit cheap. A lot of the trim squeaked when I was fiddling with it.

But I'd still have one of these.

ChevronB19

6,422 posts

171 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
I don’t like the wheels, or the massive font size of S K O D A on the tailgate, but the rest I like as a ‘do it all’ car.

ahenners

609 posts

134 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Jag_NE said:
Very slow and expensive to run vs an EV.
I wouldn't say "very" slow, but certainly not fast by 2024 standards and would struggle to shake most EVs that cost way less to run.

Had 2 Octavia VRS petrols (MK2.5 and MK3) and now run an Enyaq. My MK3 Octavia VRS was fantastic but feels like the formula is a bit dated over 10 years later.

Nickp82

3,423 posts

101 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Those wheels look a ballache to keep clean , the orange paint looks good though.

bigyoungdave

Original Poster:

155 posts

35 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Jag_NE said:
Very slow and expensive to run vs an EV.
Personally I think the performance in this is just about right, at that price point

missing the VR6

2,393 posts

197 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Jag_NE said:
Very slow and expensive to run vs an EV.
Thank god it's not a EV.

autofocus

3,067 posts

226 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Hi there,

I took delivery of my new VRS estate in June and it simply is the Swiss Army Knife of cars, it does it all.

House move - tick
Numerous trips to the tip - tick
Family holiday wagon - tick
Dog wagon - tick
Sport drive across a empty country road - tick
Commute to a city centre meeting - tick
Quality interior - tick
Knowing nod from other car enthusiasts - tick
And the list goes on.

Mine replaced an Alpine A110 and a Dacia Duster, and 6000 miles in I honestly couldn’t be happier. I flippin love it.

I went black but the Phoenix Orange in the article looks mega.

Regards

Tim

ex-devonpaul

1,299 posts

145 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Jag_NE said:
Very slow and expensive to run vs an EV.
Depends what you compare it against.

Total over 4 years and 40,000 miles compared to a Battery powered simliar sized 5 seater estate inc depreciation?

I guess the nearest is the E-308, although as you can get a choice of new ones with £7.5k off list from a main dealer on Autotrader at the moment the actual depreciation is tricky to calculate, and that will be the biggie as after year1 the VED is the same.

Of course if you're talking company car and tax breaks subsidised from mum's lost winter fuel allowance then yes, probably chaper to run.

Faster? 0-60 maybe yes. Off to Cornwall or Scotland for the hols, or really any trip much over 200 miles, definitely not.