Introduction
What Car? says...
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.
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.
| RRP price range | £33,630 - £38,625 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 1 |
| Number of engines (see all) | 3 |
| Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | hybrid, diesel, petrol |
| MPG range across all versions | 233.4 - 56.8 |
| Available doors options | 5 |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £459 / £2,427 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £918 / £4,854 |
| Available colours |
