Hot New Octavia vRS Will Make You Say 'GTI Who?'

Take a Golf GTI, give it more space and sweet wheels, then take almost £3k off the price. What's not to like?

18 May 2015

Skoda has stepped up and put a price tag on the new Octavia vRS, confirming UK prices from £22,990 - nearly £3000 less than the cheapest Golf GTI.

As normal there's a hatchback and an estate, TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines and a choice of manual or automatic DSG gearboxes. Every combination is possible, with the most expensive configuration being the diesel automatic estate at £25,450 - still £395 cheaper than the entry-level hot Golf.

Cheapest and best value of the lot is the 217bhp TSI hatchback, which uses a similar version of the 2.0-litre turbo that you’ll find under the bonnet of the latest GTI. It’s good for 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 154mph in the new hatchback. It’s a peach of an engine, although some folks say it’s too linear and lacks a bit of raw excitement.

Whatever, it’s still 36bhp more powerful and a damn site more revvy than the 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel. The TDI strikes back with CO2 of 119g/km playing the TSI's 142g/km, and a fair whack better fuel economy to match. Plus the oil-burner only adds £270 to the price, so if you’re going to do much motorway mileage in it the diesel makes sense.

Opinion on the twin-clutch DSG auto gearbox is still split, but if you want it you’ll be stung for another £1,390. You’d be better off taking the more stylish estate body style for just £800. It evens out the Octavia’s proportions and makes it look even sweeter - especially on the sexy optional 19-inch anthracite rims.

The hatch is just 12mm lower than the standard Octy, but with the big wheels on it looks pretty slammed. The estate rides another 1mm lower, not that you’d notice any difference. More important are standard go-faster gadgets like an XDS electronic limited-slip diff and new multi-link suspension at the back end for better cornering grip. The steering rate is progressive, too, so the faster you go the less you need to turn the wheel to make a corner.

Order books are open now for both body styles, engines and gearboxes, although the first owners won’t take delivery until August 1. Still want that Golf GTI?