Video: 2021 Skoda Octavia RS review – performance tested

How quick is the Skoda Octavia RS? That's a very good question, and one that this article will provide the answer to.

Welcome to a new series where we will not only performance test your favourite fast cars, but also tell you the process by which we came about those numbers! Because, believe me, it's quite a process.

First cab off the rank is the new Skoda Octavia RS. If you're not the reading type, just take a look above and watch the video instead!

The new Octavia RS develops 180kW and 370Nm from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and sends it to the front wheels through a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox.

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Skoda's 0-100km/h claim is 6.7 seconds, which we'll attempt to match or better – but we'll also gather data for 0-97km/h (more or less 60mph, which is technically 96.6km/h), the quarter mile, 80-120km/h overtaking acceleration, and 100-0km/h braking.

The first port of call for quick acceleration times is activating launch control, which is done by selecting Sport for the transmission, ESP Sport or TCS Off for the ESP system (somewhat weirdly located under 'Brakes' in the vehicle sub menu), then holding the brakes with your left foot and flooring the throttle with your right.

The revs spike to 4000rpm; releasing the brake dumps the clutches, and the wheels spin momentarily before the ESP cuts in dramatically, stopping any momentum dead in its track.

Despite this, the Octavia matches its 0-100km/h claim at 6.7sec, as well as hitting 0-97km/h in 6.5sec and 0-400m in 14.8sec at 163.1km/h.

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On the return journey down the strip, the Octavia RS records 3.6 seconds from 80-120km/h – once rolling it's properly quick! – and a 36.4m stop from 100-0km/h.

For the second run, ESP Sport is switched for TCS Off to see if it eliminates the ESP intervention. It does, but also blazes the tyres to smithereens, which is quite entertaining but not very good for the time.

It's surprising that only a couple of tenths slip by, with 6.6sec 0-97km/h and 6.9sec 0-100km/h figures.

It feels like the Octavia RS has more time to give, but a change in approach results in a surprise discovery. The intent was to just ease the car off the line, in an effort to avoid wheelspin, but it turns out that the launch control system isn't an all-or-nothing affair.

Lighter throttle pressure results in the revs hovering at around 2500rpm, which then also allows the throttle to be introduced more gradually.

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It works. There is still a decent amount of wheelspin with the electronics nibbling around the edges, but it's a fairly clean launch and the DriftBox spits out good news: 0-97km/h in 6.15sec, 0-100km/h in 6.41sec and a 14.47sec quarter mile at 163.08km/h.

This is a strong result, beating the factory 100km/h claim by almost three tenths of a second – and just goes to show that even in this age of automatic gearboxes and highly computerised launch programs, a little human involvement can make a difference.

We look forward to bringing you plenty more of this stories and let us know which cars you'd like use to test in the comments below.