Skoda Octavia vRS Review: Return of the Rocket

I have fond memories of the Octavia vRS, and the reason being that back in 2003, my best friend bought one, and at that time it was one of the few affordable performance cars you could lay your hands on. And, for a young lad, just out of his teenage years, that 150bhp turbocharged monster with stiff suspension, big wheels and tremendous handling was a revelation and a learning experience on how to drive fast cars. Well, fast forward to a few years ago, I got into the new Skoda Octavia vRS – which had just made its comeback to the Indian market – and once again, it was a stellar experience with a powerful engine, terrific handling a roaring soundtrack too – almost a feeling of déjà vu. On a recent trip to Czech Republic to see some details of the future direction of Skoda in India, they offered to let us drive the Octavia vRS once again, and I, naturally, jumped at the opportunity. 

Skoda Octavia vRS Review: Stellar looks

I’ve always thought that the vRS cars have been stellar lookers. They offer the right amount of aggression and intent, without being overtly shouty. That is also the case with the Octavia and with the combination of an aggressive front end, big wheels and a subtle spoiler, it looks the business.

I also love the bright shades that are offered, as they truly make the car stand out. But the experience gets even better once you get inside the car. The vRS’ styling has truly been given some attention to detail and that reflects spectacularly in the interiors. The Alcantara dash and seats, the contrast stitching and just the touch and feel of all surfaces is spectacular. It truly feels like it is a special place to spend time in.

At the same time, space is abundant and even five full-size adults will fit in easily. The boot is especially cavernous and should make airport runs a breeze. While I’m not a fan of unique looking gear knobs, the stubby one in the Octavia works very well and is very intuitive. Even after driving for only a couple of hours, I could easily change gears without having to look at the gear console.

Also Read: Skoda Slavia Facelift India Launch by September 2025

Skoda Octavia vRS Review: Absolute rocket

But what we were there to do, was to drive the Octavia vRS and refresh our memories of what a fantastic car it is. Powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, the vRS produces 245bhp and 370Nm of torque paired to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Now, while it might be front-wheel drive only, the Octavia vRS has no problem putting that kind of power down on the road. On empty country roads, we could easily do a quick launch and just get fascinated by how quickly the engine responds and how easily the vRS gains speed.

On the highways in Europe, touching high three-digit speeds was an absolute breeze. To add to all this, the suspension of the vRS might be on the stiffer side, but that means that it stays glued to the road even in high-speed corners and at the same time offers sublime handling. The steering too has a decent amount of feel and is quite direct. But, one of the highlights of all of this driving experience is the exhaust note, which is just the right amount of deep and loud sound, and makes the whole experience that much more fun.

Also Read: New Skoda Kodiaq to Launch in India by Mid-2025; to Continue With the Same Powertrain

All in all, driving the Octavia vRS reminded me of my older experience with the earlier cars and how much fun they were to drive. Now, I only hope that Skoda India gets the car back to the Indian market – they are thinking about it – so I and many more fans of the vRS can relive such experiences many more times.