2018 Skoda Octavia RS pricing and features

SKODA’S updated Octavia RS performance halo is rolling into showrooms this month, bringing with it a power boost to the petrol versions and additional specification for all sedan and wagon variants.

A manual 169TSI sedan kicks off the six-car RS range with prices starting from $38,890, before on-road costs, representing a $1000 increase over the outgoing equivalent. For the price hike, the new version arrives with a 7kW increase in power and a more generous list of standard equipment.

For those customers who miss the more exclusive, but now discontinued RS230 special, an even more potent version will be arriving in November, packing 180kW and an RS245 badge with either a manual or an auto box.

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Included in the price of the updated range is a larger 9.2-inch media screen, and Black Pack gloss black exterior trims, which previously added an extra $500 to the bottom line when picked from the options list.

On top of that, all Octavia RS variants now have the option of having blind spot monitoring and Adaptive Chassis Control, which is part of the $2300 Tech Pack and $2800 Luxury Pack respectively.

Previously, customers wanting the full-fat 169kW output from the 2.0-litre turbo petrol had to stump $41,490 for the RS230 special edition or $43,190 for the equivalent wagon, but all petrol versions now get the maximum power figure under the 169TSI moniker.

Fans of the boot-boosted and more practical 169TSI wagon will be asked for $40,390 (an $800 increase over the previous entry manual version) but get the same value-adding features as the sedan.

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Opting for the twin-clutch DSG automatic transmission in either variant pushes the price up by $2500.

As before, the Octavia RS 135TDI is also on offer, which is powered by an unchanged 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre diesel coupled to the DSG only for $42,490 in sedan form or $43,990 for the wagon – an increase of $1200 and $1000 respectively.

With the power tune up, performance matches the outgoing RS230 with a zero to 100km/h dash in 6.7 seconds for the manual sedan or a tenth slower for the wagon. Unusually, autos forfeit some pace with a figure of 6.8s for the DSG sedan and 7.0s for the wagon.

Diesel performance is unchanged with sedans doing the benchmark dash in 7.9 seconds, while the wagon needs 8.0 seconds to crack 100km/h from standstill.

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In addition to the new safety equipment, ten speakers, adaptive headlights, parking assistance, keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers and switchable driving modes are included as part of the Tech Pack.

A blend of leather and synthetic suede with red-stitched seat upholstery is included with the Luxury Pack, as is front seat electric adjustment and heating, lane assistance, two more airbags for a total of nine, Passenger Protect Assist and folding door mirrors.

Other options include a wagon panoramic sunroof for $1700 or smaller version for the sedan at $1500, metallic or pearlescent paint for $500, 19-inch Extreme wheels in black cost $700, while a power boot for the wagon adds $500.