The Skoda Octavia vRS shows off what it can really do
The Skoda vRS features a variety of touches which make everyday life just a little easier. We look at the difference they make.
For a hot estate the Skoda Octavia was a slow burn on me.
But after months living with this car I’ve come to truly appreciate it.
It’s not the high-performance 2.0-litre 181bhp engine of our VRS model or the abundance of onboard tech. Instead, it’s the level of thought that’s clearly gone into making the Octavia a car for the everyman (and everywoman).
It’s as though in a factory somewhere deep in the Czech Republic there’s a clone of me on a mission to make life a little better and journeys a little more comfortable for my family.
The end result may not be one big ‘wow’, as many of the solutions they’ve come up with are largely unnoticeable until they’re needed. But I’ve found a smile flashing across my face many a time as I’ve presented the Octavia with a potential problem only to find the ‘Simply Clever’ folk at Skoda have already come up with the answer.
Whenever I have something I need to stow out of view, there’s a conveniently placed compartment. When I need to hang something, there’s a hook, and when I have something that may slide around the boot, they’ve even given me a set of neatly concealed Velcro holds that grip to the boot lining and stop objects from slipping.
It’s much the same story inside the cockpit. In the back, there are two cup-holders built into the armrest and two USB ports to stop the kids squabbling. And again, there are more cleverly positioned hooks and pockets that, well, just make life with the Octavia that little bit better.
Taken in isolation, any one of these things is pretty small fry and inconsequential. But when added together, they combine to make the Skoda Octavia a great all-round car, whether you’re someone who needs a motor that will comfortably eat up the motorway miles or you’re a parent who needs a flexible and versatile vehicle that can cope with the demands of family life.
Whether you need the extra power of the VRS is a question of personal preference – I could take it or leave it – but even in its sportiest spec the Octavia estate is refined, economical and offers an impressive MPG return.
For me, the opening panoramic glass roof is definitely worth having – even though it’s an optional extra – as it really brightens what is otherwise a dark interior.
Were I to be putting my money down on a car that would meet all my needs and fit my lifestyle perfectly, the Octavia would be very high on my shopping list.
MODEL: Skoda Octavia vRS Estate
PRICE: £35,655
ENGINE: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel
POWER: 181bhp
TORQUE: 380Nm
MAX SPEED: 139mph
0-60MPH: 7.5 seconds
MPG (COMBINED): 55
EMISSIONS: 134g/km
