2009 Skoda Octavia RS Diesel Wagon And Petrol Hatch Road Test Review
“Škoda… one word; Octavia… next word.” I correct a friend of mine for the third time that morning. He has a habit of referring to the white Octavia RS parked in front of our breakfast venue as a “Skodavia.”
He’s mucking around, but there’s a harsh reality in the jest. Any newcomer to the Australian market - like Škoda - has to build both brand awareness and trust, while also trying to get across a message about its model range.
From a standing start, in this kind of crowded - and sceptical - market, defining “well, what the hell is it?”, isn’t easy.
Fortunately, while this may not be Škoda’s first foray into Australia, it is certainly the one that holds the most promise.
With the backing of the powerful Volkswagen Group, the Czech brand now offers a level of quality that seriously challenges the parent company’s products, with pricing that places it at the pointy end of Euro offerings.
And Australians are starting to catch on. While it’s early days, more and more Octavias are gracing the streets of our metro centres.
With a mildy refreshed Octavia RS now available, we put two variants through their paces to determine what kind of appeal the manual-equipped turbo-diesel wagon and DSG propelled turbo-charged petrol hatch offered.
Styling
For a car that could hardly be described as controversial, the Octavia certainly manages to divide opinion.
Some may find the conservative lines handsome and comforting, others will fail to be thrilled by a look that is less then cutting edge.
There’s certainly an Eastern European vibe to the styling, which includes a few Škoda hallmarks such as the body-colored pillars which blend into the upper door skin, blocky tail lights and Octavia badging integrated into the headlamps.
The bonnet features a heavily straked centre-line, which flows into the middle of the chrome-framed grille and draws attention to the winged arrow badge front and centre.
As part of the RS package, the Octavia wears a deeper set of bumpers. The rear is set off with a dual-tipped chrome exhaust, while a wide mesh-filled intake in the front bumper, flanked by driving lights and LED running lamps distinguishes the front of the RS.
Together with hunkered down suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels, it’s a look that is subtly menacing.
The wagon manages to be the most conventional-looking of the pair, but only because of the hatch’s hidden tailgate, blended into the sedan-like lines and topped of with a small rear wing.
Interior
Inside the Octavia, the theme of muted European conservatism continues. And as we’ve come to expect from Skoda, the level of fit and finish is difficult to fault.
The dashboard is laid out logically and in a manner that is pleasing to the eye. Dash and door trims are covered in soft-touch matte black grained plastics and dressed up with brushed-metal spears.
The seats look almost race-ready with a combination of leather, alcantara and cloth, or optional full leather trim; both of which feature embroidered RS logos on the front and rear seatbacks.
Front seats are equipped with nice deep bolstering, providing plenty of grip through corners. The driver’s seat is six-way manually adjustable and finding the ideal driving position is a breeze.
The rear bench features a degree of sculpting and the standard trim proved itself to be ‘grippy’ enough to keep passengers comfortably in place.
Those relegated to the rear will have little to complain about with leg-room only becoming tight behind the tallest of front seat occupants.
Large windows provide excellent visibility for those stationed outboard.
The only tight spot is the centre position in the rear. Thanks to the sculpted pseudo-bucket styling of the rear bench, it can get a little uncomfortable on longer trips.
While the wagon offers a typically wagon-esque cargo bay, with an integrated cargo blind and a variety of cargo tie-down points, the liftback is truly surprising.
Opening the tailgate on the liftback reveals a wide deep opening with 560 litres of available volume (versus 580 for the wagon) and a useful hook to keep shopping bags in place.
With seats folded, the wagon yields 1620 litres of space, while the hatch grows to 1420 litres, both via a 60:40 split rear bench.
Equipment and Features
Straight off the rack, the Octavia RS comes with a long list of standard features.
As well as the aforementioned sports seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, lowered suspension and sports body kit, the RS includes dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake, trip computer and auto headlights and wipers.
The front seats and door mirrors are heated, while the glovebox is cooled. There are map lights front and rear, height-adjustable front seatbelts, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and alloy pedals.
Standard safety gear includes six airbags, ESP, tyre pressure monitoring (TPM), WOKS whiplash optimised head-restraints, and pre-tensioning front seatbelts.
Optional equipment includes xenon headlights with dynamic angle control, cornering function for the front foglights, front park sensors (to compliment the standard rear sensors), satellite navigation with a 30GB hard drive, a glass sunroof and leather trim.
Entertainment is provided by a six-disc MP3 compatible in-dash CD player with eight speakers. DSG equipped cars also get a multi-function steering wheel with audio and trip computer controls and shift-paddles.
Mechanical Package
The Octavia range offers a range of petrol and diesel engines with the performance-headlining RS offering a high output version of each.
For petrol-heads, there’s a 2.0 TSI turbocharged petrol motor which produces 147kW of power between 5100 and 6000 rpm. Torque comes in at 280Nm between 1800 and 5000rpm.
If the setup sounds familiar it should. The Octavia has the same heart beating beneath its chest as the just-superseded Mark V Volkswagen Golf GTI.
This engine sees a 0-100 sprint of 7.3 seconds for the liftback and 7.5 for the slightly heavier wagon. Fuel consumption is the same for both body styles at 7.7 l/100 km for the manual gearbox and 7.9 l/100 km for the DSG transmission.
Switch to the RS diesel, and you’re sitting behind a 2.0 litre TDI turbo-diesel engine, producing 125kW at 4200 rpm and 350 Nm of torque on tap from 1750 to 2500 rpm.
The RS diesel is not quite as quick off the mark as its petrol-engined stablemate: liftback and wagon sprint to 100km/h from standstill in 8.4 and 8.5 seconds respectively.
Making up for the slight lack of pace, the TDI returns a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.9 l/100 km when teamed with the manual gearbox or 6.0 l/100 km for the DSG.
Those gearbox options include a traditional six-speed manual, or the VW group’s six-speed dual-clutch automated Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG). Both deliver power to the front wheels but do so without the assistance of a limited slip differential.
2009 Holden Cruze CDX 
2010 FPV F6 E
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The new facelited Octavia RS front looks like the current Mercedes C-class W204
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/mb-c-class-2007.jpg
The fog light positioning, the air-dam on the front bumper, the design of the headlights (if the bump edge are smoothed out).
You even get a hint of the the new Mercedes E-Class W212 as well, especially the daytime LED running lights in place -
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/e-class-mercedes.jpg
But overall, a better design that the previous model, however the rear needs some more work. Also, the interior are as out-dated as the current VW Golf/Jetta model.
Being an Octavia TDI DSG owner (the Elegance, not the RS), thank you for an excellent appraisal reflecting the potential and capacity of these machines.
Oh, and for the bogons it is performance products like these that make FPV/HSV neo-Lutzian dinosaurs redundant.
Why would you bother with this outdated eurotrash 4 star ANCAP in 2009 is just pathetic even $14K Korean cheapies are 4stars nowdays.
For $42K you would expect 5star safety much better cars around for less coin and safer too.
Cpt Nemo -
The Octavia tested was a base 1.4 with no curtain airbags and that was 2004. We’re in 2009 (it did get facelifted with safety electronics upgrades in 2006 and then again with this one) and Australia (Skoda Aus has a minimum 6-airbag/ABS/ESP policy for all it’s models - this is why the Fabia is taking so long), so the Octavia would get a 5-star no worries. I hope they ANCAP this one though - it’d crush concerns some have.
My RS TFSI Hatch has been going very strong for 23,000km and 18 months now. No sqeaks, rattles or reliability issues. No issues at all, which after owning a Subaru (alot of Skoda owners have come from Subies) and going to a Euro car, I didn’t expect! I still love the spine-tingling performance too. Fantastic family car!
A MUCH better alternative than the new GTI as well…all the extra space! And it’s cheaper and better equipped too!
“The Octavia has the same heart beating beneath its chest as the just-superseded Mark V Volkswagen Golf GTI.”
Actually it has the same engine as in the newly released Mk 6 Golf GTI.
This new engine has a cam chain rather than the previous engine’s cam belts (which needed replacing every 80,000km/4 years), so significantly cheaper servicing costs.
I’m another very enthusiastic vRS owner - I’v had mine for 18 months now and still love it
whatever anyone writes about performance or safety, it’s still very bland, looks vanilla and about 10 years old already. And the GTI comparison? Image the dinner party: “I have a GTI”. Tick. “I drive a Skoda”. A what? Sounds like a disease.
* Comment by
rajman
* November 15, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
whatever anyone writes about performance or safety, it’s still very bland, looks vanilla and about 10 years old already. And the GTI comparison? Image the dinner party: “I have a GTI”. Tick. “I drive a Skoda”. A what? Sounds like a disease.
Maybe so, but not everyone in the world are complete and utter anal snobs are they? Didn’t think so. Typical GTI owner I might add too…
What a dopey comment Rajman. The parallel drawn between the GTI and the RS is a rather obvious one. You do get it don’t you?
Seems to me that Skoda is putting the wind up a lot of Aussies who cant deal with the idea of a car that is better engineered, better built, better to drive and more efficient than the local product. Final nail in the coffin is that the Skodas are better value as well.
Just wait till people catch on. It won’t just be Toyota threatening the big dumb Aussie bricks. Thats gotta hurt!
Truly beautiful, well built together car!!
Rajman, take it easy smoking those bongs in your kingswood!!
Nothing special.
More FWD rubbish. 147kw..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
New Kia diesel has same power
thanks for the feedback about my kingswood bongs…thing is none of you can offer any constructive feedback against my comment, just general terms. So my decision is still the same…it’s bland and vanilla, has a crap name and no matter what, it’s design is 10 years old…aged. Of course those who own one will always tell you “it’s the best” and pick other cars nowhere near related to this to compare. GTI still rocks for me, sales numbers prove it, the world proves it by buying Golfs, not Octavia’s (erk, what a crap name). Enjoy your Skoda’s boys and girls.
Rajman,
Yeah you’re so friggin cool! What about the Golf huh? It’s named after the most boring (to play) sport ever (apart from bowls…). And you mention dinner parties, I doubt you’ve ever been to one. You are the typical GTI driver - it’s all about me! All about fashion, but nothing else. Skoda drivers aren’t total p****s and we like good value. And if i’m associated with being smart then I’m totally happy. Like a Subaru Forester XT driver - smart.
And if you don’t like this page then leave - no one wants you generic and negative (with no real base either - it’s just dribble)!
* Comment by
rajman
* November 15, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
whatever anyone writes about performance or safety, it’s still very bland, looks vanilla and about 10 years old already. And the GTI comparison? Image the dinner party: “I have a GTI”. Tick. “I drive a Skoda”. A what? Sounds like a disease.
Hey Rajman
I’ve got an Octavia & couldn’t agree more. Nobody has a clue what it is, how it goes, who makes it - nothing. Yeah it looks bland & 10 years out of date but who gives a damn. The coppers don’t look twice at bland, boring boxes.
Luckily I’m a confident guy (you know those little short blokes you see with the 6foot high glamazons on their arms - that’s me) and don’t let badges or labels define me.
What’s that on your wrist Rajman? A Rolex copy watch? That bag of your Missus - it’s a genuine, vinyl YSL? beeeyoudiful! Wearing all your clothes inside-out so that people can see the labels?
It goes to show that the Skoda may face with criticism on face and brand value in the market, as typical people like Rajman pride themselve with their own opinion.
But at least, it’s only on face value, on paper however, it is as good if not, better than a Golf GTI when you consider the price per spec the Skoda gives you.
It has a different badge, a different appeareance but that is about it, every other components have almost identical parts share with the VW group.
Just on the side note, for people like Rajman who is a die hard GTi fans, he may want to learn a little bit more about the VW and its Golf. The Golf is a mainstream mass produced model, just like a Holden Commodore in Australia, the GTi badge is the performance range, much like the SS V8 range of the Commodore.
And the end of the day, people from England and UK (prior) who imports the Commodores may think it kick asses and is an awesome car, we in Australia shows little interests in it when you get to see one everyday.
Exactly the same situation in Germany.
Rajman … you’ve set off a few wicks with your comments. I’ll try and offer you the constructive feedback you are craving. While I agree that the looks are nothing special, you fail to acknowledge the GTI is hardly pushing the aesthetic boundary of car design. Especially the Mk VI which VW have done their best to normalise with the rest of the Golf range (apart from the lower front dam). ‘Good looking’ is always a matter of personal choice - I think it safe to say both the RS and GTI are not the Jen Hawkins of the motoring world, fortunately neither are retina-searing ugly.
Skoda Octavia RS may not have the cachet of a Bentley Continental but I think this a moot point. Based purely on the name alone (so ignore knowledge or understanding of the actual car or company which is effectively what you have thrown out to everyone), no-one would “get” a Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni ! If you think Octavia is a disease, then the Lambo name is the disease, disease strain and scientist who discovered it all in one ! Do you know how to pronounce Gallardo? And you think Octavia is a bad name to market … like any product in a new market (Australia), brand awareness and product placing are the big hurdles to overcome. Maybe you could suggest some more palatable names to Skoda HQ. I doubt they’ll listen … Octavia sales in Europe prove its working just fine (particularly UK, Germany, Spain & Italy as well as the former Eastern bloc countries that see Octavias as the equivalent of the Falcodore)
Your comment “whatever anyone writes about performance or safety” is interesting. Why exactly do you purchase a vehicle if not for its performance, (likely) its safety, (probably) its fit with your lifestyle, (hopefully) reliability & dependability ? There are some lucky people out there who can buy a car based purely on its looks. At this price range I don’t think anyone does buy a car based on perception of looks and the car’s name. If they take into account performance etc, the Octavia RS is a pretty good looking package. And I’ll happily talk performance - sure, the RS doesn’t have the last tenth of performance the Mk VI GTI now adds, but there’s a certain purity associated with having a nicely balanced FWD with decent grunt and not having to rely upon electronics to get you around a corner (ie the ‘diff’). And don’t get me started on the speaker on the firewall in the Mk VI GTI to replicate engine noise … uh, has anyone in VW heard of an exhaust and winding down the windows?
I’ll readily admit to being a convert and have ordered a new RS, after shopping against Mk VI GTI, V50 T5,159 2.4, Forester XT, SV6 s’wagon. The value, performance and space was the clincher for the RS. While the GTI might have a few new tricks like the xDiff to help with track days, the RS is the better platform for quick daily driving and big road trips.