INTRODUCING THE SAME styling updates brought to the rest of the Octavia range earlier this year, Skoda has today launched the new-look Octavia RS.
A largely aesthetic update, the new model is powered by the same turbocharged 2.0 litre TSI petrol and 2.0 litre TDI diesel engines of the pre-facelift model.
The updated Octavia RS, available in both sedan and wagon form, features revised headlights, a refreshed grille and a new, sportier and more aggressive design for the front bumper.
Perhaps the most instantly noticeable feature of the new face, LED daytime driving lights are fitted above the fog lamps each side of the now larger main air intake.
Developing 147kW between 5100rpm to 6000rpm, the turbocharged 2.0 TSI four-cylinder petrol engine features high-pressure direct injection.
Torque for the turbocharged petrol engine is impressive, with 280Nm coming online at 1800rpm through to 5000rpm.
Fuel consumption for the TSI engine is rated at 7.7 l/100km, emitting 179g/km of CO2. The Octavia RS TSI manual liftback crosses 100km/h in 7.3 seconds, and the manual wagon in 7.5 seconds.
The 2.0 TDI common rail direct injection diesel engine is the most power diesel in Skoda’s range, producing 125kW. Torque is the diesel’s strong suit however, with 350Nm available between 1750rpm and 2500rpm.
Fuel consumption is just 5.9 l/100km on the combined cycle, and CO2 emissions are rated at 155g/km.
The Octavia RS 2.0 TDI manual liftback reaches 100km/h in 8.4 seconds, and the wagon in 8.5 seconds.
Both engines are available with either a six-speed manual or with Volkswagen’s six-speed DSG automatic transmission.
Standard active and passive safety features for the Octavia RS include six airbags, front whiplash optimised head restraints, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), advanced Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD).
Pricing for the new Octavia RS starts at $37,990 for the liftback and $39,990 for the wagon. The optional six-speed DSG gearbox is $2,300.
GALLERY » 2009 Skoda Octavia RS Update
Note: Prices are Manufacturer’s List Price only.
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How does it drive guys!?
Very nice. A huge improvement on the old model!
I sat in one the other day and loved it - a real improvement over my 2008 RS. It drives without a fault, as you’d expect and the build quality is great (eg the same as parent VW). The best thing about the new one though is that it has the aggression In the styling to match the performance. Fantastic car!
Matt J, we’ll have our driving impression up soon.
Stay tuned for our seat-of-the-pants analysis of the RS, folks.
Can someone confirm that this will still need 98 RON, following on from the announcement that many VW and Skoda cars can now accept 95 RON instead.
That isn’t the case Grump - it will run happily on 95RON, whereas before 95RON was kinda short-periods (eg 1-2 tanks) only despite my 2008 2.0TFSI running happily on 95RON…Of course, putting it on 98RON will make it run to the best of its abilities though (performance driving etc)…
Europes anwser to Proton
Orphan!
Mr Truth I think not (in opinion and name) - you sound to be Frugal One. Arrogant and completely wrong!
My Skoda doesn’t fall apart…unlike Protons…
$40k? WTF….
Might as well just buy a GTI or Jetta, least they have class and some sort of resale.
What’s the point of this brand, Skoda use to be a cheap nasty rubbish brand, same but now expensive to boot..
Weird
PS They have BRAND NEW 2007 for sale, the market has spoken.
SALESMAN -
Buddy you’re WAY WRONG. Jetta - pfft are you crapping me? The Jetta has to be THE most boring Euro car on sale (Oh and heres a hint: its mad in MEXICO). The Golf is abit better (but the new one is just a mix of the current VW range - Touareg rear mixed with Golf MkV everything else) but its still boring.
40k isn’t expensive (especally for what you get - the best $40k car available period)
Next time: DO SOME RESEARCH it might suprise your small-minded self! Cheap and nasty is not something you suggest about any European car at all…
Mr.Truth and Salesman,
A German automobile TV show Auto, Motor und Sport compared the Škoda Octavia with its cousin, the Volkswagen Golf Mk5, and concluded that the Škoda Octavia was slightly better than the Volkswagen Golf owing to a little more interior space and other specific ergonomics, better build quality, better drivability, and a lower price.
In their 2006 survey, the British automobile magazine and TV/radio show Top Gear placed the first-generation Octavia into 3rd place, and described it as a “masterpiece of dependability”. The second generation was too new to be included in the survey.
The British automobile magazine Auto Express awarded to the second-generation Octavia the gold medal in their prestigious Driver Power top 100, stating that it is “the UK’s most satisfying car to own in 2007″ and that it “has bettered every other car on sale in the UK”.
Mr.Truth, Orphan is someone without a parent. Please explain the link??
We spent a few hours hot lapping the Top Gear Oz test track in the Octavia RS’s today and despite the thrashing they did not put a foot wrong. Not once.
They (both diesel and petrol) were a blast to drive.
Australians are still coming to grips with Skoda.
Comparing the current Skoda range to the cars made back in the days when Skoda was communist controlled is irrelevant.
@Superior - I think Auto, Motor und Sport got it right.