Skoda Octavia RS

There are no bright chrome elements inside this car. The installed theme is dark and supplemented by modern digital screens.

Cabin Layout & Quality

• A 13-inch touchscreen sits floating in the middle of the dash.
• It handles everything from media to the climate controls.
• There’s a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that features exclusive RS layouts.
• The three-spoke, flat-bottomed sports steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leather.
• Red stitching runs across the dashboard, seats, and doors.

Seating Comfort

Front Row

• The front seats are high-quality sports buckets featuring integrated headrests.
• They have massive side bolsters that lock your ribcage in place during fast cornering.
• Both seats offer full electric adjustments with memory settings.
• And despite their racing design, they are heavily cushioned and very comfortable.

Second Row

• The rear seats offer fantastic legroom, easily accommodating adults over six feet tall.
• The bench is deeply contoured to hold the outer passengers tightly.
• The sloping roofline does cut into headroom slightly, but it remains manageable.
• Rear passengers also get dedicated air conditioning vents and fast-charging USB-C ports.

Features That Improve Daily Use

• The 13-inch touchscreen
• The 600-litre boot
• The 360-degree camera
• The Canton surround sound system

Girish observes,

“Visually, there is a lot of drama going on here. It looks sharp and sporty from most angles.”

Heavy import duties follow the Skoda Octavia RS, thereby pushing its final ex-showroom price into high territory. Buyers who missed out on the first batch are currently on a waiting list for its return.

DISCLAIMER: Prices mentioned are at the time of publishing. Please check your local dealership for accurate prices.

Nobody buys an expensive performance sedan while considering fuel frugality, but the turbo-petrol engine is surprisingly efficient if you drive it calmly. On the highway, the seven-speed automatic gearbox keeps the engine rpm very low, helping you extract a decent range from a full tank, which is around 50 litres.

Since this car has been given the capabilities to reach 250 kmph, Skoda has also equipped it with the highest level of European safety equipment available. It has a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating.

Passive Safety & Crash Protection

• The underlying MQB platform uses ultra-high-strength steel.
• Inside, the cabin is protected by 10 airbags.
• There are two ISOFIX child seat mounts as well as five three-point seatbelts.
• The airbag setup includes dual front airbags, side airbags for both the front and rear passengers, curtain airbags across the windows, a dedicated knee airbag for the driver, and one central airbag between the driver and front passenger.

Active Safety & Stability Systems

• The car uses an advanced Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system and a front limited-slip differential to keep its power in check.
• These systems actively stop the front tyres from spinning out of control under hard acceleration.
• The Octavia RS also features a complete Level 2 ADAS suite.
• In this suite, you get active lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a highly reactive automatic emergency braking system.

The high-end technology of this performance-driven car is something you usually expect from a luxury German sedan at this price.

Infotainment & Interface

• The 13-inch touchscreen display takes up much of the centre console’s space.
• The software is incredibly fast and includes the ChatGPT-powered Laura voice assistant.
• The driver gets a fully customizable 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect instantly.

Cabin Convenience & Practical Features

• The car includes a premium Canton surround sound system.
• A three-zone automatic climate control system ensures all can set their own temperatures.
• The sports seats feature heavy side bolstering, electric adjustments, and integrated heating.

The biggest advantage the Octavia RS has over a two-door sports car is its massive practicality.

• The notchback tailgate lifts the entire rear glass window, exposing a 600-litre boot.
• The loading floor is completely flat and very wide, easily fitting in four travel suitcases.
• If you need to carry long items, the rear seats fold down using quick-release levers.
• The power tailgate also has a hands-free opening function.

The RS is a front-wheel-drive car that behaves like a sharp, dedicated track machine.

City Driving

• Driving the Octavia RS in city traffic requires some care.
• The heavy sports suspension and large 19-inch alloy wheels mean you feel every pothole. The ground clearance is noticeably lower than the standard model as well.
• But the steering is light at low speeds, and the 360-degree camera helps out with parking.

Highway Driving

• The engine delivers exceptional mid-range acceleration on open stretches.
• The stiff suspension also keeps the car completely glued to the road at 120 kmph.
• When you push it through fast corners, the limited-slip differential grabs the inside wheel and pulls the car sharply around the bend.
• It offers massive grip and predictability, making even novice drivers feel incredibly confident.

Skoda reduces any buying confusion for Indian enthusiasts by offering this car in one configuration.

The Essentials That You Don't Get

• A sunroof at this price
• Ventilated front seats (they only get heating)
• A manual gearbox option

Because there is only one variant available, your choices will mostly fall upon the paint scheme that you want.

If you want everyone to know you are driving a limited-edition performance car, pick the exclusive Mamba Green or Velvet Red paint. These bright shades highlight the blacked-out grille and massive 19-inch wheels perfectly. But if you prefer a stealthy, undercover look, choose Magic Black. It hides the aggressive bumper cuts and blends in perfectly with regular traffic until you press the accelerator hard.

Regardless of the colour, the mechanical package remains identical. If you plan to take this car to a race track, the standard tyres provide excellent grip, but upgrading to a stickier set of performance tyres will significantly improve your lap times.