IT’S a mark of just how far Skoda’s Octavia has come that it is now spoken of in glowing terms in the same breath as more expensive cars from premium manufacturers.
Not only that, but among the Skoda stable I now find myself using labels like funky, practical and classleading.
This third generation Octavia is, again, a little bigger and more refined than the one it replaces.
And just like before, there’s also a stealthy-looking quick Octavia complete with vRS badge.
This vRS version is a bit special, attracting plaudits from some quarters where once upon a time the very name Skoda would have prompted a snigger.
Only recently it was awarded the title Best Everyday Car of the Year by a leading men’s lifestyle magazine.
Who would have thought it?
Judges on FHM’s panel were impressed by the hot Octavia’s interior space, family-friendly practicality, impressive performance and striking style.
Its price also struck a chord, with an entry figure of £22,990 putting it well below less spacious alternatives.
The Octavia vRS has always been something that, for most buyers, has existed under the radar, but this latest version promises discretion and an inviting turn of speed for a fraction of the price of some so-called premium alternatives.
Another aspect that is difficult to quantify but is certainly there in bucketloads is the vRS’s eagerness to please. Just one prod with the right foot tells you that the car is engineered to make every journey an enjoyable experience.
This is the sort of feeling you normally get only with much more expensive cars, but armed with a 2.0-litre engine pumping out 220PS the vRS is a compelling contender for your bucks.
Add to that a transmission sytem using Volkswagen’s superb DSG auto box and you have a complete package.
Certainly, the Octavia’s cabin – be it regular or vRS flavour – does much to rival that of more expensive alternatives. And, being an Octavia, there’s enough room to put much larger cars to shame.
It’s the same story in the Octavia’s boot. The hatchback format allows easy access, while folding the rear seats transforms the car into a holdall of impressive proportions.
Just like with the previous model, only more so, are the things that make the Octavia vRS special: sorted handling in the wet as well as the dry, an accomplished ride over even the roughest of urban roads, a refined engine and rapid turn of speed. And it’s these attributes which make the vRS something of a hidden gem in the world of performance driving.
Essentially if you want a discreet, quick, well-equipped family car that is fun yet won’t cost a fortune to run, this is what you should be driving.
The same is true if you’ve got a free reign over the company car scheme.
With a Benefit in Kind-friendly C02 rating and compact hatch levels of economy, what’s not to like?IT’S a mark of just how far Skoda’s Octavia has come that it is now spoken of in glowing terms in the same breath as more expensive cars from premium manufacturers.
Not only that, but among the Skoda stable I now find myself using labels like funky, practical and classleading.
This third generation Octavia is, again, a little bigger and more refined than the one it replaces.
And just like before, there’s also a stealthy-looking quick Octavia complete with vRS badge.
This vRS version is a bit special, attracting plaudits from some quarters where once upon a time the very name Skoda would have prompted a snigger.
Only recently it was awarded the title Best Everyday Car of the Year by a leading men’s lifestyle magazine.
Who would have thought it?
Judges on FHM’s panel were impressed by the hot Octavia’s interior space, family-friendly practicality, impressive performance and striking style.
Its price also struck a chord, with an entry figure of £22,990 putting it well below less spacious alternatives.
The Octavia vRS has always been something that, for most buyers, has existed under the radar, but this latest version promises discretion and an inviting turn of speed for a fraction of the price of some so-called premium alternatives.
Another aspect that is difficult to quantify but is certainly there in bucketloads is the vRS’s eagerness to please. Just one prod with the right foot tells you that the car is engineered to make every journey an enjoyable experience.
This is the sort of feeling you normally get only with much more expensive cars, but armed with a 2.0-litre engine pumping out 220PS the vRS is a compelling contender for your bucks.
Add to that a transmission sytem using Volkswagen’s superb DSG auto box and you have a complete package.
Certainly, the Octavia’s cabin – be it regular or vRS flavour – does much to rival that of more expensive alternatives. And, being an Octavia, there’s enough room to put much larger cars to shame.
It’s the same story in the Octavia’s boot. The hatchback format allows easy access, while folding the rear seats transforms the car into a holdall of impressive proportions.
Just like with the previous model, only more so, are the things that make the Octavia vRS special: sorted handling in the wet as well as the dry, an accomplished ride over even the roughest of urban roads, a refined engine and rapid turn of speed. And it’s these attributes which make the vRS something of a hidden gem in the world of performance driving.
Essentially if you want a discreet, quick, well-equipped family car that is fun yet won’t cost a fortune to run, this is what you should be driving.
The same is true if you’ve got a free reign over the company car scheme.
With a Benefit in Kind-friendly C02 rating and compact hatch levels of economy, what’s not to like?Bluetooth, big alloy wheels, xenon headlights, tyre pressure monitor, sports suspension, supportive sports seats and an alphabet soup of traction and stability electronics, the big car feel extends beyond the Octavia’s physical size and into its generously equipped cabin.
Offering one of the best bang to buck ratios in the market, Skoda’s Octavia vRS delivers accessible performance for the keen driver in spades, while ensuring the value for money theme is ever present in the form of a plush, high class cabin and a long list of standard kit.
Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0TSI
Price: £24,700 (vRS range from £23,310)
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol developing 220PS
Transmission: Six-speed DSG (manual also available), driving the front wheels
Performance: Top speed 152mph, 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds
Economy: 44.1mpg combined
CO2 Rating: 149g/km.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here