Skoda Octavia vRS (2013 – 2020) Review

Skoda Octavia vRS (2013 – 2020) At A Glance

5/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Skoda Octavia vRS is genuinely fast, super fun to drive and extremely practical – everything a great hot hatch should be.

+Practical and refined performance version of Skoda Octavia. Petrol or diesel power. Handling much improved over standard car.

-Top Skoda Octavia vRS 230 has a much firmer ride.

Insurance Groups are between 26–30
On average it achieves 77% of the official MPG figure

This is the third generation of Skoda Octavia vRS and it was the best of the bunch at its launch in 2013 – quick, refined and with more space than any rival hot hatch. It used the same mechanical base as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which put it into contention with the SEAT Leon Cupra, the popular Ford Focus ST and even the mighty Honda Civic Type R. Read on for our full Skoda Octavia vRS review.

The Czech company’s vRS stock continued to grow with this Skoda Octavia model, and the famous badge is still recognised by many as a more practical alternative to a GTI.

That’s very true of this Skoda Octavia vRS. It uses the same platform as the 2013 Volkswagen Golf, and the same engines too.

The petrol is a 2.0 TSI with 220PS which made this Skoda Octavia vRS the most powerful car the brand had built up to that point. It’s a superb engine with a smooth revving nature and great response when you want it to perform.

Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 6.8 seconds – a Volkswagen Golf GTI with the same engine is only 0.3 seconds quicker. Yet  according to the official figures, it will average 45.6mpg. Of course, start enjoying that performance, and this will soon drop.

There was also a 230PS version of this engine offered from late 2016, followed by a 245PS option from early 2017 with much firmer suspension and capable of 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds. 

The other engine is the 2.0 TDI with 184PS, which has incredibly strong in-gear acceleration, yet is still quiet and refined. Economy is impressive, too, with a claimed 61.4mpg.

From late 2015, there was also the option for four-wheel drive for the Skoda Octavia vRS with the 184PS diesel and six-speed DSG auto gearbox.

To go with its sporting nature, the Skoda Octavia vRS received sports suspension and was lowered by 12mm, plus it got the XDS electronic differential as standard.

This system cleverly brakes the inside wheels in corners, making the car feel more agile and meaning less steering lock is required. It also has new electro-mechanical progressive steering.

On the road, the Skoda Octavia vRS is a revelation compared to the standard car, with much improved steering feel and a sharper nature through corners. It’s a very enjoyable car to drive, yet is still usable every day thanks to a supple ride and easy controls.

To make it stand out from the standard model, the Skoda Octavia vRS has honeycomb design air intakes, a bespoke front bumper and foglights along with xenon headlights. At the back, there’s a diffuser and trapezoidal exhaust pipes.

It got 17-inch alloys as standard, but there 18-inch and 19-inch wheels were available as options. The 18-inch wheels come in silver and anthracite while the 19-inchers are in black. The Skoda Octavia vRS 245 has 19-inch alloys as standard.

Inside, there are vRS sports seats and a three-spoke steering wheel with perforated leather.

Fancy a new Skoda Octavia vRS? Read our review here.

Ask Honest John

What stop/start battery do you recommend?

"What stop start battery would you recommend for my Skoda Octavis vRS? Prices seem hugely variable, as do warranties. How do I choose?"
It is crucial to replace your stop start battery with the correct type. If the existing battery is an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) type then you must replace it with the same type, but if it has an Enhanced Flooded Battery (AFB) or Enhanced Cycling Mat (ECM) battery then you can replace it with the same type or use the more sophisticated AGM type. Most online retailers offer the facility to search for a battery using your vehicle's registration, ensuring you are choosing from batteries that are correctly specified for your car. It is also possible that the new battery must be encoded into the vehicle systems through the diagnostic port, so unless you can do this yourself we would suggest using an independent garage or retailer to do this for you.
Answered by David Ross

My brake discs and pads only lasted 24,000 miles. Is this acceptable wear and tear on a brand new car?

"My 2019 Skoda Kodiaq is at 24,000 miles and I've had to replace both the front brake discs and pads, which I consider unacceptable wear. Before the Kodiaq, I owned (from new) an Octavia VRS estate for 4 years and 45,000 miles — during which time I didn't replace any pad pads or brake discs. My driving style and patterns have not changed and I would state, with more commuter traffic, average commuting speeds have reduced. Over the entire period, I have had the same job, the same commute and if anything I would have driven the VRS harder than the Kodiaq. I appreciate the Kodiaq is a bigger, heavier car — however, it's only 152PS. OEM parts are required for the warranty. The cost of new OEM front discs and pads fitted was just under £500 and if this is considered fair wear and tear after two years, I'm seriously going to have to change cars. I can't afford £500 every two years. Is this acceptable wear and tear on a brand new car or are the OEM parts not at the required quality to provide a reasonable amount of life?"
It's very difficult to say how long your brakes should last without knowing exactly how your car is driven. If you push your Kodiaq hard I'd argue that 30k would be about right, given the size and weight of the car (and the fact the front brakes do most of the hard work when it comes to stopping). It might be an idea to get a second opinion from another Skoda garage, however, or use an independent garage that will use OEM parts (that will keep your warranty intact) but charge you much less for the work.
Answered by Dan Powell

Is there a good sporty estate or SUV I should consider?

"I'm a new dad and now want to move from an Audi S3 to a more suitable estate or SUV that I will use as a daily drive but would like something sporty. I have a budget of £15000, what would you recommend?"
If you're looking for something sporty, you'd be better looking for an estate. We'd recommend a Skoda Octavia vRS. It's a very practical estate car that's fun to drive. Although rarer, seek out a petrol unless you cover high miles. Also, consider a BMW 3 Series Touring. Even the 318i is good to drive.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What DSG is used in the Skoda Octavia vRS?

"I am thinking about buying a 2019 Skoda Octavia vRS Challenge 2.0 TSI 245 DSG. Is this a seven-speed wet box or some other type of automatic gearbox? "
It will be a DQ500 seven-speed dual wet clutch DSG. Better than the old DQ250 six-speed dual wet clutch DSG, but can still be sluggish and frustrating to drive. It needs fresh oil and a filter every three years or 38k miles but is nothing like as problem prone as dry clutch DQ200.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Skoda Octavia vRS (2013 – 2020) cost?