Tuesday 13th August 2024

Most powerful Octavia vRS ever goes on sale

Old faithful is back with 265hp - tempted?

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News that the latest Octavia vRS would immediately achieve output parity with the updated Golf GTI was predictably well-received (or it was predictably well-received on PH, at least) when we spoke about it back in February. It was predictable because a) the Octavia vRS is considered a no-nonsense performance car that majors in practicality and we like those; b) it’s got more kit than ever so it could probably do with an additional 20hp; and c) there’s still the perception that the car offers quite a lot of overall bang for your buck. 

We didn’t know how many bucks we were talking about earlier in the year - but we do now. The new Octavia vRS will start from £38,670 as a hatchback, and £39,775 for the wagon. This means that the difference between it and the Mk8.5 Golf GTI is about as chunky as a gnat’s wing: the lowest price you can possibly pay for the latter is £38,900. Needless to say, much that is important about the cars is the same, although VW insists that the GTI is still half a second quicker (at 5.9 seconds) to 62mph than the vRS (Skoda quotes 6.4 seconds for the hatch, 6.5 for the estate). 

As before, you can’t have an vRS with all-wheel drive, or with an output that might threaten the Golf R or Cupra’s lineup. But you do get the 2.0-litre EA888 unit, the seven-speed DSG, the front-mounted VAQ electrohydraulic diff lock, and a chassis that is 15mm lower than standard with the 19-inch Elias anthracite alloy wheels which nicely set it off. There’s also some styling confetti in the shape of a new radiator grille surround, diffuser and exhaust - all in black. 

This theme continues inside where the vRS interior includes a three-spoke sports steering wheel, standard sports seats and aluminium pedal covers. The updated model gets a larger 13-inch infotainment screen. There is no diesel vRS per se, but Skoda has attempted to patch the hole by introducing a 150hp 2.0-litre unit to the SportLine trim level that sits just below the range-topper. At 8.5 seconds to 62mph, it is unlikely to blow your hair back, but it’ll look sporty enough and a WLTP combined score of 60.6mpg sounds very old school to us. Which, of course, is exactly what the Octavia is all about. If that sounds like your kind of jam, order books open tomorrow. 

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• New Golf R and GTI Clubsport on sale this week
• Skoda reveals most powerful Octavia vRS yet

[ChrisCh86]

This would be mega if it had AWD. Shame.

You have to get the Superb for AWD, but they've now limited power output to 265PS for the new model (was 272 or 280 in the Mk 3 Superb).

[pSyCoSiS]

That's a good looking estate, and also nice to see the dashboard integrated properly for the dials, rather than a slap on screen.

[corcoran]

it makes me so cross there's never an AWD version of this.

[119]

corcoran said:

it makes me so cross there's never an AWD version of this.

Thats understandable but is there ever going to be much need in normal driving?

AWD isn't a permanent feature from what i understood.

[MDT]

corcoran said:

it makes me so cross there's never an AWD version of this.

I do wonder in the UK with our poor and normally wet / damp roads, where is the practical limit to FWD power for a "normal" car.

[alock]

Shame that an estate with a couple of options is just over £40k.

[Jon_S_Rally]

I think the previous gen Octavia was a better looking car overall, but I don't mind that. Looks better than the Golf, which is now a rather odd looking thing to my eyes.

[MB140]

alock said:

Shame that an estate with a couple of options is just over £40k.

Yep, when are the government going to update the £40,000 luxury car tax threshold. It must be getting to the point soon where every car bought new cost over £40,000 and is therefore subject to the luxury car tax. When every new car is subjected to the luxury car tax, how can it be a tax on just luxury cars?

[cobra kid]

Quite a misleading title! I was hoping for some kind of hugely turbo'd and tweaked monster.

[WCZ]

imo 265hp these days in this type of car isn't enought to warrant a VRS/GTi kinda tag with 450hp EV's running around for £35k new etc

[WPA]

cobra kid said:

Quite a misleading title! I was hoping for some kind of hugely turbo'd and tweaked monster.

Agreed, 265bhp is not a lot these days plus as others have said will creep over £40k with options, cannot see it being a big seller.

[cobra kid]

WPA said:

cobra kid said:

Quite a misleading title! I was hoping for some kind of hugely turbo'd and tweaked monster.

Agreed, 265bhp is not a lot these days plus as others have said will creep over £40k with options, cannot see it being a big seller.

No I mean something already bought and modified. This won't be the most powerful Octavia "ever"!

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

Always liked the vRS and still do.

Seem to remember in days gone past it was pitched more reasonably against the Gti - used to offer same mechanicals, a bigger body with more space AND it was 10% or so cheaper.

We now only seem to get 2 out of 3...

[CG2020UK]

Must say I think Skoda are spot on with their designs these days.

Modern without going crazy.

[craig9367]

Anyone know categorically if this has the VAQ differential or the XDS system? This is the first time I have seen it suggested it might be the VAQ

[Tiglon]

MB140 said:

alock said:

Shame that an estate with a couple of options is just over £40k.

Yep, when are the government going to update the £40,000 luxury car tax threshold. It must be getting to the point soon where every car bought new cost over £40,000 and is therefore subject to the luxury car tax. When every new car is subjected to the luxury car tax, how can it be a tax on just luxury cars?

Some might argue that having a new car of any variety is indeed a luxury.

Your non-luxury car option would be one that's second hand...

[wc98]

Tiglon said:

MB140 said:

alock said:

Shame that an estate with a couple of options is just over £40k.

Yep, when are the government going to update the £40,000 luxury car tax threshold. It must be getting to the point soon where every car bought new cost over £40,000 and is therefore subject to the luxury car tax. When every new car is subjected to the luxury car tax, how can it be a tax on just luxury cars?

Some might argue that having a new car of any variety is indeed a luxury.

Your non-luxury car option would be one that's second hand...

Given the direction of travel i suspect in the not too distant future ALL personally owned cars will be seen as a luxury.

[budgie smuggler]

corcoran said:

it makes me so cross there's never an AWD version of this.

Totally agree, particularly with DSG, I find it very irritating.

It's okay once you're on the move, but junctions going onto a 40 or 50mph road in particular are more tricky than any other car I've owned. It's either wheelspin or it does an early shift into 2nd then 3rd (or even if you're rolling slightly, it pulls away in second then immediately shifts to 3rd).

[coded2112]

Never quite understood why you would not just get a Seat/Cupra Leon ST rather that either of these!!

[GTEYE]

WCZ said:

imo 265hp these days in this type of car isn't enought to warrant a VRS/GTi kinda tag with 450hp EV's running around for £35k new etc

Ah yes, those 450hp EVs that are mostly in the slow lane looking at their range display…

265hp is more than enough for something like this - in the world of crappy roads and speed restrictions do you really need more? And 0-60 in 6.5 seconds is hardly going to struggle to keep up with traffic…