Small things make the new Skoda Octavia super
Thus the new special edition Skoda Octavia vRS ‘230’ is only different from the regular 2.0 TSI vRS by the small matter of just 10 bhp and although this might not seem like much, but when allied to a carefully thought out suite of other additions, the result is nearly startling.
The ‘230’ designation is the output level of this special edition vRS and is certainly an indication of overall intent — if not malice aforethought — but it is the battery of other stuff that Skoda has thrown at this machine which combine to make it a beast of a completely different colour to its’ lesser vRS sibling.
And colour is another key to this car as well because it is clothed in what the manufacturer describes as ‘Steel Grey’ but is in fact a really unusual matt grey which to anyone familiar with German aircraft of the WWII variety might actually be called ‘Luftwaffe Grey.’
But then that might be a bit non-PC. Even so the colour, added to the pimped up alloys and the black gloss which frames the grille, wing mirrors, spoiler, and exhausts, as well as stuff like the red stitching on the sports seats and the red brake calipers, set this ‘230’ apart clearly from any other vRS.
What is similar, though, it that this is much more than a ‘GTi wannabe’. This is a very serious motor car by anybody’s standards and yet it is exceptional value for money and practical in a way that hot hatchbacks are not supposed to be. This thing has a DNA all of its’ own and is, in many ways, in a league of its’ own.
But, let us start at the important end of the car where, under a long and shapely bonnet lies the two litre powerplant at the heart of affairs. Thanks to stuff like a higher pressure turbocharger and a sports exhaust, the engine is a much hotter affair and the addition for the first time of new ‘trick’ electronics which gives the car a front axle differential lock.
This system, which is motorsport derived, is called VAQ and essentially means an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch which is situated between the differential and the right-side front axle can direct 100% of the power being applied to just one front wheel depending on the amount of grip and traction necessary at any given moment.
The fact of the matter is that this electronic trickery is nothing like as sophisticated as those available, say, on a Golf GTi or a Focus RS, but it is a variation on a theme and Skoda’s defence to the company’s not being as aggressive as it might in this regard, is that while the vRS is hotter than most, it still has a family car demeanour and therefore the car does not need to be as hard-core as others.
If people see this as a flaw in the Skoda then they would be sadly misguided as this thing performs to the level expected and the chassis is not in any way let down in the manner in which it responds to the power available. Grip levels are excellent and the vRS has the sort of point and squirt capability in the handling department that any decent driver should demand from a car of this nature.
Sure you will get armfuls of understeer if you exceed the limit and the car is not as pliant as more forcefully potent machines out there, but the corollary to that is that it is much less likely to pitch you into an immovable object if you are overwhelmed by enthusiasm.
Thus, despite any perceived shortcomings the Octavia is a rock solid driving proposition and that engine is a joy to live with. The designers have conjured up some aural trickery too by feeding some of the engine note through the car speakers rather than via the exhausts to enhance the overall experience. It is a fun thing and should be taken as such.
On the road though, trying to get to the bottom of the vRS is not an easy task. There is oodles of grunt available through the gears, but it is very noticeable that there is still tremendous pick up at low revs in the taller gears and there is never any sense that you have to thrash it to death to extract the maximum from it. Quite the contrary in fact.
With those 230 horses available, the 0-100 kph dash is achieved in 6.7 seconds and top speed is 250 kph, so it is hard to see many drivers being disappointed. The 6.2 l/100 km (45 mpg) and €390 annual tax bill will also appeal.
It is worth noting too that the tester was fitted with the standard six speed ’box (which is excellent to live with), but the DSG auto gearbox is a £2,500 extra if you want to go down that path.
The bottom line here, however, is that for just €620 more than the list price for the regular vRS, you can park your ass in this thing and get all the added goodies — as well as the added grunt — without casting a backwards glance.
It may be that the tester added a couple of extra extras (such as the panoramic roof, reversing camera and tinted rear glass) and a few extra quid to the bottom line, but the overall cost is still bargain basement by comparison with the hottest hatches around.
Skoda might still be fighting an element of the badge snobbery which dogged it for so long, but this car is yet further evidence that the Czech company has it in spades when it comes to delivering cost effective, family friendly, practical, and — in this case — smashing performance at a price few others can manage. Small things like that make life — and motoring — a lot easier to bear.
COLLEY’S VERDICT
From €35,995 - €37,669 as tested.
Uprated version of the familiar two litre TSI engine from the VW parts bin.
Top drawer and you get loads extra with this model as against the standard version.
A cheaper and more family friendly car than any GTi - and you get similar levels of performance too.
