Photography: Saidatta Naik, Škoda
The Skoda Octavia RS has commanded immense respect from Indian enthusiasts, for over two decades now. Effectively, it is also one of the longest running nameplates in the country! Unfortunately, when Skoda launched the new generation Octavia in India in 2021, the Czech car maker did not follow it up with the RS version, breaking a tradition. Skoda has just made amends though, by launching the RS version of the facelifted Octavia that is on sale abroad. Interestingly, while the new Octavia RS you see on these pages is the most powerful Octavia yet, it’s also the most expensive one as it retails at ₹50 lakh ex-showroom! But what’s even more noteworthy is that all 100 cars allocated to India got lapped up in minutes!
That means you cannot buy the car even if you want to, and will have to wait until next year when Skoda India reopens bookings. This didn’t stop us from putting pedal to metal in the new ‘Octi’ RS though – at the Buddh International Circuit, no less. The RS is one of the most revered names in enthusiast circles after all, and also one that tuners across the nation hold in high regard. And with 265PS on tap, straight out of the showroom, this one has a lot going for it already, which meant a racetrack was the best place to experience the car. The design is typical of what we’ve known the Octavia to look like for the past few years, and it certainly looks very appealing. Needless to mention, the design is based on the regular Octavia sedan sold internationally, which received a facelift in 2024.
The headlamp design also helps you distinguish this one from the Octavia that was launched in India in 2021, as the DRL design is new and flows into the bumper to say so. Being the RS, this one also gets a blacked-out grille with an RS badge and a more aggressive bumper design. The car also sits lower by 15mm courtesy the sport suspension that comes standard, and it should be interesting how well the car can clear typical Indian speed breakers or handle broken roads. The car runs on sporty-looking 19-inch alloy wheels and from the sides, the RS also has that oh-so-gorgeous appeal that’s typical of performance sedans. The rear end accentuates that feel further, thanks to the lip spoiler and of course, the twin exhausts.
Interiors look appealing too given the overall cabin, and the dashboard layout in particular. The dashboard gets a suede-finished central rib with red contrast stitching, along with some carbon fibre-like finishes, and interestingly, the steering wheel is a three-spoke unit unlike what we’ve seen on Skoda cars lately. One of the biggest highlights though are the sports seats – not just for their design or shape but how well they hold you in place and the adjustable underthigh support, besides the RS badging and mix of leather and suede. The instrument cluster display hasn’t really changed but you get a bigger, 13.0-inch infotainment screen now, though personally, I wish it wasn’t as large or didn’t sit as high on the dashboard. The second row is spacious as you would expect in a sedan as large, but the cabin’s overall black theme makes the RS feel smaller than it is.
Rear seat occupants also get dedicated climate control system along with a foldable arm rest that integrates cup holders which pop out, helping add to the ‘family car quotient’. As always, the boot is massive too and you get 600 litres of volume, which is very impressive. At its price, the Octavia RS also comes with all possible bells and whistles too. Both front seats are electrically adjustable and get memory and massage functions. That said, they are heated but do not get ventilation! The 13.0-inch touchscreen feels slick and easy to use in terms and also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, but sadly it’s also where you need to access climate control settings from – we would have preferred physical buttons or even better, rotors for the same. On the features front you also get 360-degree view, Matrix LED headlamps and more, along with a 11-speaker Canton audio system, 10 airbags (including one in between the front seats) and Level 2 ADAS.
Powering the car – unsurprisingly – is the uber-popular 2.0-litre TSI engine, which is a four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol unit. For the record, this is the same engine as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and puts out 265PS and 370Nm here, sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed DSG, an engine-gearbox combination we’ve always liked for its performance and alacrity. You also get an electronic differential lock that helps you tighten your line around corners by applying the brakes on the inside wheel, while an electronic LSD sends more power to the outside wheel to help you turn faster and overall, the effect was quite pleasing around the BIC’s corners. But besides a handful of hot laps around the circuit we also got to drive the car around a slalom course and a purpose-built autocross track and the RS impressed a lot. The front end feels sharp and precise and helps you make directional changes quickly, and in that sense, the new Octavia RS is certainly very satiating to drive.
On track, the car impressed with its performance, be it in a straight line or when exiting corners, offering brisk acceleration along with a surefooted feel. Claimed 0-100kmph is a scant 6.1 seconds and while we couldn’t test it, this is easily the quickest accelerating Octavia yet, which suffices to say acceleration is going to be grin-inducing every time you step on the gas pedal. That said, I wish the exhaust note was louder, but then again, a lot of buyers are sure to go in for aftermarket units, taking care of the concern. On another note, given that we only drove the car at a racetrack it’s a little difficult to comment about the ride quality, though we expect the RS to offer the typical firm feel without unsettling occupants. This isn’t your average European sedan after all, and one that’s meant for driving pleasure, a job it does really well. But with a sticker price of `50 lakh ex-showroom, and the fact that all units are sold out, there’s little you can do right now if you want one. Wait and watch, until Skoda reopens bookings, perhaps?
