New Skoda Octavia vRS 4x4 2016 review ~ station of gear

28 Jan, 2016 5:00pm Jonathan Burn

The roomy Skoda Octavia is hot hatch fast in vRS guise but what does a 4x4 transmission do for its traction?

The Skoda Octavia isn’t exactly a car that gets your pulse racing. However, it is a veteran jack-of-all-trades, offering something for everyone. This is the new Octavia vRS 4x4, essentially adding all the best bits from the entire Octavia range – boiled down and crammed into one off the shelf model.

The cocktail you end up with reads like this. Included as standard is the punchy but frugal 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel from the vRS, a trick four-wheel drive system a la Octavia Scout, and a slick six-speed DSG transmission taken out the VW parts-bin. But if that’s not enough, you can have all of this packaged in a family-friendly estate body for a £1,200 premium. Dads have never had it so good.

And the good news continues. Because it’s an Octavia, it comes with a crowd-pleasing, inoffensive design, plenty of standard equipment and a price tag that still represents decent value for money.

• Best hot hatchbacks to buy now

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What’s unique about this particular Octavia is that it is the only performance diesel hatchback – or estate for that matter – with four-driven wheels. The Focus ST Diesel, Leon FR and Golf GTD are all front-wheel drive, and with vRS models sweeping up around 25 per cent of overall Octavia sales in the UK, the Czech brand clearly sees a market.

The vRS 4x4 demands an extra £1,450 over the standard front-wheel drive model, nudging the price up to £27,315. For that, Skoda will throw in 18-inch Gemini anthracite alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, sports suspension and dual-zone climate control as standard.

The advantage of more traction also means faster acceleration. The vRS 4x4 gets from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds, three tenths quicker than the standard model. Out on the road you’ll have some difficulty identifying that boost but having four-wheel drive does help stop the vRS spinning up the front wheels under hard acceleration – something that is easily done with a torquey diesel engine under the bonnet.

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Unsurprisingly, it’s in the corners where the advantage of four-wheel drive begins to shine. The vRS uses the fifth-generation Haldex clutch, which is able to send up to 50 per cent of the engine torque to the rear wheels when necessary. Combine that with the electronic differential on the front axle and the vRS 4x4 becomes a hot hatch you can really lean on in the corners.

The steering remains fairly light and the 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel is out of puff by 3,750rpm – but by that point the engine has delivered all it can. The six-speed auto keeps progress smooth, while the added security of the all-wheel drive system adds that extra bit of stability.

Even in some of the most hazardous conditions the vRS 4x4 is likely to face – as replicated by the ice track we tested the car on – the Octavia shuffles power between the front and rear axels seamlessly, resulting in safe and stable progress. Put it in Sport mode and it even becomes pretty good fun – as you’re able exploit that low down slug of torque to adjust the car’s angle through corners.

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However, the added weight of the four-wheel drive system will dent your fuel economy slightly. The 4x4 will return a claimed 57.7mpg and 129g/km of CO2 compared with 60.1mpg and 124g/km from the front-wheel drive vRS. Yet, there is no impact when it comes to practicality or luggage space, with the same generous 590-litre boot and space for three adults in the rear.

Fitting the vRS with four-wheel drive simply adds another feather to the Octavia’s accomplished bow. Punchy performance, enough space to transport five adults and now traction that will help get you through a typically dismal British winter. Even with four-wheel drive the vRS is still cheaper than an equivalent front-driven VW Golf GTD or Ford Focus ST diesel.

Model: Skoda Octavia vRS 4x4
Price: £27,31
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel
Transmission: six-speed auto, four-wheel drive

0-62mph/Top speed: 7.6s/142mph
Economy: 57.7mpg
CO2: 129g/km
On sale : now

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