We test the new Skoda Octavia RS: petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid?

But let’s return to road cars. After this new Octavia RS, a year full of novelties awaits us Skoda. In May the new Enyaq iV should already be in dealerships, which we have already told you could be one of the SUVs of the year. After the summer, the Enyaq iV will complete the range with the coupé version. And in the second half of the year we will have the updates to the Skoda Kodiaq and Skoda Karoq, plus the new generation of the Skoda Fabia.

Three options to choose from: petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid

Since the second generation, launched in 2006, the Octavia RS has been offered with petrol and diesel versions. But with this fourth generation there is a very interesting novelty: for the first time it allows you to choose between three types of powertrain, with the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant.

These are the main characteristics of each one, with a clearly differentiated character, which Skoda defines as follows: acceleration for the petrol, long distances in the case of the TDI, and sustainability for the RS iV.

• Skoda Octavia RS 2.0 TSI: it uses the 4-cylinder engine with 180 kW (245 CV) and 370 Nm of torque, paired with the 7-speed DSG gearbox. It is the quickest, with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration of 6.7 seconds, and a top speed limited to 250 km/h. It also has larger brakes than the TDI or the PHEV. Average consumption on the combined cycle is 6.7 l/100 km.
• Skoda Octavia RS 2.0 TDI: the 2.0 TDI engine delivers 147 kW (200 CV), with a maximum torque of 400 Nm. Like the petrol, it is also paired with a 7-speed DSG gearbox. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds, and reaches 249 km/h. Average WLTP consumption on the combined cycle is 4.9 l/100 km.
• Skoda Octavia RS iV: it uses the plug-in hybrid powertrain that we have seen in many models of the Volkswagen Group, such as the Audi Q3 TFSIe, the Golf PHEV or the new Cupra Formentor PHEV. It combines a 1.4 petrol engine with 150 CV and an 85 kW electric motor to deliver a combined system output of 245 CV, with a maximum torque of 400 Nm. In this case the gearbox is also a dual-clutch DSG, but with six speeds. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, reaches a top speed of 225 km/h, and homologates an average consumption from 1.1 l/100 km. With an electric-mode range of 60 km, it carries the CERO zero-emission label from the DGT.

In other markets there is the option to choose the petrol engine combined with a manual gearbox, or the TDI version with 4×4 traction, although these are not offered in Spain.

Prices and discounts on the new Skoda Octavia RS

The prices for the Skoda Octavia RS range, available with all three engines in both saloon and estate bodywork, which already accounts for around 60% of sales, are as follows:

Skoda Octavia RS saloon

• 2.0 TSI 245 CV DSG: €32,490
• 1.4 TSI 245 CV DSG PHEV: €35,720
• 2.0 TDI 200 CV DSG: €33,110

Skoda Octavia RS Estate

• 2.0 TSI 245 CV DSG: €32,560
• 1.4 TSI 245 CV DSG PHEV: €36,420
• 2.0 TDI 200 CV DSG: €33,180

These prices include both the promotional discount, which is around €2,600 for the saloon and €3,200 for the Estate (less for the PHEV, where the discount is €2,400), as well as an additional €2,500 if the purchase is financed. The maximum cumulative discount is therefore up to €5,600. In addition, the Skoda includes as standard, as a launch promotion (for now with no deadline to take advantage of it), adaptive suspension, which is valued at €1,200.

There is currently no saloon on the market that combines everyday versatility with the sportiness and performance offered by the Skoda Octavia RS in any of its three versions, and which also stands out for its balance between price and equipment.

Saloon or estate, always with its own personality

The RS versions of the Skoda Octavia, both the saloon and the Estate, feature specific details both outside and inside.

Externally, these versions are distinguished by the redesigned RS grille in black, the specific LED fog lights with RS design, the brake calipers painted red, the spoiler (black on the saloon, and body-coloured on the Estate), the rear diffuser with dual exhaust outlets and the 18-inch alloy wheels in black. Enough to identify it as a special, sporty model, but without being too eye-catching or flashy.

Inside, the Octavia RS raises the sense of quality and of a well-built car to a higher level than the rest of the range, with an impeccable finish. I dare say it is among the best even of the mainstream brands. Especially with the Alcantara upholstery and the carbon-look inserts on the dashboard, and with the magnificent sports seats with integrated headrests.

Other characteristic details of the RS versions are the aluminium-design pedal set, interior LED lighting, the 10.25-inch digital instrument display with specific RS display modes, the sports steering wheel with integrated paddles, or the contrasting decorative stitching in red or silver-grey.

Behind the wheel of the Skoda Octavia RS

Skoda defines very well the character or quality that those looking at the Octavia RS should value most when choosing a powertrain: acceleration is synonymous with the petrol TSI; distance for those who want to cover many kilometres with the advantages that the diesel engine continues to offer; and sustainability with the RS iV for those who need to benefit from the advantages of the DGT CERO label or simply want to enjoy electric driving every day.

Among the technical novelties this new generation of the Octavia RS brings are progressive steering (as standard), the DSG gearshift control with by-wire technology that replaces the lever with a control module that takes up barely any space, and improved driver assistance systems. Notable here are the turn assist, exit warning, emergency braking assist with predictive detection of pedestrians and cyclists, local traffic alert, and Side Assist, which warns of vehicles approaching from behind or sitting in the car’s blind spot.

Our personal choice is the petrol TSI. Not only for performance, but also for feel. An engine that still ranks among the best 2-litre four-cylinder petrol units on the market. With it, the Octavia RS is a very quick car, with a “spicy” character that complements very well the direct feel of the steering and the agility transmitted by the chassis.

Some cars aspiring to be labelled with the GTI badge would love to have the dynamic behaviour the Octavia RS demonstrates in this version, which can also become a saloon perfectly usable for daily commutes or weekend trips, although its steering feel is clearly different from the rest of the range. You simply need to use the dynamic driving system and the right mode: normal, eco, sport or individual. The suspension is lowered by 15 mm, with stiffer springs and firmer dampers.

By the way, the exhaust sound in Sport mode is very sporty, the kind that invites you to change gear even when it isn’t necessary. So emphatic that it can even become annoying over the kilometres, but you can configure whether it is activated or not in each driving mode.

The Octavia RS TDI doesn’t have quite as much character, but there is no other saloon on the market that combines sportiness with economy… and with the interior space and boot capacity of the Octavia, which, let’s remember, is among the best in its class. Pushing the engine to what it can give, which is a lot, it doesn’t reach the dynamic level of the TSI; but it is by no means a slow car, and it consumes between 2 and 3 litres less fuel on average in real-world use compared with the petrol. A figure that doubles in sporty driving.

Octavia RS iV: also a plug-in hybrid

The Octavia RS iV plug-in hybrid offers a bit of the TSI’s sportiness and much of the TDI’s economy, with great smoothness of operation and the possibility of covering up to 60 km in electric mode.

It leaves you a little cold if you’ve just stepped out of the petrol TSI, which it can never keep up with despite having the same power. Firstly because it weighs almost 175 kg more, which also requires different chassis tuning, and doesn’t allow such effective behaviour in fast driving through bends.

But above all because the maximum power here is only “instantaneous”: you can enjoy the 245 CV continuously for a few seconds, and after that the power the electric motor can deliver is reduced to protect the battery, to the point where you may be left with just the 150 CV of the petrol engine.

The battery, which has a capacity of 13 kWh, is placed under the rear seats, which requires repositioning elements in this area: the fuel tank loses about 10 litres of capacity, and the boot drops from 600 litres to 450 in the saloon, and from 640 litres to a little under 500 in the Estate.

Standard equipment and options on the Skoda Octavia RS

In addition to all the exterior and interior equipment details mentioned, the RS versions, which are the top of the Skoda Octavia range, include a very complete specification. Among the most notable items for which there is no extra charge are the adaptive full LED Matrix headlights, the ambient LED lighting pack, the rear-view camera, the keyless entry, progressive steering, the power-operated tailgate and the parking assistant.

As options, mention should be made of the ergonomic seats upholstered in Alcantara (€2,535), two 19-inch wheel designs with 225/40 tyres (from around €675), the head-up display (€705), and the Business Connect and Travel Assist packs, with a very competitive price.

The Business Connect pack, priced at €665, includes the Columbus infotainment system with a 10″ touchscreen wirelessly compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation and one year of connectivity services. As for the Travel Assist pack, for €1,100 it includes all of the above and adds the leather pack, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with guidance function and traffic sign recognition, and 5 interior USB sockets plus a 230 V plug.

Octavia RS image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackSkoda Octavia24 versions · from 35,200 €