Skoda has completed the new fourth-generation Octavia vRS line-up in the UK by introducing the third and final variant: the vRS diesel, which is on sale in Britain now.
It joins the petrol powered vRS and the first ever plug-in hybrid version of the brand’s performance halo car, mirroring the hot trio of Golfs now offered by Volkswagen (GTI, GTD and GTE.)
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The petrol powered Octavia vRS TSI is priced from £30,605, with an estate version from £31,835. It is uses the Volkswagen Group’s familiar turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is also found in the latest Golf GTI. It has an output of 247bhp and 370Nm of torque – enough, says Skoda, for a 0–62mph time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 155mph.
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Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed automatic, with no fuel economy or CO2 discrepancy between the transmissions. The estate bodystyle is slightly heavier though, so its 40.2mpg and 159g/km CO2 figures are slightly down on the 40.8mpg and 157g/km numbers claimed by hatchback versions of the vRS TSI.
The plug-in hybrid Octavia vRS iV is powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a 113bhp electric motor. like the GTI’s unit, the vRS shares this with a hot Golf – in this case the GTE – and develops 242bhp and 400Nm.
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Skoda claims that the Octavia iV can go from 0–62mph in 7.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 139mph. From a full charge of its battery, it offers a 37-mile range on electric power alone. Both petrol and electric drive is sent to the front axle only, via a six-speed DSG gearbox that can be controlled using paddle-shifters found on the back of the steering wheel. fuel economy and emissions for the hatchback are claimed at 249.9mpg and 26g/km, with the vRS iV Estate model returning 233.3mpg and 27g/km based on WLTP testing.
