2022 Skoda Octavia RS review

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 as a broad smile forms. And that’s without even asking him to recall the story of chasing an unsuspecting Porsche around Sandown Raceway (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, before on-road costs. 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 make-up, hence there is a reason it’s often branded the thinking person’s Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Therefore, the formula hasn’t changed too much. The RS sits on a stretched MQB platform with the venerable EA888 four-cylinder turbo sending power to the front axle. Standard is an electronically controlled, mechanical limited-slip differential and the dual-clutch transmission is of the wet variety with seven ratios. Sadly, there is no longer a three-pedal manual version. At 4702mm in length, the Octavia isn’t a small car and the five-door sedan version offers a commodious 600-litre boot.

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Brushing the everyday liveability aside for a moment, the 2.0-litre four-pot punches out 180kW and 370Nm. It’s a strong unit with loads of mid-range punch (peak torque is delivered between 1600-4300rpm). Yet, pleasingly, there is more reason to access the upper reaches of the tacho as power is delivered progressively to redline. On the run, the RS has enough performance to keep the hot hatch clan on watch.

Where the Octavia does struggle is traction. Getting that power down, whether it be off the line or past the apex of a tight corner, is the harder task. The RS has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds, yet we smashed that with a 6.41sec marker, while it went on to cover the quarter-mile in 14.47sec at 163.07km/h. Interestingly, it also recorded the same 3.5sec figure as the Focus ST in the 80-120km/h race. That’s quick for a 1475kg liftback with room to carry five adults and luggage.

On the run, the RS has enough performance to keep the hot hatch clan on watch.

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However, it’s a balancing act with the launch-control system to best appease the stopwatch. Dial up 4000rpm like the system wants and it’ll be a blaze of wheelspin and axle tramp before the electronic nannies pull the plug. Instead, hovering around 2500rpm before releasing the brake yields the best result, allowing the Goodyear 19-inch hoops to gain meaningful purchase and translate the 180kW/370Nm to Heathcote’s strip.

Deploying a judicious right foot helps on-road, too. The front-end is sharp and faithful when entering a corner with understeer a rarity – and usually driver-induced. Be too eager to get back on the throttle with lock still applied past the mid-point and the same traction issues found at the strip creep in. The trick mechanicals are there with the differential, and you can feel it working away trying to apportion grunt to the front wheel with the most traction. But the 225-section Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersports don’t offer enough tyre grip to match the LSD. Squaring off corners and making the exit as straight as possible proves a better remedy than ESC Sport.

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However, find a more flowing section of road and the Octavia’s brisk, competent and confidence-inspiring nature comes to the fore. The chassis is well sorted, so where traction isn’t an issue, the RS shines. While the 50mm longer wheelbase (2681mm) compared to a Golf GTI might not seem like much, the Skoda has a languid edge to its persona. Away from tight and twisty tarmac, it’s not only vastly more enjoyable but also rapid with the seven-speed DSG providing ruthlessly efficient shifts. The steering’s weight and feedback are appreciated, while flicking the drive selector to Sport mode doesn’t induce an unnaturally heavy feel.

Speaking of modes, the RS Premium Package endows the Octavia with a mode selector and Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC). Both prove valuable acquisitions, but the latter is vital to ride quality. Being able to set your own Individual mode is handy, while the 15 adjustments (from Comfort through to Sport) seems a bit of overkill. That’s because leaving the ACC in Comfort works wonders. It is cosseting out on a country road and, despite the liquorice-strap rubber, provides enough bump absorption to quell most city streets.

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One mode you can thankfully switch off is the sound actuator. Why you’d want your Skoda to sound like a wicked-up Subaru boxer engine is questionable. The authentic acoustics are vastly more appealing and tie into the fact that the buyer of an Octavia RS is more likely to tap into the calming side of its demeanour.

That makes the RS Premium Package a must-have. While it isn’t cheap and pushes the base price up significantly, a lot is packed in for the cash. It includes Adaptive Chassis Control, mode selector, head-up display, electrically adjustable front seats with memory and massage functions, heated seats front and rear, tri-zone climate control, park assist, Canton 10-speaker audio system, Alcantara RS upholstery, hands-free boot opening and manual sunblinds in the rear (for the kiddies). While some of that should be standard at this price point, all those options would be nearly $10K if selected individually.

So, not only does the optional pack enhance the driving experience, it also amps up the comfort and luxuries inside, too. The seats are wide and accommodating for bigger bodies and the leather wheel is pleasingly tactile. It also features buttons, unlike the Golf GTI. Pleasingly, physical menu shortcuts are placed on the centre dash below the 10.0-inch ‘Columbus’ infotainment screen. It’s an intuitive and quick-responding unit with enticing graphics. The Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel, with selectable themes, is a highlight, too.

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In terms of tech, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is a wireless charge pad that is conveniently located. There are five USB-C ports, with two located in the back below the rear air vents. Dual map pockets, as well as a handy holder for your phone, and a central armrest with cup holders up the convenience ante. Head and legroom aren’t left wanting either, while the rear seats fold for 1555 litres of cargo capacity.

There are a few Skoda quirks that just make you smile, like the umbrellas in the front doors and the ice scraper located inside the fuel filler cap. Premium touches like the carpet-lined door bins and storage compartments with rubber mats add to the upmarket ambience. That mood can also be altered by a plethora of ambient lighting options.

In terms of peace of mind, the Octavia RS is covered by Skoda’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, while servicing is every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first). You can choose between two service packs, the first being across three years/45,000km for $800 or five years/75,000km for $1400.

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As a brand, Skoda retains its status as a quirky outlier, one that staunchly remains a go-to for informed buyers. The same could be said for the Octavia RS. It’s a variant that satiates the urge for spirited driving on the weekend while offering a do-it-all solution during the week. It’s a prime example of a performance-car-cum-family-hauler. And despite its price increase and traction issues, the relationship remains strong.

It satiates the urge for spirited driving on the weekend while offering a do-it-all solution during the week. It’s a prime example of a performance-car-cum-family-hauler

2022 Skoda Octavia RS specifications