Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: No data available
Frugal, refined engine, practical, well-built.
Not particularly agile, numb steering.
There are better-handling hot hatches, but as a 'sporting' diesel there are few credible rivals.
The Skoda Octavia vRS does everything well, but not brilliantly. So it's quick rather than lightning fast, offering 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds and then onto 139mph.
With 168bhp and a maximum 258lb-ft of torque between 1,750rpm and 2,500rpm it's got plenty of pulling power, particularly in the lower to mid-rev range. If you give it the full beans from the off you get huge amounts of torque steer, which can be disconcerting in freezing conditions.
The vRS turns in nicely but the front-wheel-drive layout promotes a fair amount of understeer if you push it too hard. Body roll is well contained and the suspension is just hard enough to stop it lunging into corners, but not so stiff as to make it a teeth-rattling experience in a straight line.
The gearing is almost perfect and it's a capable cruiser. Once up to 70mph, leave it in sixth and you feel enormously relaxed as the vRS sips fuel. It's hard to find fault with the driving experience offered by the vRS but then again, it never blows your socks off.
Steering is a little numb, but not totally devoid of feel. The brakes are dependable in all conditions, but they aren't progressive and if you're careless your passengers could get queasy. The gearchange is smooth but it's less slick than in the Volkswagen Golf or the Ford Focus.
There are more agile and exhilarating hot hatches out there but they're all petrol models. The diesel Seat Leon FR is the vRS's closest rival, but the FR is nowhere near as accomplished on the road.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Skoda Octavia vRS
wrote on 02 01 2009