SKODA OCTAVIA RS

The masters of pragmatic performance

- TRENT GIUNCO

ENGINE 1984cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbo

POWER 180kW @ 6500rpm

TORQUE 370Nm @ 1600-4300rpm

0-100KM/H 6.4sec (tested)

WEIGHT 1475kg • PRICE $47,7904.0 Rating

LIKE: Hot hatch grade performance; practicality; up-market feel

DISLIKE: Traction issues; fake engine sound; wind/road noise at speed

AS FAR AS relationships go, MOTOR’s affinity with the Skoda Octavia RS is positive. Just ask group road test editor, Scott Newman, how much he loved his manual RS230 Wagon long termer and watch a broad smile form. And that’s without asking him to recall the story of chasing an unsuspecting Porsche around Sandown. (The video is on our YouTube channel if you’re keen.)

However, the RS230 wasn’t just a handy, go-fast tool. Pragmatic performance is the Skoda Octavia RS’s remit and, knowing it has big shoes to fill, the latest fourth-gen offering hasn’t Czech-ed out of its honed USP. Available in sedan (five-door liftback) and wagon body styles, prices have risen to $47,790 and $49,090 respectively. Add in the $6500 RS Premium Package fitted to our test car with the $770 Moon White paint and the RRP comes in at $55,060. The RS relies heavily on the Volkswagen Group for its makeup, hence there is a reason it’s often branded the thinking person’s Golf GTI.