Skoda Octavia RS 245 2018 Review with the team from Motoring Australia for those who want something different in a straightforward SUV.
If you thought that Skoda’s were simply recycled Volkswagens and that the station wagon in general is a little bit on the nose…I want you to put your views to one side for a moment because I’ve got something to show you…
This is the Skoda Octavia RS 245 and for me any car that shouts its horsepower figure in its title is definitely worthy of a closer inspection, especially when you’re driving one with a manual transmission.
The RS 245 is the newly conceived kingpin of the Octavia lineup. It costs $4,500 more than the regular Octavia RS but gets a re-tuned version of the Volkswagen Group’s 2-liter turbo four bringing 245 horsepower or 180 kilowatts in our money and 370 Newton meters and it goes just like the badge suggests.
That’s an 11 kilowatt and 20 Newton meter jump over the current Octavia flagship but better than that, this one gets a mechanical front limited slip differential and it makes all the difference on a closed circuit.
Available in lift back and wagon styles with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, there is plenty of choice here.
The manual shift is fluid and nicely spaced and the 7-speed auto supports the occasional back road blast even if up-shifts are occasionally slurred.
Push the RS 245 to its limits and it responds quite willingly. On a closed circuit here in the Central Coast and it’s a bucket of fun…a lot of laughs, not quite as playful as other cars in this segment being front-wheel drive but still very pointed and very focused.
The biggest redeeming feature for the RS 245 is that it will do this playful stuff and yet still play the civilized wagon card.
That on-road requirement is supported by a smart and roomy interior complete with a 9.2 inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and crisp digital displays.
On the safety front the RS shines with nine airbags, automated emergency braking and the latest acronyms in driver aids.
While from an owner’s point of view there is peace of mind thanks to a five-year warranty and a set servicing rate of $1,300 over the space of three years.
To many people the Octavia RS will likely remain an enigma on the roads despite the introduction of this new 245 variant and that in itself is a great shame because when you consider the after-sales care, the tech and the on-road traits of this car, it’s actually quite compelling and best of all it’s a genuine alternative to the mainstream SUV.
Click Here to watch the Skoda Octavia RS 245 review on YouTube.