New Skoda Octavia VRS Review

This is the updated Skoda Octavia vRS!

Skoda’s famous hot hatch has received a facelift for 2025. The question is, how much has changed compared to the previous edition? And is it a better choice than competitors like the Golf R & Civic Type R? Let’s find out.

Starting with the design, there are a few key elements that separate it from the regular Octavia. Up top there’s a more aggressive front bumper and bigger air intakes, and along the side there are unique alloy designs as well as black surrounds for the windows. At the back there’s another aggressive-style rear bumper, a boot lip spoiler, and a set of twin exhausts.

On the inside, there are once again a couple of design elements to separate it from the regular car. There’s a sports steering wheel, racing red digital dials, and lots of red stitching throughout. Those in the front are also treated to sports seats, and while they’re comfortable, the material feels a little cheap. The back row is pretty much identical to the regular Octavia.

Under the bonnet is a 2-litre turbocharged 4 cylinder that delivers 265hp and 370Nm. That’s 20hp more than the previous edition, and power is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch. It has a claimed 0-60mph time of 6.4 seconds.

The Octavia vRS costs around £39,3000, but is it worth it? Or should you spend that money on one of its key competitors? Stick with Mat to see for yourself!

Chapters
00:00 Cool Features
00:55 Engine
01:16 Launch
01:43 Design
02:25 Interior
02:58 Rear Seats
03:30 Brakes
03:51 Chassis
04:34 Country Road Driving
05:38 Exhaust
05:54 Annoying Features
07:35 Price
08:06 Boot
08:24 Daily Driving
09:40 Verdict

[kylewhisman]

Finally a car review and not another drag race

[mra]

The thing that sets Skoda apart in VW Group is despite the lower entry price, it has common sense features built in without being lesser in terms of build quality over an equivalent VW Golf. The ticket holder, luggage hooks and ice scraper and funnel for the washer are just things that make sense for most people 🤷‍♂️

[shaesnell]

There is a clear distinction between a hatchback and a liftback. This is a liftback, which has a sedan-style body with a hatchback-style tailgate

[prayasdash]

I'll never get the idea that how tf do Brits call this a hatchback, I mean ok it opens from hatch but that's a damn Sedan, it fcking looks like one, no one's gonna call it a hatch. The 3 box design is visible perfectly. How the heck y'all call it a hatchback, it's a proper sedan.

[rolfknappmann]

Isn't that a sedan?! That's not a hot hatch, is it?!

[willbishop]

Skoda know’s what their customers want, and Skoda know’s customers want the convenience of a hatchback. Hence why Skoda has always marketed themselves and their cars as “simply clever”

[panagiotisnikoloudakis]

The VRS is probably the best family car money can buy.

[TheFjmtb]

I have one of these and can confirm it will do well over 40mpg on the motorway. It also does (at best 23-24mpg around town) and beeps at me most of the time about various things that are hard to turn off !

[DEAN]

I bought a used Octavia vrs from 2016 this month, it's a great little car. Was difficult to find a petrol one but glad I did. Averages between 33 and 35mpg on my drive to work. Has everything I could want, manual gearbox, old school handbrake and the vrs button is right next to the driver and always lit up.

[mikevahue]

As a former owner of 2019 Octavia I can say that’s a great car! I really love it, it’s affordable, pretty fast, very durable, comfy and convenient, for its money u get really a lot of a car

[iahili_]

I don't understand why the Octavia is considered a "hatchback" when it's much bigger than pretty much all of them. If only because of the boot/trunk, then you can call the Audi A5 Sportback or BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé a hatchback too, which they obviously aren't. True hatchbacks are things like the Ford Focus/Fiesta, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, VW Golf, Mazda 3, Seat/Cupra Leon, ... Go premium, there's things like the Mercedes A-Class, BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, ... Small cars like that. Honda Civic... yeah, sure. But yet again, the Skoda is much bigger than that. If you can explain the reason, please be my guest.

[Envio_jpcs]

Officially: It's a (c-segment) 5-door hatchback
Practically: It's a liftback
Design-wise: It's a saloon with a tailgate

[Krisdayana-vcm]

It's more of a larger GTI, so I'm not sure why Matt compared it to the Golf R!

[paulwardzynski]

So true about the lack of rear air bags as standard!

[JonathanHoiles]

The fast delivery and energy of this car review is how EVERY car review should be. Bang on!

[Teethclenser]

I really like the jingle during the five annoying things and the five cool things, it's classy, bring it back Carwow :D

[sotirispa]

If you press the SET button left of the mode one, it has some quick actions the you can do, TC is in there too. Also, some of the icons on the notification bar (the bar that drops if you slide your finger down from the top of the screen), are configurable. I think you can add the TC and some speed warning etc settings there for quick disabling when needed. (not able in my pre-facelift 2021 model, but I've seen it in the newer infotainment).

[gorebrush]

5.95 to 60? That’s very impressive. Think I need one of these! (In estate form)

[MrAndrew]

I like Skodas approach with cars. They used to have a secret storage compartment on the top of the dash.

[Frydee]

I like how the 5 annoying things are the inability to do 5 things 99.98% of Octavia buyers will never want to or even think about doing