2017 Skoda Octavia RS Test Drive Review

Driving Dynamics – Skoda has lowered the ground clearance on the Octavia RS by 15 mm and this isn’t any deal-breaker by the way. It now stands at 141 mm as opposed to 155 mm of the regular Octavia. But that’s not all, the suspension has been stiffened and tuned to perfection because the handling is just surreal, the steering is super feedback rich and you do feel like you are driving a go-kart, almost. Body control is very good, there is no roll on offer and the car just changes directions so quickly, the 17-inch tyres offering fantastic grip, even in the wet. The ride quality, although on the stiffer side, is quite good for a car of this type and the vehicle remains super glued to the road at all speeds. The brakes offer terrific stopping power and shedding speeds on the Octavia RS is very confidence inspiring.

Safety and After Sales Service – Safety has been at the forefront for any Skoda car. The Octavia RS gets 9 airbags, ESP, DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control), Cruise Control, front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, all 4 disc brakes and hands-free parking. The Czech carmaker’s after sales service in India has not been up to the mark for several owners, with the prices of the spare parts also being expensive. However, the automaker promises to work on improving the after sales experience.

Verdict – There have been some adjectives which might have over heightened the feeling of driving the Octavia RS but hear me out. This is a car which channels all its power to the front wheels, which makes it an uncontrollable beast when you turn off traction control but the dynamics are so good that you can tame it, it makes you feel like a very good driver. Then it has 230 HP which means the already overpriced Volkswagen GTI with just 190 HP and less practicality feels like the most pointless car to have ever been launched in India. The only gripe I have with the Octavia RS or rather Skoda, in particular, is their after sales service and of course the fact that they didn’t bring the diesel Octavia RS which would have let owners get the best of both worlds!

What’s Cool

* Looks fast yet a sleeper, those who know it, get it
* 2.0-litre mill creates a racket, acceleration is super thrilling
* Sounds really nice, good NVH spoils the eargasm though
* Super sharp handling, steering offers a lot of feel too
* Practical car with a decent ride quality and generous cabin and boot space

What’s Not So Cool

* A fuel guzzler, the diesel RS would have made more sense for India
* Skoda’s after sales service

Alternatives: BMW 330i M-Sport

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Further Reading –

2017 Skoda Octavia Review
2017 Skoda Octavia Video Review