Yes, though the faux noise is too loud in the cabin by default. As I showed in the review I found myself turning the artificial noise off every time I drove the car.
That sound, though sure to be annoying in the long term, is what I imagine the illegitimate love child of a WRX and a 5.0 Mustang would sound like! Awesome..
I'm a bit late, but it's possible to turn off the fake engine sound forever, and it's dead easy. Step one - disconnect the battery. Step two - open the fusebox and pull out fuse no. 59, the device that makes the noise has its own dedicated fuse and removing it won't affect anything else. It works with the Golf GTI and R and Cupras as well.
Bravo! You are the first reviewer I've watched on UA-cam to call out the low rent plastics on the rear door trims! Also, there is an absence of sill plates on the rear door openings. To me, these are major let downs and I am still undecided if this will be the perfect next car. My test drive is coming soon.
Great review as always. Thanks Tom. Perfect family car aside from the retention of the low Euro spec tow ball download. I wish Skoda would adjust for our market as Subaru and Hyundai/Kia do. At 80 kg, it even excludes many hitch mount bike carriers, let alone a small camper.
The Octavia is a great package and would be high on my list for my next car and the RS wagon would be a great car to own. More roomy than a golf wagon more compact than a Passat and with no performance version of the Golf wagon it’s a no brainier
I test drove one last week. Played around with dampers and found normal was about right too. Might be a little expensive but really can’t think of anything that quick or loaded that comes close right now. Perhaps Passat 206tsi?
I guess I'm a little puzzled by pricing compared to Superb, say the Scout. Given that the luxury pack is needed for the adaptive suspension here, it's only a little cheaper. The Octavia is going to be a bit more fun but versus more spacious, more luxurious (especially quieter), bigger engine, AWD...?
Another professional job Tom. Well done. Sorry, but I’m not paying $60k+ for the cheapy brand of the VW group that still can’t get soft touch door cards on all four doors. I previously owned a Fabia 81TSI wagon which I thought offensive when they tried to charge me $30k for the fully optioned version with out the dumb non-opening full glass roof. As a detailer I see many vehicles and the latest VW Tiguan 162TSI still has hard plastic door cards and most of the dash which my clients are optioning up for over $70k drive away!!! I really like the VW group products as packages, but the individual products are ‘annoying to own’ as a clients owner of a Q5 S-line said recently. He has turned his back on Audi and just bought a fully optioned Mazda CX-5 Akera. Just as luxurious he said for half the replacement cost of another Q5. To be relevant in 2021, this Octavia vRS should be $10k cheaper. Then it would just be a matter of waiting for the cabriolet version to be born 😎 Lloyd
Audio in the driving section sounded a bit off, did you have audio issues and thank god you can turn off that awful artificial engine noise, it would get annoying on a long trip.
Nice work Tom. Although I love the thought of the RS, it's the regular Octavia wagon that we'll be looking at to replace our Golf 7 Highline wagon so really interested to see how it shapes up.
i'm wishing for the 140kw version that's muted for Australia. unsure why Skoda cannot design an exhaust that exits all the way and consigns the metal pressings to the bin...
Wagons (Estates) are great things and save the embarrassment of being seen in an SUV. Typically actually store more too. Pity they dropped the Diesel option.
Thanks, nice review. According to the the Skoda brochure, the standard RS has electric seats ( drivers side and passenger) . Can anyone who knows please confirm that??
Are you sacrificing much in terms of practicality vs the Superb 206TSI? I take it the driving dynamics are better in the Octavia, and the styling is clearly better than the somewhat frumpy Superb.
In your opinion is worth upgrading my 2017 rs245 too the new wagon? Or buy a sq2? I know that the power difference is big but I'm looking at value for money perspective! But the new model rs does seem like a big step up over the previous model.
Not really but just a wagon fan! Yes i agree with the firm part of the sq2 but looks like a decent car. also the skoda really is one of the best daily drivers around. Found it very hard too fault
Hey Tom, just noticed this while listening to the video through my ear phones...It sounds like a low, rumbly v8 when you're in the cabin giving the spiel about the car and the mike picks up that ambient drone. How's the cabin insulation?
Cool dad swagon, but I cannot get over that asymmetrical design of that screen with two buttons on the passenger side. For a over 50k wagon, it'd be nice to have a flush design for that dashboard. Those little details really kill the appeal for a pretty damn good wagon.
Bothers some more than others. I have probably been desensitised by the fact this screen is in just about every VW and Skoda we test now. Given wireless CarPlay kicks in immediately on startup, and as a driver you have the pleasant, tactile volume and track buttons on the steering wheel, you kind of forget about the screen layout.
A good car. But it is hard to see obvious upgrade from previous generation. It seems the powertrain is same as before, very disappointed. Just wondering it will be great if Skode makes a Octavia Scout.
I ordered one as they said it would be available mid May, that wound out to July so I cancelled as I’m interested to try the new Sonata, i30n dsg and new cerato gt.
Great review as always but the fake engine noise please turn it off at the start as it’s so of putting and it was harder to hear you as the mic seems to be from the camera and not on you. In the uk I was looking at this or a Hyundai I30n fastback the new dct model but the VRS cost £33,500 with the dct so is very cheap compared to the Hyundai as the i 30n fastback has a £6500 price increase from the last model costing £36,500. The VRS has my vote as it seems cheap compared to others out there but better reliability
Ah right, that goes a long way to explain how/why the audio changed so much when the driving segment began. Maybe the way the audio was recorded was meant to give an idea of this. Otherwise, as Will said, the audio pickup on what you were saying, Tom during the driving bit was quite difficult to hear. Otherwise, another great video about a fun-looking car.
I think that Skoda dealers are going to be forced to discount pretty heavily to move these... not because they are a bad vehicle (on the contrary), but because it is directly competing with the Mazda6 on size/features, but directly competing against the Kia Stinger on price point. And at that price point, a twin turbo v6 Stinger is likely the clear winner for anyone wanting a sporty drive. Having said that, the capacious boot space on the Octavia is a sure-fire winner for anyone who really wants/needs large carrying capacity. I reckon that they would sell twice as many if the lowered the driveaway to $56k.
@@Thisonegoestoeleven666 do you have any data to support this? I see many times more Mazda 6s, Golfs, Stingers, etc. on the roads… I see previous gen Octavias, but can recall seeing only 2 4th Gen Octavias since their release. I understand that the semiconductor shortage plays a role in that, but selling a handful of vehicles nationally is not ‘flying off the shelves’.
NVH/ Cabin noise seems to be very annoying. So many cars / reviewers do not comment on this part of the car unfortunately. It's an important part of car comfort nowadays and it appears that reviewers are almost affraid to speak about this part.
We’re not afraid to speak about it at all. If it’s an issue and out of the ordinary, we raise it. Equally, if it’s especially good, we raise it. If it’s average, it might go unmentioned.
Previous mk3 wagon was a 30k bargain - seems we have had 10k of inflation in car prices in 12 months as a 30k Yaris demonstrates - I’d go a mk7.5 Golf R wagon over this or a Superb wagon I think now the Megane GT wagon is no longer sold here - I’m getting old as Tom you make a 50k sticker sound like a reasonable ask lol
I'd far prefer this to a Superb personally. But I'm gonna be an outlier and say I like the liftback more than the wagon. I hope there's an electrified version of this down the line
The last model was quick yet so horribly unengaging to drive, over servoed brake pedal, Camry steering feel and a real feeling of disconnect to the actual driving.
Obviously they share a platform and many components, but I felt the control surfaces were all balanced well in this gen. A pleasure to drive after a brief adjustment period.
We were fortunate to have a 245 wagon for a 3 day test on the most oft used roads. Plenty of grunt, especially rolling BUT, like you A Kent, we found it lacking in engagement. Too Germanically sterile. Disappointing, so, on the way home we called into the local Renault Pro shop for a quick look. Soooo glad we did. Following an extended test drive of a Megane Sport hatch, we now own possibly the last red Megane GT Sport wagon in Oz. OK, not 180kw or 370nms BUT, sooo much style, sooo engaging &, in the red, sooo elegant. The Boss often gets complimentary comments about the styling & colour. The car, not her :D
I've seen some saying this - but I have to say, no, it isn't. And that's OK. It's a more practical, more refined Golf GTI. The S4 Avant is the poor man's RS6… the two share a platform, rear-biased permanent AWD, and longitudinal engine layout.
DSG is not strictly an automatic. It is a manual with gears and clutches but controlled by a computer - because it is faster and better at it than a human. Have you ever owned one? I have. As a long time performance driver, occasional racer and sports motorcyclist (they are appearing on bikes too) I would probably not buy a new traditional manual car. And I don't drink latte or soy. Full strength espresso for me! But why don't you provide your wise advice to Ferrari, Lamborghini and the other supercar makers? Or perhaps you think they dont make sports cars?
A few audio issues in the driving shots we worked hard to overcome. Sorry, folks.
I assume the exhaust is far quieter than it comes across in the review?
Yes, though the faux noise is too loud in the cabin by default. As I showed in the review I found myself turning the artificial noise off every time I drove the car.
That sound, though sure to be annoying in the long term, is what I imagine the illegitimate love child of a WRX and a 5.0 Mustang would sound like! Awesome..
I thought something was wrong with my TV at first
Has this one got an LS3 under the hood? :-)
Great review mate. I love when you highlight things like being able to turn off the fake exhaust noise. Keen drivers love hearing that stuff.
Glad you enjoyed.
Is the off switch of the fake noise for all modes ?
I'm a bit late, but it's possible to turn off the fake engine sound forever, and it's dead easy.
Step one - disconnect the battery. Step two - open the fusebox and pull out fuse no. 59, the device that makes the noise has its own dedicated fuse and removing it won't affect anything else. It works with the Golf GTI and R and Cupras as well.
I love that red color and that black accents.
The Velvet Red really suits this car.
I wish someone would assess suspension when the boot is actually loaded up with a lot of weight, and how handling changes.
Bravo! You are the first reviewer I've watched on UA-cam to call out the low rent plastics on the rear door trims! Also, there is an absence of sill plates on the rear door openings. To me, these are major let downs and I am still undecided if this will be the perfect next car. My test drive is coming soon.
I think you need to re-visit your priorities. How are we going to live without those rear sill plates.......the travesty!!!!!
@@Thisonegoestoeleven666
The sill plates are available via a Czech Republic shop that sells them. The hard door trims can't be so easily fixed.
I just picked one up in this exact colour only yesterday. Very pleased 🙂
Good move, they are great cars hey!
This would be great with a manual box and a few thousand cheaper. As always, great review.
Great review as always. Thanks Tom. Perfect family car aside from the retention of the low Euro spec tow ball download. I wish Skoda would adjust for our market as Subaru and Hyundai/Kia do. At 80 kg, it even excludes many hitch mount bike carriers, let alone a small camper.
Great review Tom. Will you be getting a 110 to review as well? Interested in your thoughts on the Ambition and Style.
curious to see how this stacks up against the Cupra Leon
I'm driving my second Rs sedan and love it.
Loving mine!
The lack of a manual option is so disappointing
Another excellent review. I think this Octavia would be a superior option to the Subarus at present
It is. CVT drives like crap and have some real ongoing maintenance and reliability issues.
The Octavia is a great package and would be high on my list for my next car and the RS wagon would be a great car to own. More roomy than a golf wagon more compact than a Passat and with no performance version of the Golf wagon it’s a no brainier
Be interesting to see how the Formentor and Ateca are priced compared to this with the full fat 221kw and awd
Yes, Cupra's entry will be another interesting disruption - now that Skoda has had time to mature and grow.
The Formentor is such a great looking vehicle. Like seriously beautifully done for the money.
I test drove one last week. Played around with dampers and found normal was about right too. Might be a little expensive but really can’t think of anything that quick or loaded that comes close right now. Perhaps Passat 206tsi?
Puegeot 508 ?
Subaru Levorg
I will take this over VW GTI, love your work, Tom and the team
great review Tom, wagons over suv's
Almost every time!
Would love a comparison between this and the current gen (7.5) golf r wagon. Or your opinion on what you'd choose.
Does it have a cd player in glovebox
Great review as always. Keep up the hard work!
I guess I'm a little puzzled by pricing compared to Superb, say the Scout. Given that the luxury pack is needed for the adaptive suspension here, it's only a little cheaper. The Octavia is going to be a bit more fun but versus more spacious, more luxurious (especially quieter), bigger engine, AWD...?
Another professional job Tom. Well done. Sorry, but I’m not paying $60k+ for the cheapy brand of the VW group that still can’t get soft touch door cards on all four doors. I previously owned a Fabia 81TSI wagon which I thought offensive when they tried to charge me $30k for the fully optioned version with out the dumb non-opening full glass roof. As a detailer I see many vehicles and the latest VW Tiguan 162TSI still has hard plastic door cards and most of the dash which my clients are optioning up for over $70k drive away!!! I really like the VW group products as packages, but the individual products are ‘annoying to own’ as a clients owner of a Q5 S-line said recently. He has turned his back on Audi and just bought a fully optioned Mazda CX-5 Akera. Just as luxurious he said for half the replacement cost of another Q5. To be relevant in 2021, this Octavia vRS should be $10k cheaper. Then it would just be a matter of waiting for the cabriolet version to be born 😎 Lloyd
Any chance of a 4WD variant hitting the aussie market ?
I wish they made awd version of this at this price point. Wonder why not. Great review though
Didn't want to eat into Passat R-line or Golf Wagon AWD sales.
What's up with the engine noise.
Audio in the driving section sounded a bit off, did you have audio issues and thank god you can turn off that awful artificial engine noise, it would get annoying on a long trip.
Audio issues, sadly. We did our best to recover it.
Personally a big fan of VW group but with the price over 60k now, the Stinger feels like a no brainer. Twin turbo V6 all day everyday!
Nice work Tom. Although I love the thought of the RS, it's the regular Octavia wagon that we'll be looking at to replace our Golf 7 Highline wagon so really interested to see how it shapes up.
Will be interesting to see your test drive of the octavia fitted with the 140kw/320nm 2L engine (style then sportline).
Awesome review as always Tom but imho 10k too expensive and premium pack should be standard still what is not to like with a fast wagon
It's getting exxy.
i'm wishing for the 140kw version that's muted for Australia. unsure why Skoda cannot design an exhaust that exits all the way and consigns the metal pressings to the bin...
I’d rather a good old station wagon with car like driving than an SUV. Nice car
Great car but 60k is way too expensive.😳
in my country it is 42k €
I think he is talking about australian dollar
What's the go with the interior sound? Sounds like an old Commodore with a broken exhaust
This is the car that Ethan from Car Throttle just picked up!
Great Car, thinking about getting one as the family wagon, is there that much of a difference between the Base RS vs the Premium?
you should have disabled the speakers engine sounds, I can't understand half of what you're saying in 'driving' section :(
I think you can get the superb 206TSI or the 200TSI about at the fully optioned price of this RS 🤔🤔
Does it have a Harley Davidson exhaust system !
How do you think the Octavia RS Liftback will compare to the i30 N sedan? Is the LSD in the same league as the Hyundai unit?
Didn't think you'd be a Iphone 12 Mini user Tom, nice one!
Would you review a lower range of the soda octavia
Wagons (Estates) are great things and save the embarrassment of being seen in an SUV. Typically actually store more too.
Pity they dropped the Diesel option.
Thanks, nice review. According to the the Skoda brochure, the standard RS has electric seats ( drivers side and passenger) . Can anyone who knows please confirm that??
Can the fake engine sound be turned off permanently, or do you have to do it for each trip?
Each trip. That software needs to be fixed.
Are you sacrificing much in terms of practicality vs the Superb 206TSI? I take it the driving dynamics are better in the Octavia, and the styling is clearly better than the somewhat frumpy Superb.
In your opinion is worth upgrading my 2017 rs245 too the new wagon? Or buy a sq2? I know that the power difference is big but I'm looking at value for money perspective! But the new model rs does seem like a big step up over the previous model.
Do you need or want the extra space? SQ2 feels smaller, more agile and faster but it rides much more firmly.
Not really but just a wagon fan! Yes i agree with the firm part of the sq2 but looks like a decent car. also the skoda really is one of the best daily drivers around. Found it very hard too fault
Hey Tom, just noticed this while listening to the video through my ear phones...It sounds like a low, rumbly v8 when you're in the cabin giving the spiel about the car and the mike picks up that ambient drone.
How's the cabin insulation?
Cool dad swagon, but I cannot get over that asymmetrical design of that screen with two buttons on the passenger side. For a over 50k wagon, it'd be nice to have a flush design for that dashboard. Those little details really kill the appeal for a pretty damn good wagon.
Bothers some more than others. I have probably been desensitised by the fact this screen is in just about every VW and Skoda we test now. Given wireless CarPlay kicks in immediately on startup, and as a driver you have the pleasant, tactile volume and track buttons on the steering wheel, you kind of forget about the screen layout.
my wireless charging on the Pixel4 xl was faultless works every time actually, perhaps it could be an Apple iPhone thing
A good car. But it is hard to see obvious upgrade from previous generation. It seems the powertrain is same as before, very disappointed. Just wondering it will be great if Skode makes a Octavia Scout.
I ordered one as they said it would be available mid May, that wound out to July so I cancelled as I’m interested to try the new Sonata, i30n dsg and new cerato gt.
Great review as always but the fake engine noise please turn it off at the start as it’s so of putting and it was harder to hear you as the mic seems to be from the camera and not on you.
In the uk I was looking at this or a Hyundai I30n fastback the new dct model but the VRS cost £33,500 with the dct so is very cheap compared to the Hyundai as the i 30n fastback has a £6500 price increase from the last model costing £36,500. The VRS has my vote as it seems cheap compared to others out there but better reliability
Ah right, that goes a long way to explain how/why the audio changed so much when the driving segment began. Maybe the way the audio was recorded was meant to give an idea of this. Otherwise, as Will said, the audio pickup on what you were saying, Tom during the driving bit was quite difficult to hear. Otherwise, another great video about a fun-looking car.
Sorry again both - unfortunately the separately recorded audio didn't work properly on shoot. Rare occurrence.
@@chasingcars All good!
I think that Skoda dealers are going to be forced to discount pretty heavily to move these... not because they are a bad vehicle (on the contrary), but because it is directly competing with the Mazda6 on size/features, but directly competing against the Kia Stinger on price point. And at that price point, a twin turbo v6 Stinger is likely the clear winner for anyone wanting a sporty drive. Having said that, the capacious boot space on the Octavia is a sure-fire winner for anyone who really wants/needs large carrying capacity. I reckon that they would sell twice as many if the lowered the driveaway to $56k.
... for the fully opyioned version, of course.
Wrong. They are flying off the shelves.
@@Thisonegoestoeleven666 do you have any data to support this? I see many times more Mazda 6s, Golfs, Stingers, etc. on the roads… I see previous gen Octavias, but can recall seeing only 2 4th Gen Octavias since their release. I understand that the semiconductor shortage plays a role in that, but selling a handful of vehicles nationally is not ‘flying off the shelves’.
Are we 100% sure it’s leather on seats
This or mazda 6 Atenza? Their price is getting shockingly close
NVH/ Cabin noise seems to be very annoying. So many cars / reviewers do not comment on this part of the car unfortunately. It's an important part of car comfort nowadays and it appears that reviewers are almost affraid to speak about this part.
We’re not afraid to speak about it at all. If it’s an issue and out of the ordinary, we raise it. Equally, if it’s especially good, we raise it. If it’s average, it might go unmentioned.
Sounds like a Harley Davidson is in the boot!
Imagine an Octavia Scout!
Bring it out with a diesel twin turbo
Previous mk3 wagon was a 30k bargain - seems we have had 10k of inflation in car prices in 12 months as a 30k Yaris demonstrates - I’d go a mk7.5 Golf R wagon over this or a Superb wagon I think now the Megane GT wagon is no longer sold here - I’m getting old as Tom you make a 50k sticker sound like a reasonable ask lol
Sure it's badged vrs and all screens leave fingerprints.
If it's it's the Kamiq, they'll have a "Net fetish" for MY21 but not for MY22.
Hard-wearing plastics in the back make a lot of sense to people with children.
I'd far prefer this to a Superb personally. But I'm gonna be an outlier and say I like the liftback more than the wagon. I hope there's an electrified version of this down the line
Wristwatch check!
The last model was quick yet so horribly unengaging to drive, over servoed brake pedal, Camry steering feel and a real feeling of disconnect to the actual driving.
Obviously they share a platform and many components, but I felt the control surfaces were all balanced well in this gen. A pleasure to drive after a brief adjustment period.
We were fortunate to have a 245 wagon for a 3 day test on the most oft used roads. Plenty of grunt, especially rolling BUT, like you A Kent, we found it lacking in engagement. Too Germanically sterile.
Disappointing, so, on the way home we called into the local Renault Pro shop for a quick look. Soooo glad we did. Following an extended test drive of a Megane Sport hatch, we now own possibly the last red Megane GT Sport wagon in Oz. OK, not 180kw or 370nms BUT, sooo much style, sooo engaging &, in the red, sooo elegant.
The Boss often gets complimentary comments about the styling & colour. The car, not her :D
@@renardargent6487 that's a good choice in the end 👍🏼
Prefer the 4wd scout
The Scout is a LOT of car for the money, and in a less popular segment - so there is more value to be had there
@@StephenFogarty2023 sad. great value
I have no idea why they are this expensive! Not worth the money when u can get a German luxury for that price!
Not with this level of performance and features, though.
It is a German luxury car 😁
It basically is German luxury matey. Try Again.
Don't think this actually comes with a proper LSD. At least the brochure says so
It does - it has the electronically controlled and mechanically locking limited slip differential.
It does. Stop trying to think, it's not serving you well.
@@Thisonegoestoeleven666 The irony of your comment is that it took you eight months to think of it 🤣
Touch screen aircon. Argh
They really copied the new 5-series with those DRLs
Pumping Fake Engine noise into the Car is complete NONSENSE , why did manufactures start doing it? , it is pathetic...
Postami iznenada medu najboljim kanalima
hatch is so.much more interesting than Wagon. Wonder why everyone just makes video of the wagon
No. Wagons rock and you are wrong.
The wagon is better in every way.
The rear looks nice in wagon form. The front looks like a whale though.
Poor man's RS6?
I've seen some saying this - but I have to say, no, it isn't. And that's OK. It's a more practical, more refined Golf GTI. The S4 Avant is the poor man's RS6… the two share a platform, rear-biased permanent AWD, and longitudinal engine layout.
Dsg gear box .tooo many problems
The technology is 20 years old now… it's well and truly worked out and the wet clutch boxes in these are durable.
It’s a VRS not an RS
It’s an RS. This isn’t the UK.
Wrong, try again.
It's vrs but often just referred to as rs.
A weapon on the road? Why would anyone want a weapon on the road for?
disappointing video, since most important part is pure garbage :-D. Retake or forget
Hot wagon RS....with an auto. Soy Boys rules hey!
Bizarro comment. These only come in automatic nowadays. Also, check your grammar.
@@chasingcars Bizaro comment? What is bizar is motor journos (and I use that term losely) calling anything with a DSG a hot car.
@@Ozgrade3 what gear box should be for a hot car ? Road ranger ?
DSG is not strictly an automatic. It is a manual with gears and clutches but controlled by a computer - because it is faster and better at it than a human.
Have you ever owned one? I have. As a long time performance driver, occasional racer and sports motorcyclist (they are appearing on bikes too) I would probably not buy a new traditional manual car. And I don't drink latte or soy. Full strength espresso for me!
But why don't you provide your wise advice to Ferrari, Lamborghini and the other supercar makers? Or perhaps you think they dont make sports cars?
@@Ozgrade3 If ignorance is bliss you must be a very happy fellah. Go have a coffee and give yourself a slap.