Skoda’s hot Octavia RS arrives in Singapore, priced at S$199,900 inclusive of COE

READ: Our exclusive first driving impressions of the Skoda Octavia RS on Singapore roads!

Photos: Jay Tee, Lionel Kong and Skoda Singapore

SINGAPORE

Skoda’s latest Octavia RS has arrived in Singapore, with the Volkswagen Golf GTI rival retailing for S$199,900 inclusive of COE. The performance version of Skoda’s mainstream seller brings with it sportier looks, an upgraded interior, and updated tech.

The Octavia RS retains its status as a performance bargain (relative to today’s COE prices), with the car undercutting its Golf GTI sibling by over 35 grand. That’s despite the two cars fundamentally sharing the same platform and drivetrain, with the Octavia also offering more boot space than the Golf thanks to its liftback bodystyle.

For now, just the regular four-door car will be offered for sale here, but Skoda Singapore says that the Combi station wagon version is “in the works” for our market, with an estimated arrival date set for the second half of 2022.

Despite being an all-new model, the Octavia RS retains the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot engine from its predecessor, with output remaining unchanged at 245hp and 370Nm of torque, driven through a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission. 0-100km/h comes up in 6.7 seconds, about 0.3 seconds slower than the GTI, while top speed is limited to 250km/h.

What the new car adds from the predecessor though is the adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) system, taken from the Golf GTI. It offers five different driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual, each adjusting parameters such as the suspension damping, gearbox response, and steering speed, among others. The RS is also lower than the standard car by 15mm thanks to the sports suspension dampers.

The Octavia RS gets a number of RS-specific design highlights, including a gloss black grille, front diffuser, and air curtains above the front fog lamps. At the rear, there’s a small bootlid spoiler, and a rear apron with a black diffuser, flanked by twin stainless steel pipes. Red brake calipers peek out from the optional 19-inch brushed alloy wheels, while there’s also RS badging front and rear.

Inside, the Octavia RS gets even more model-specific elements, such as the Alcantara sports seats embossed with the RS logo. Alcantara also features on the dashboard and steering wheel, complemented by red stitching, while the steering wheel is now a three-spoke item, instead of two spokes on the regular Octavia. The Virtual Cockpit also now gets a new selectable Sport layout that’s unique for this model.

Safety is also a major selling point for the new Octavia RS, with driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist all available as standard. The car also comes with eight airbags, including a new central airbag in between the front seats, and is designed to prevent the driver and front passenger from hitting each other in the event of a side impact collision.

The Octavia RS enters an arena that has seen a relative dearth of performance bargains, with the aforementioned Golf GTI as among its key rivals in this segment. Skoda also pits the car against the Cupra Leon and Renault Megane RS, both of which are more powerful but also more expensive, while the Toyota GR Yaris is closer in price but offers a more hardcore alternative that is also out of reach for most due to its limited availability.

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