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2025 Skoda Octavia RS First Drive (Trackday) Review: The One-Car Garage Ticked Off
The Škoda Octavia RS is a nameplate that has always been associated with premium performance in the Indian market. The RS-badged Škoda Octavia first arrived on our shores in 2004, and it quickly gained a cult following among enthusiasts.
Over the years, the Octavia RS has returned to India multiple times, first as the RS 230 in September 2017 and then as the RS 245 at Auto Expo 2020. Now, the performance sedan has returned again as the performance version of the fourth-gen Octavia. Badged the Škoda Octavia RS, the performance sedan is limited to just 100 units, all of which have already found homes.
So when we got the invite to sample the new Škoda Octavia RS at the Buddh International Circuit, we dropped everything to sample the sporty sedan on the track and see if it is worth that price tag of ₹49.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
Skoda Octavia RS - Exterior Design
The new Octavia RS strikes a refined balance: the body is taut, the lines clean, and sporty cues are tastefully integrated into the sedan's bodywork. The Octavia RS features a sharp-looking front end, highlighted by a blacked-out grille, gloss black splitter, and the signature Skoda bonnet lines.
The RS and Skoda badges are finished in black, adding to its sporty look(thought the V is finished in red, the car is called the VRS in Europe). The front end also houses the radar and camera for the Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
On the sides, the Octavia RS features 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 225/40 R19 tyres. The Octavia RS sits low to the ground providing just 128 mm ground clearance. The Octavia RS also features body-coloured door handles, a shark-fin antenna, and gloss black accents around the mirrors and window line.
At the rear, the car features a boot-lip spoiler, connected wrap-around tail lamps, and a gloss black lower bumper along with blacked-out badging. The electronically operated boot lid opens up to a storage area with 600 litres of capacity.
Skoda Octavia RS - Interior & Features
Inside, the Octavia RS feels premium, modern and well-equipped. The dashboard integrates a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, a digital driver display (also the same size) and a head-up display. The material quality is premium, with suede or leather-trimmed sporty seats, red contrast stitching and seat-massage and ventilation for the front occupants.
The Octavia RS features a Canton premium audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, three-zone climate control and wireless charging. Rear-seat comfort is generous thanks to ample legroom and those at the back get a set of AC vents and USB-C charging ports.
Skoda Octavia RS - Performance & Specifications
Under the bonnet of the sits a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 265 hp and 370 Nm (claimed) paired with a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox driving the front wheels. Claimed performance figures are a 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds and a governed top speed of 250 km/h.
| Parameter | Skoda Octavia RS (2025) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L Turbocharged Petrol |
| Power | 265 hp |
| Torque | 370 Nm |
| Transmission | 7-speed DSG (Automatic) |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h |
| Drive Type | Front-Wheel Drive |
The chassis has been tuned to offer sharper steering, tighter body control; however, the Indian version does miss out on the adaptive dampers offered with the European version og the Octavia RS.
Skoda Octavia RS - Driving Impressions
On the track, the Octavia RS felt quite nicely set up and planted on the move. Put the pedal to the metal, as we were able to do at the Buddh, and the Octavia RS picks up its skirts and rushes down the straights, reaching triple digit speeds with ease.
There is a bit of a surge in power from the engine in the mid-range (good for overtaking in the real world) and the throttle feels very responsive. The DSG gearbox is as sharp as ever and swaps gears like nobody's business.
The Octavia RS' steering is precise and communicative, and the sporty sedan keeps body roll under control. It changes directions with ease, but if you do push it to hard into a corner, there is a bit of a tendency to understeer. Ride quality across the smooth tarmac at the BIC, though the stiffer suspension setup
Skoda Octavia RS -Verdict & Final Thoughts
The Škoda Octavia RS has returned to India once again, and it's even more powerful than ever before. For the lucky 100 souls who've managed to get their hands on the latest iteration of Skoda's sporty sedan, the Octavia RS is all the car they'll ever need, leaving the rest of us both green with envy and hopeful that another batch will come to India soon.
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