Used Skoda Octavia vRS long-term test review: report 3

The car 2019 Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TSI 245 DSG Run by Mark Pearson, used cars editor

Why it’s here To find out if the high-performance version of the outgoing, immensely practical Octavia makes sense as a used purchase

Needs to Show its performance credentials against some mighty fine rivals, and cope with the daily grind of work and family life

Mileage 3301 List price new (2019) £28,765 Price new with options £32,775 Value now £21,400 Test economy 28.1mpg Official economy 37.7mpg

1 September – Octavia with the cream on top. Or is it jam?

At one point during the first half of this year, it had seemed unlikely that any of us would ever travel anywhere again, but packed full of optimism and face masks we Pearsons recently piled the Octavia vRS full of enough luggage for a fortnight away and hightailed it for a three-night, late summer break to deepest, darkest Devon.

Okay, 'full' is, in reality, pushing it a bit; the Octavia’s huge boot swallowed all of our baggage with room to spare, and we could probably have squeezed in the proverbial kitchen sink, as well.

Likewise, the interior had plenty of room for the four of us to travel without any compromising, and even after a near 200-mile and four-hour journey we emerged feeling fairly fresh, which speaks wonders for the support offered by those sports seats and the overall refinement of the Octavia, as well as for the efficacy of its climate control.

I was even more pleased, arriving at our hotel, to note the fuel consumption figures displayed on the digital readout. My first few urban journeys back home had recorded figures as low as 27mpg, but the door-to-door figure for this cross-country trek of 40.4mpg is what I’d be pleased to achieve in economy-minded cars, never mind one with the eager performance of mine.

In fact, whether pottering like a tourist or hammering down A-roads, my sporty Octavia was never less than impressive to drive, with plenty of oomph to cope with the ups and downs of hilly Dartmoor or to push past any slower traffic. Its good visibility, accurate steering and decent grip made light of tight Devonian bends made wet by frequent showers, too, making it all seem rather easy, which is surely the mark of a good car.

We Pearsons have seen it all before, though. A week’s sojourn to Cornwall five years ago in a 2.0-litre diesel Octavia Estate still leaves me to this day wondering if there is a better all-round family car. You see it carried us all in great comfort and at good speed and easily swallowed all the paraphernalia associated with short children and long holidays, and still returned 50mpg overall.  My current charge may well have a much sportier bent and a hatchback rear end but it was similarly impressive.     

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