Skoda VRS Octavia

The 2024 Skoda VRS Octavia’s swooping dashboard looks similar to the standard version. It’s dominated by a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. There’s a row of physical switchgear beneath the infotainment unit that provides shortcut access to the climate control, hazard warning light, and driving mode screens. There’s a swathe of Alcantara on the dashboard. Matte carbon fibre trim and red stitching makes the Skoda VRS Octavia’s cabin stand out from the standard model. The rake and reach adjustable multifunction steering wheel is easy to operate. There’s plenty of VRS badging in the cabin, including the seats, and the digital instrument cluster. Hard plastics have been used sporadically, particularly on the door, to keep production costs low. But that doesn’t upset the cabin’s up-market feel.   

The 2024 VRS Octavia builds on Skoda’s increasingly aggressive exterior design for VRS models. The car now sports copious angles and elements of gloss-black trim. The fourth-generation Skoda VRS Octavia comes with all-round LED lights. The rear track width is now wider than the standard Octavia. The rather menacing look of the Skoda VRS Octavia is almost immediately noticeable. The car now comes with more black bits like the trim pieces and badging. There’s a a new rear spoiler and a deeper set of bumpers at both ends. The new 19-inch alloy wheels look great and complements the car’s design. The large front grille looks like an acquired taste, but with the absence of any chrome trim, blends well with the overall design. The VRS Octavia’s build quality is solid. The sharp lines, subtle rear tip, and black exterior badging makes the 2024 Skoda VRS Octavia look more like a compact executive hatchback. The big doors allow easy entry and exit.

The 2024 Skoda VRS Octavia comes with chunky and supportive front seats with heating function. The seats are thuggishly bolstered and come with integrated headrests. Despite their size, the seats have no impact on the people sitting at the back. The VRS Octavia is a surprisingly spacious car and has ample room to accommodate five passengers. The seats offer great support during long trips. There’s plenty of storage and the door pockets are big enough to accommodate a 1.5-litre bottle. The boot space is huge at 600 litres. The standard-fit VRS-specific passive suspension does well to absorb all the road imperfections. Body roll is negligible.

The 2024 Skoda VRS Octavia is available in two powertrain options. The entry-level model is equipped with a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter petrol engine that produces 245PS/370Nm. The motor is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Initial acceleration isn’t fast but the healthy mid-range punch compensates. It helps the car gain speed with ease and makes it easier to overtake traffic at a slow speed. Once it gets into the groove, the 2024 Skoda VRS Octavia comes across as a rather powerful car. The steering wheel is nicely balanced and allows swift manoeuvring of corners. 

The 2024 Skoda VRS Octavia has earned a five-star rating in European crash tests. The car comes with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assistance and an e-call function that notifies emergency services in case there’s an accident. Driver fatigue sensor and blind-spot monitoring are optional. The car gets multiple airbags for all-round crash protection.

While the 2024 Skoda VRS Octavia makes for a sensible family car, it doesn’t offer much excitement in the driving department. The performance is moderately spicy and the VRS Octavia can be considered as a nice premium hatchback. There’s plenty of cabin space, the interior is nicely constructed and the car offers decent comfort for the daily grind.