Skoda Octavia vRS review

Hot hatchbacks are arguably the perfect blend of pace and practicality, but few place as much emphasis on the latter as the Skoda Octavia vRS. The recipe is simple: take one cavernous Octavia, pour in a more potent engine, stir the suspension to suit, sprinkle on some styling garnish and – hey presto! – it's a family car with a bit of bite.

Unusually for the class, you get a choice of engines in the vRS. If you’re a sensible sort, the 2.0 TDI diesel produces a respectable 197bhp and (as long as you avoid the four-wheel-drive option) CO2 emissions of just 130g/km. It's only korma hot, though, so anyone looking for something spicier will find the plug-in hybrid vRS iV well worth a taste. Power jumps up to a more flavoursome 242bhp yet CO2 drops to just 26g/km thanks to a decent all-electric range.

The final engine on the menu is a good old-fashioned 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine, also with 242bhp (but 157g/km of CO2), although even this jalfrezi-level output is somewhat down on its vindaloo-hot rivals.

Indeed, the Octavia vRS is up against some seriously talented opposition, all of which are tuned-up versions of standard family hatchbacks. For a start, there’s the Honda Civic Type R, the ridiculously agile Renault Megane RS and also the bargain of the bunch, the Hyundai i30 N. If practicality isn’t a big priority, we’d point you towards the riotous Toyota GR Yaris.

However, if practicality is right up there with driving fun on your wish list, it’s worth us pointing out that the Octavia vRS isn’t just a hot hatchback based on the standard Octavia; there's a hot version of the estate too. The even more capacious behind is available with all three engines should you want to be as sensible as humanly possible.

But is the Skoda Octavia vRS’s performance up to scratch, and can it mix it with the best? Read on through this review to find out how it compares. If you are in the market for a vRS – or, indeed, a vehicle of any make or model – have a look at the free What Car? New Car Buying service for huge savings on the Skoda and its rivals.