Skoda Australia has now confirmed the pricing and final specifications of their new Octavia RS, but outwardly you may struggle to tell it apart from the car it officially replaces. That’s because there’s not all that much that has changed besides some new kit equipment shuffles.
The updated hot Octavia RS (sedan and Combi wagon) will be rolling into local Skoda dealerships from $38,890 (including on-road costs. For that you’ll get a more involving if not more effective six-speed manual transmission mated to a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. There are two engines on offer here, a petrol and diesel which are pretty much identical to the Volkswagen-sourced motors found in the outgoing model, producing 169kW and 350Nm for the former and 135kW and 380Nm in the latter.
Skoda will be adding the RS245 range-topper using the same petrol engine above but tuned up to 180kW and 370Nm and includes a mechanical limited slip differential, but that won’t be until November. However, the extra power likely won’t come with a marked gulf in road presence as they’ve now included the previously optional Black Pack to these 2017 model year units as standard, fitting 18-inch gloss black wheels and black exterior accents.
For an additional $2,300, the Tech Pack will add adaptive suspension, a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation, a pair of LED headlights, automatic headlights and wipers, keyless entry and start, and a premium 10-speaker Canton sound system.
There’s also the Luxury Pack which will add another $2,800 to the final price, but for that you are treated to an interior that does feel a notch or two above the class of the standard Octavia RS. Most prominently, it includes combination Alcantara and leather upholstery that’s contrasted by red stitching, heated front seats that are electrically adjustable, and heated rear seats.
Oddly, this also adds Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, automatic folding door mirrors, and even 2 additional airbags - we feel these would have been more appropriate for the aforementioned Tech Pack.
Along with the manual option (petrol only), drive reaches the front wheels through the automatic alternative, a need obviously served by a DSG dual-clutch, this time sporting 6 forward ratios.
Octavia RS - Sedan
- 169TSI - Manual - $38,890
- 169TSI - DSG - $41,390
- 135TDI - DSG - $42,490
Octavia RS - Wagon
- 169TSI - Manual - $40,390
- 169TSI - DSG - $42,890
- 135TDI - DSG - $43,990
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