Clever and fast. We want two.
Czech carmaker Skoda might be known best for delivering great value, but with the arrival of the RS245 models, maybe the company should start calling themselves ‘Simply Clever, and Bloody Fast Too.’ The Octavia RS245 cars are available in both saloon and estate forms, ensuring that you can have your entire family, the dog, and the kitchen sink with you for a track day.
The RS245 was first seen at the Geneva motor show about 7-months ago, and got most of us salivating at the prospect of a snarling-hot performance car with the practicality of, well, an Octavia. With prices starting at $43,390 (before ORCs) for the Octavia RS245 saloon, it commands a not-unreasonable $4500 premium over the Octavia 169TSI RS that it now sits above (with a further $1500 required for an estate body style), which is a small price to pay considering the performance on offer.
While there’s a choice between a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, the RS245 only offers one stonking engine: A 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, capable of rocketing the Octavia saloon from rest to 100km/h in a blistering 6.6-seconds, with the estate doing the run just 0.1-seconds slower. Power goes to the front wheels exclusively, with an electronic limited-slip differential aiding traction and stopping the front axel from devouring its tyres in one sitting.
Marking out the Octavia RS245 from lesser variants include things like enormous 19-inch ‘Xtreme’ alloys, finished in black, with the same finish applied to the exhaust outlets. The cabin gets a unique RS245 instrument cluster and door inserts, which works well with the leather/Alcantara cabin, electric sports seats, and mood lighting throughout.
Your RS245 can be finished in either Corrida Red or Steel Grey, or you could stump up a $500 premium for Moon White metallic or Pearl Effect Black Magic. If you want to spend more on your Octavia RS245, Skoda’s got a variety of option packs that can very easily lighten your wallet, including a $2300 Tech Pack that throws on things like automated parking, electrically-adjustable dampers, keyless-entry, and a 10-speaker Canton sound system.
If you want things to be a little more plush, you can opt for the $1500 Luxury pack, which throws in things line lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and heated seats at the front and rear. The blistering fast Octavias are covered by Skoda’s five-year/unlimited mileage warranty replete with roadside assistance, along with capped-price servicing.
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