Used Skoda Octavia vRS 2013-2020 review

It may not be completely accurate to say that the Skoda Octavia vRS is just a Golf GTI in more practical and better-value clothing, but it’s close enough to make most car buyers and driving enthusiasts sit up and take notice.

For starters, the Octavia vRS has always fulfilled the same functions in its hot hatch class as the base car has in the family car sector: it offers great value, generous amounts of interior room and decent practicality all wrapped up in a stylish and competitive package. Its forte is its size, of course, which borders on that of the cars from one class above. It means the vRS, which is lower than the standard car and has a wider track, can offer that generous space and utility as well as all the hot hatch pace and agility your heart could desire.

It can offer a lot more, besides. Those that bought it new could choose between petrol and diesel engines. They could have had either the standard front-wheel drive or the whole-hog four-wheel drive. They could have chosen the regular five-door hatchback or an even more capacious estate version. They could have had a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and there was even the option of adaptive dampers.

After all that it comes as quite a shock to discover that there is only the one trim level, and it offers sporty styling, bespoke sports seats and LED headlights. There’s also an Amundsen touchscreen, cruise control, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors, auto wipers and a wi-fi hotspot. Other standard safety features include lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, stability control, hill-hold assist, tyre pressure monitoring which alerts you to a slow puncture, and a system that automatically brakes the car in the immediate aftermath of a collision to avoid a second impact.

And it can shift, too, with the latest petrol-engined version of the car sharing its 242bhp 2.0-litre unit with the Performance edition of the Golf GTI. With this lovely engine under the bonnet, the vRS is capable of polishing off the 0 to 62mph sprint in just 6.6 seconds and going on swiftly to a top speed of 155mph. Indeed even if you choose the lesser 2.0 230 version, also shared with the hot Golf, you won’t be far off those figures. Opt for the diesel version and you’ll find the VW Group’s 181bhp 2.0-litre engine can still push the vRS along at a fair lick, along with some expected improvements in fuel economy.

Approach a bend and you’ll be pleased it shares so much with the Golf GTI. It’s keen to turn in to bends, and its steering is pleasingly precise. Providing you're not sending all its power through the front wheels, there’s plenty of grip, too, and it handles with sporting aplomb. The 2.0 245 vRS even gets a limited-slip differential, the better to apportion its power in a corner taken quickly, and it drives even more nicely as a result. You'll be equally pleased by the ride comfort, as the vRS is a plaint car that rides well in any of its switchable modes. It’s firm, but never uncomfortable, and it feels settled over sharp ruts and potholes and tied down over undulating roads. The petrol-engined cars are remarkably refined, as well, especially when driven gently, and there’s not much in the way of wind and road noise to ruffle the feathers. True, put your foot down and there’s a nice sporty rasp, but on the whole the interior of the vRS is a pleasant place to spend time.

Inside is an excellent driving position, electrically adjustable in the seat and steering wheel, with good visibility. The sportier seats are comfortable and supportive, and remain so even on longer journeys. The dashboard and surrounding areas are nicely laid out, and the instruments easy to read. Some of the materials around the lower parts of the cabin and around the seat bases feel more durable than upmarket, but the plastics in more prominent areas are textured and pleasant to the touch. The switches are nicely damped, too.

It’s in the area of space that the Octavia excels. Space up front is plentiful, and there are several useful storage areas. Meanwhile, in the rear the Octavia offers more of it than any other hot hatch, with plenty of space and the ability to seat a tall passenger behind a tall driver. It can even carry three in relative comfort for quite some time, despite a large central transmission tunnel, and that’s more than can be said for not only all the cars in this class but some from the size category above it. The boot in the hatchback is large and usefully shaped, better than nearly all of its rivals, while the one in the estate version is simply huge.

Find a used Skoda Octavia vRS in the What Car? Classifieds here

Although it’s possible to buy one for slightly less, you’ll need around £9000 to get yourself behind the wheel of a good vRS of this generation. This is for an early 2014 car with an average mileage for the year and a full service history, bought privately or from a trader. Up this to between £10,000 and £12,000 and you’ll find 2014 and 2015 cars that satisfy the same criteria, and you might even find 2016 cars sneaking in. Spend between £13,000 and £15,000 for a good 2016 car bought from an independent dealer.

Not surprisingly the diesel-engined car is the most economical version, in either hatchback or estate form, with a claimed average fuel consumption of 62.8mpg under the old NEDC test cycle, and corresponding CO2 emissions of 119g/km. Even the four-wheel drive diesel version, the 2.0 TDI 4x4, with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox, records a claimed 55.4mpg. The 2.0 230 petrol car claims an average of 43.5mpg, and CO2 emissions of 149g/km, while the more powerful 2.0 245 fares little worse with a figure of 42.8mpg.

Octavias registered before the tax changes of April 2017 came into play will pay their car tax according to CO2 emissions output. Those registered after that date will pay the flat rate of tax, currently £140 a year.

Insurance groups are higher than the standard Octavia’s, and range from 25 for the diesel-engined cars up to 29 for the fastest vRS, the 2.0 245.

Servicing is cheaper than many rivals and Skoda has a fixed price scheme under which you’ll currently pay £149 for a minor service (10,000 miles or every 12 months) and £269 for a major one (every 20,000 miles or 24 months) on cars more than three years old.

Whether or not you choose the estate version depends on your individual needs. It offers more space in the boot and a more useful opening, especially if you have a dog. However, we’d stick with the hatch. We’d also choose a petrol engine over a diesel, for its smoothness, although if you’re likely to do high miles we wouldn’t blame you if you looked for a diesel. We’d probably seek out a two-pedal dual-clutch car, too, as it’s more convenient in town and slightly quicker.

Our favourite Skoda Octavia vRS: 2.0 245 DSG

The Volkswagen Golf GTI shares a lot of its underpinnings with this Octavia vRS. It’s a marvellous car, even nicer to drive than the Octavia, and is fast and capable, yet also refined and easy to drive. It has a classy interior, too.

The Honda Civic Type R costs substantially more than the vRS, and although it has room for five inside it offers less space, too. However, it’s brilliant to drive, handles superbly, yet is also comfortable and surprisingly easy to live with.

Find a used Skoda Octavia vRS in the What Car? Classifieds here

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