The practical hot hatchback, updated: Skoda Octavia vRS on sale now
August 13, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
Facelifted Octavia vRS gets power boost, chassis tweaks and a fresher face for £230 less than a Golf GTI
- New Skoda Octavia revealed
- Facelift brings minor styling changes
- New infotainment technology
- Updated range of engines
- More power for the sporty vRS
- On sale later this year
Hot on the heels of the facelifted Skoda Octavia range comes the flagship – the Octavia vRS hot hatchback.
This performance-focused model retains the hugely practical body and ‘Simply Clever’ features of all Octavias, but now gets a more powerful engine and some chassis tweaks that should make it even better to drive. It’s available as before as either a fastback hatch or a handsome family estate, making it an interesting alternative to all manner of performance cars including the Cupra Leon hatch and estate, Ford Focus ST and Mercedes-AMG A35.
Skoda Octavia vRS: engine and performance
The Skoda Octavia vRS has always been mechanically closely-related to the Volkswagen Golf GTI and this latest model is no exception. Like the Golf, the Octavia gets a boost in power from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine – it now produces 265hp, 20hp more than it did previously. Peak torque is 370Nm.
That’s enough for 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds (or 6.5 for the estate), but with an official fuel economy figure of over 40mpg.
Other tweaks that transform the Octavia into the vRS include a lowered chassis, with a 15mm drop from the standard car, 19-inch wheels and what Skoda calls an ‘electrohydraulic’ differential lock – which helps the vRS retain grip on the exit of corners and reduces slip from the inside wheel.
Some might be disappointed to know that the Octavia vRS is no longer available with the 200hp diesel engine which you could get pre-facelift. While this engine didn’t have quite the performance or engagement of the petrol, it was much more efficient and made an excellent fast cruiser – its demise mirrors the Golf range, which no longer features a GTD.
Also like the Golf GTI, the Octavia vRS is no longer available with a manual gearbox – the only option is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, driving the front wheels.
Skoda Octavia vRS design
Restyled front and rear bumpers mirror the changes to the regular Octavia, but the vRS gets cool triangular fog light clusters, black instead of chrome trim and a new bumper diffuser with integrated tailpipes.
Estate models also come with black roof rails, and there are handsome 19-inch alloy wheels as well.
Inside gets a similarly moody makeover. There’s a three-spoke steering wheel, aluminium pedals and red stitching across the dash and seats.
Read more about the rest of the facelifted Skoda Octavia range below…
This is the updated Skoda Octavia, and this cavernous family hatchback is available to order now with prices starting from £26,775.
In addition to the tweaked exterior styling, this Volkswagen Golf alternative gets improved technology and a revised range of engines, all while retaining its cavernous practicality.
New Skoda Octavia price and specs
The new Skoda Octavia starts from £26,775 for the hatchback, or £27,755 for the estate. On paper that’s around £7,000 more than the outgoing car, however Skoda has dropped the entry-level SE model meaning you get more equipment as standard.
The range now kicks off with the SE Technology, so this new model is only around £1,000 more expensive than the comparable previous car. You can also choose between SE L and SportLine trim levels. The flagship vRS will go on sale at a later date
So how does the Octavia stack up against its alternatives? Well it’s almost £2,000 cheaper than a Ford Focus, it’s a smidge cheaper than a Volkswagen Golf and the Vauxhall Astra costs around the same. The Octavia blows all these cars out of the water when it comes to practicality though, with a massive boot and loads of interior space.
New Skoda Octavia SE Technology: from £26,775
Entry-level SE Technology versions of the new Octavia come with plenty of standard equipment. You get:
- 13-inch touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Digital driver’s display
- Wireless phone charging
- 16-inch alloy wheels
New Skoda Octavia SE L: From £31,250
The SE L is the sweet spot of the Octavia range, because your extra cash gets you some desirable upgrades including:
- Half leather seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Adaptive cruise control
- Keyless entry
- 17-inch alloy wheels
New Skoda Octavia SportLine: From £32,255
If you want to add a touch of sportiness to your Octavia, the SportLine gets a handful of styling upgrades for not much added cash such as:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Lowered sports suspension
- More aggressive-looking bodykit
- Sports seats
New Skoda Octavia vRS: From £38,670
The vRS sits at the top of the Octavia tree, offering hot-hatch performance with the same level of practicality as the standard car. It costs about £230 less than the entry-level Golf GTI – meanwhile, the vRS Estate costs from £39,775. Go for the vRS and you get:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Matrix LED headlights
- Power tailgate
- 265hp 2.0-litre engine
- Bespoke interior trim
New Skoda Octavia design
This is just a mid-life facelift for the Skoda Octavia, so the styling has only been given a minor nip and tuck to modernise things a bit.
The main change comes up front with a fresh set of headlights. They have the same basic sleek shape as before, but the daytime running lights now cut into the front bumper a bit like they do on the Peugeot 508. The lower bumper is also new, with larger intakes lending the car a more sporty appearance.
There’s a range of new alloy wheels to choose from, starting at 16-inches and rising to 19-inch rims for the spicy vRS version. The rear lights now have a slightly different LED light pattern, and the lower bumper has been tweaked as well.
New Skoda Octavia interior and infotainment
While the new Skoda Octavia’s basic dashboard design has stayed the same, there’s a raft of new technology available inside and some new interior trim options.
As standard you still get a 10.0-inch touchscreen, however a new 13.0-inch screen is now available as an option for the first time. It’s similar to the system you get in the Volkswagen ID7, and both setups have ChatGPT AI integration for more advanced voice commands.
Skoda is continuing to uphold its reputation for ultimate practicality by adding some new ‘Simply Clever’ features to the updated Octavia. Joining the ice scraper in the fuel door and the umbrella in the door is a new tablet holder for the rear seats and a new storage box for occupants to store bags and bottles.
New Skoda Octavia engines
The new Skoda Octavia is available with a similar range of petrol and diesel engines to the outgoing car. The range kicks off with a 1.5-litre petrol with 116hp and a six-speed manual gearbox, or you can get it with an automatic transmission.
There’s another 1.5-litre petrol with 150hp, and this is also available with either manual or automatic gearboxes. If diesel power takes your fancy then there are two to choose from. They’re both 2.0-litre units, one with 116hp and one with 150hp.
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