Thursday 11th July 2013

Skoda Octavia vRS prices announced

Fast Octavia undercuts Golf GTI and gives the Focus ST a new rival

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Though seemingly neglected amongst a track-special McLaren, the Alfa 4C and the Peugeot RCZ R, the third generation Skoda Octavia vRS will make its debut at Goodwood this weekend. The full story is here, but Skoda has now announced full pricing details and, unsurprisingly, it appears to offer a plentiful power for not much cash.

The range will start at £22,990 with the manual petrol hatch. Naturally most eyes will be drawn to the equivalent £26,500 five-door Golf GTI but the Focus ST can't be ignored from £21,995 either.

610 litres + 220hp = PH family car win

The Ford of course also offers an estate rival for the Octavia vRS wagon. The latter starts at £23,790 with the Focus listing at £23,095. There's a fast estate twin-test in there surely...

As with the second generation vRS, the new Octavia flagship will also be offered as a diesel. The 184hp 2.0-litre TDI variant is actually more expensive than the 220hp petrol, with the hatch listed at £23,260 and the estate £24,060. A six-speed DSG is on offer alongside the standard six-speed manual as a £1,390 option on all models.

Though it's not the most PH of concerns, it's worth noting the auto bucks the current trend and increases CO2 emissions. It's between seven and 13g/km depending on the model, but is worth bearing in mind if the vRS appears on a company car list.

Standard equipment on all vRS versions includes the limited-slip diff simulating XDS system, 18-inch alloys, DAB and bi-xenon headlights. Orders are being taken now ahead of its UK on-sale date of 1st August.

[Passeyfier]

Almost £23k! Wow, times have changed! In 2007 the list price was around £17k and that's without the special offers and such. It's not as if you're getting a whole lot more car for your money 6 years later...

[kambites]

Passeyfier said:

Almost £23k! Wow, times have changed! In 2007 the list price was around £17k and that's without the special offers and such. It's not as if you're getting a whole lot more car for your money 6 years later...

From what I've read, the new one is meant to be quite a lot more "up-market". I'm not really sure what VW are thinking, given they appear to be turning the Octavia into pretty much a direct Golf rival.

Mind you, I think £23k is still cheaper than the Golf GTi and it's a (slightly) bigger car. A far better looking one, too.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 10th July 18:04

[fjord]

That estate looks fking boss.

I want one. Even more so considering the F30 3-series is the most ugly exec car out there.

[Passeyfier]

Thanks for the info! I didn't realise they were going for a direct Golf rival of such. I always thought Skoda was the cheaper but still quality alternative of sorts!

[kambites]

Passeyfier said:

Thanks for the info! I didn't realise they were going for a direct Golf rival of such. I always thought Skoda was the cheaper but still quality alternative of sorts!

Well it was in the last generation. That doesn't appear to be the case now though.

Maybe they're trying to make space for the SEAT Leon below it, because I never really understood what the differentiation was meant to be between the Octavia and the Leon in the last generation. SEAT tried to be the "sporty" brand for a while, they started churning out cars that looked like MPVs.

[Papa Hotel]

Passeyfier said:

Almost £23k! Wow, times have changed! In 2007 the list price was around £17k and that's without the special offers and such. It's not as if you're getting a whole lot more car for your money 6 years later...

It's not far out of line with inflation.

[Chicane-UK]

I think the prices are pretty reasonable to be honest. I had the last gen Octavia VRS Estate and thought it was a cracking car.

Besides, best waiting for a year or so as they depreciate like hell - can get a much better deal on a year old one!

[nickfrog]

Passeyfier said:

Almost £23k! Wow, times have changed! In 2007 the list price was around £17k and that's without the special offers and such. It's not as if you're getting a whole lot more car for your money 6 years later...

Hold on. Sterling has gone from 1.45 to 1.15 euros in the past 6 years. That's 20%. Even at 3% per annum over 6 years, that's almost another 20% of inflation.

We don't know about special offers on this one.

It really looks like the price has gone down, not up, in real terms over the past 6 years, for a better equipped car.

[kambites]

Ultimately I think whether it's gone up or down in price is a moot point - the real question is how it compares to its competition. What's the starting price for a 5-door Focus ST these days? About the same?

[va1o]

Reasonable value compared to the competition but I think the looks are a bit over the top. Standard Octavia looks better. Also seems ridiculous to be charging more for the diesel as in every other VAG cars the 220PS petrol is more than the 184PS oil burner.

[Tib]

It amuses the heck out of me how much PH noshes off new Skodas these days.

... It's a VW Cast off family bus. Usually a Diesel. Usually driven by people who refer to them as 'the VRS'

Now I'm going to find a rock to hide under for a few months.

[NGK210]

If I looked in my car's rear view mirror and saw what's in the pic below, at first glance I'd think it was a BMW. (In particular, the vRS's BMW-a-like grille shape is borderline chutzpah.)

No doubt for some vRS owners, such an example of mistaken ID would make their toes curl with delight, but IMHO it's a shame

[dave_s13]

That looks bloody great.

I'd definitely have one of those in a year or so, petrol only for me though.

[Triggers Broom]

Great looking car. The estate looks very Audi like side on.

[Lippyrich]

Skoda octavia - as a driver of the new one (elegance estate 2lTDI) empties its ballast tanks all over a FixOrRepairDaily focus. Everyone who has seen or been in my car is blown away by its comfort style and company car tax. Take your focus away you only bought or selected it because your a fanboy end of !

[oobster]

Currently got a 2012 Focus ST but for a variety of reasons I don't plan on keeping it much longer. I had a 2010 Octavia VRS a couple of years ago and I am seriously considering going for a Petrol Manual Estate Octavia either later this year or more likely spring 2014.

[y2blade]

Still very much overpriced for what it "really" is.

[Kong]

The Focus ST is cheaper yet has 32bhp more and will probably be better to drive so I'd prefer the Ford based on what I've seen so far. SKODA does look good though and slightly bigger if this is of huge importance.

[y2blade]

Lippyrich said:

Skoda octavia - as a driver of the new one (elegance estate 2lTDI) empties its ballast tanks all over a FixOrRepairDaily focus. Everyone who has seen or been in my car is blown away by its comfort style and company car tax. Take your focus away you only bought or selected it because your a fanboy end of !

Apt username.

[NGK210]

Triggers Broom said:

Great looking car. The estate looks very Audi like side on.

No it doesn't, to look like an Audi it would need an 'orrible, ill-proportioned, lardy front overhang