Test drive Skoda Octavia RS – Long-running bestseller in sports attire

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FAULHABER Drive Systems

In the spring of 2024, the Skoda Octavia was updated. Now the RS is hitting the market. A test drive with the sports version of the bestseller.

Just over a quarter of all Skodas registered in Germany up to and including September were Octavias. Of the approximately 40,000 sold, around 20 percent were in the RS sport variant. The numbers seem stable. In the entire year 2023, there were nearly 10,000 RS buyers in this country, accounting for 23 percent of all new Octavia registrations.

The RS is available starting at €47,800 (sedan, approx. 50.252 USD) and €48,600 (station wagon, approx. 51.093 USD). It is a popular sports car, especially for those who feel out of place with a pure sports car and prefer understatement and everyday practicality. A sports car with family ties, so to speak. And here, it's almost exclusively a station wagon—even if the sedan looks ever so elegant. It's a pedigree model with a top speed of 250 km/h (approx. 155 mph), yet it still makes a statement in the 30 km/h zone in front of the school.

Optimal control

The 2.0-liter TSI engine delivers 195 kW/265 hp and a torque of 370 Nm. And it does so in a truly discreet manner. Of course, with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the power can also be unleashed with rapid fierceness—promising plenty of fun for skilled drivers—but, speaking of a family car, it can also be gently driven along idyllic country roads to showcase the beauty of the German autumn to all passengers. Sport, Comfort, and Eco modes are offered. Indeed, in Eco or Comfort mode, fuel consumption can drop below seven liters, which is further evidence of the Octavia RS's suitability for everyday use.

But if you want to let the horses gallop, using the paddles on the steering wheel for aggressive gear changes, and intentionally and maliciously steer the right pair of tires onto wet leaves in the curve while forcing the left ones onto the now dry asphalt, nothing happens. The car seems to push forward minimally, but before you realize it, ESC, ABS, MSR, ASR, and XDS+ gently but firmly guide you back on track. There's no need for all-wheel drive, which some might miss in the RS, but it can't be implemented with the RS engine on the VW MQB Evo platform. No matter, it's truly unnecessary with all the electronic aids, and the Octavia RS drives flawlessly as is.

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Externally new are the black exhaust pipes, naturally the new Skoda lettering prominently displayed on the rear; Octavia is also presented in the new house typography. The new Skoda logo, the winged arrow, is also black, serving as the accent color of the RS. Black are the mirror caps and various design elements like the radiator grille. The RS logo is also new. The red V for "Velocity" is designed like a mathematical root that spans the silver RS as a formula for agility. The Octavia RS is available with 18- and 19-inch wheels—in black, of course. Black with red logo and decorative stitching are also the sport seats, providing good support in all driving and travel situations.

Sporty ambiance with numerous extras

The dual exhaust pipes are also black, to which Skoda has added a subtly raspy roar. At least one should be able to hear a sports car coming. Factory standard includes Matrix LED headlights and tail lights in crystal glass design. Heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and ambient lighting are intended for comfort behind the wheel, and the rear side windows and rear window are darkly tinted. The central control element is the 13-inch infotainment display at the center of the console.

The sports seats with integrated headrests are also standard. The sports leather steering wheel features multifunction buttons, similar to VW, offering quick access to voice control, for example. The decorative strips extend the black variety into the interior: in Dark Carbon and Piano Black. Additionally, there is the top-of-the-line RS Lounge we drove, as well as countless options to enhance the Octavia RS. These range from the Canton sound system to a head-up display, a glass sunroof, and a swiveling trailer hitch, including trailer stabilization, an adapter, and a trailer maneuver assist.

The station wagon and sedan are 4.71 meters long (approx. 15 feet), 1.83 meters wide, and 1.46 meters tall (approx. 6 feet). Even in terms of trunk space, the two variants differ little. The sedan offers between 600 and an incredible 1,555 liters with the rear seat folded down, while the station wagon manages between 640 and 1,700 liters. Voice assistant Laura now supports ChatGPT. That might be quite clever—"simply clever" are the famous Skoda gadgets, like the tablet and phone holder in the rear center armrest, phone cooling during wireless charging, or the storage space for the trunk cover. And of course, the RS also keeps the proverbial umbrella hidden in the driver's door. Incidentally, the next RS product to hit the market soon is the Kodiaq RS.