The third-generation Octavia vRS is the most sophisticated yet, both in terms of its equipment and design. It shares many of its underpinnings with the Golf GTI, but has its own distinct character, being one of the most practical fast family cars available.

While Skodas have in the past been more workmanlike than their cousins from VW and Audi, the latest Octavia feels impressively upmarket too. Premium materials, lots of room and comfortable seats make it ideal for those who spend a lot of time on the road.

Performance

Like the hatchback version, the vRS Estate is available with either a petrol or diesel engine. Both are 2.0-litres in size and turbocharged, with 182bhp for the diesel and 217bhp in the petrol. The diesel does fight back with 380NM of torque, although the petrol’s 350NM is hardly anaemic. If you should drive flat out from 0-62mph, they should take 8.1 and 6.9 seconds respectively.

We tested the popular diesel and found it to be a muscular engine, which picks up well from low revs and zips the rev needle around the counter in a rather sprightly fashion. Our only complaint is that it can be fairly vocal under acceleration, although it’s pretty quiet when cruising. Both engines are very well-suited to the optional DSG automatic gearbox, with almost seamless gear changes at higher speeds. It’s only real vice is a slightly clunky pick-up at very low speeds, when compared with a traditional automatic gearbox.

Ride and Handling

You’ll find yourself covering ground quickly, with little effort

The Octavia vRS is longer and a bit heavier than the Golf GTI and Leon FR, and it feels a little different in character as a result. It’s slightly less playful and agile in its handling, but the trade-off is superb high-speed stability and an unflappable feel from behind the steering wheel. At low speeds the ride can thump over sharp bumps, but as speed increases the suspension flows far better and the Octavia feels composed and comfortable. You’ll find yourself covering ground quickly, with little effort, so the vRS is a great long-distance companion.

Interior and Equipment

The petrol Octavia vRS is the fastest road car the Czech manufacturer has ever built, with a top speed of 154mph.

Skoda’s cabins used to feel slightly watered down compared with other models in the group, but this is less apparent than ever. The vRS gets classy materials for its interior, a lovely sports steering wheel and attractive sports seats. The Columbus sat-nav fitted in our test car also boasts a sumptuous display with crisp graphics and lots of connectivity options. The front seats offer a huge range of adjustment (we counted 32 pulls of the lifting mechanism if you want to go from the lowest to highest position), so finding your ideal driving position should be easy. A wide and spacious rear bench also means there’s room for two, or even three, adults. It’s no longer class-leading, but the 610-litre boot is easily big enough for most families, and a very practical shape. It has a low loading lip and few intrusions, as well as an artificial floor which you can hide valuables or tools under. Another neat touch are the pull handles to quickly fold flat the rear seats.

Cost

Choosing the DSG ‘box adds around £1,400 to the cost, but could be money well spent if you spend lots of time in traffic

The petrol vRS Estate is slightly cheaper, costing from £24,830, while the diesel is £25,220 with a manual gearbox. Choosing the DSG ‘box adds around £1,400 to the cost, but could be money well spent if you spend lots of time in traffic. With lower running costs (61.4mpg versus 45.6mpg) the diesel is a sensible choice, which costs only £30 in annual tax if you go for the manual. The diesel auto bumps this up to £110 each year, while both petrols cost £145 in VED.

Our Verdict

If you created a tick list of attributes for your ideal car, we think the vRS Estate would do pretty well. It’s fast, practical, comfortable, affordable and reasonably cheap to run. For some, the badge appeal and agility of the Golf GTD or Focus ST will win them over, but for many people, the Octavia’s huge boot will draw them to the Skoda.