Skoda Octavia vRS Road Test

Skoda Octavia vRS

Not often mentioned in these reports, the choice of body-colour is something that needs careful consideration. The test car was a hatch version dressed in ‘Sprint Yellow’. It is not the most discreet of colours and with a large amount of body-work, this particular colour seemed to glow making the car look like a neon banana. However, if you want to attract attention, this is the colour for you.

The Octavia vRS comes with 17-inch alloys as standard and 18-inch wheels are available as an option. Whichever are chosen, the classic green vRS brake calipers can be seen through the spokes.

The vRS badge is just as evident on the inside as it is outside. Especially on the new grey and black sports seats. These are particularly body-hugging and supportive as are the outer rear seats but not as contoured. The front occupants both have height adjustable seats and the driver sits behind a rake- and reach-adjustable steering wheel, so the optimum driving position is easily achieved.

The dashboard is quite dark save for the brushed aluminium-effect detail trims and centre console, which in the test car housed the screen for the optional £1,350 Satellite-Navigaton system. Also standard is the climatic air-conditioning, which can be upgraded to a dual-zone system and a 6-CD autochanger with the cassette in the boot.

And that brings me nicely to the ‘practical’ aspect of the vRS Octavia - something that has not been sacrificed for the sake of fun. Even the hatchback version has some 560-litres of luggage space behind the 60:40 folding rear seats, while the estate has 580-litres. With the seats folded neatly away the capacity increases to 1,350-and 1,620-litres respectively.

The diesel engined test car bore a price tag of £18,370 and the estate version is £19,400. It’s a little more than £17,695 and £18,545 for the petrol-engined equivalents but in comparison to similar cars it is very competitive. If you consider the build quality, the undeniably exciting performance and the everyday practicality and add in the frugality of the diesel engine - it is easy to see that it must be the Skoda Octavia vRS.