Red Book

If a "Red Book" were compiled for cars, the section dedicated to endangered species would certainly include a chapter on "hot" hatchbacks. And one of the pages of this chapter would rightfully belong to the diesel Skoda Octavia RS.

Why did we decide that this model deserves a place on the list of rare cars? It's simple: the "RS" on heavy fuel in Russia is such a unique phenomenon that, if you encounter such a car on the road, you should remember this moment forever — quite possibly, a second chance to see it in person will never come.

The debut of the diesel Octavia RS on the Russian market came at an unfortunate time — it was presented to the public in August at the Moscow Auto Show, and deliveries only started by autumn, literally a couple of months before the premiere of the facelifted version. The updated hatchback and estate were shown in October at the Paris Motor Show, and within a month they reached Russian dealers. But the fresh "RS" is not available yet... So those examples with green vRS badges on the tailgate and radiator grille that can still be found in showrooms are the final representatives of the model. A true exclusive!

If the standard Skoda Octavia RS is just a rare guest on our roads, then the diesel version is doubly exclusive. First, under its hood is the most powerful four-cylinder diesel in the entire Volkswagen range: a 170-horsepower turbo engine with a torque of 350 Nm, which is 70 Nm more than the petrol version. But the main difference is that the diesel "RS" is equipped (or was equipped?) with a six-speed DSG "robot", while the petrol modification in Russia was offered exclusively with a manual gearbox.

The six-speed robotic DSG transmission appeared on Volkswagen Group cars almost six years ago. It is based on two input shafts, each with its own "wet" clutch. One clutch is responsible for even gears, the other for odd ones. The key advantage of this gearbox is that it is preselective. Simply put, while the car accelerates in first gear, second is already ready to work — its gears spin idle, waiting for the electronics to disengage the clutch of one shaft and engage the other. And so on down the chain. Thanks to this scheme, shifts happen instantly and without interrupting the power flow.

"Diesel and automatic — and you call that a hot hatch?" skeptics will surely ask. And in some ways they will be right. The characteristic rattling of the engine, which makes the steering wheel, pedals, and even the seat vibrate slightly; the red zone of the tachometer starting at 4500 rpm; the "automatic" lever in the cabin and acceleration to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds — all this somehow does not fit the usual image of a "hot" hatch. But we love such cars not for their looks or image, but for how they drive. And the Octavia RS drives very decently!

The combination of the diesel and DSG works like a well-coordinated rally crew — in sport mode, the gearbox constantly keeps the engine on its toes, not allowing revs to drop below 2500 and promptly shifting down when needed. Moreover, it does this so quickly that I found the manual shift mode completely unnecessary. Besides, the Octavia with DSG does not have paddle shifters like Audi models, and fiddling with the selector while turning the wheel is inconvenient. Because of the engine's narrow power band, you constantly have to keep your hand on the lever.

So it's better to immediately put the gearbox into "S" mode and forget about it for the rest of the trip, focusing on driving. In the range from 2500 to 4200-4300 rpm, the diesel delivers inexhaustible thrust: overtaking and acceleration are done by the diesel Octavia easily and even with enthusiasm. The only thing is that a sudden surge doesn't always work: if the revs have dropped to the lower edge of the working range, there is a slight pause between pressing the pedal and gaining speed while the turbo spools up. But as soon as the impeller enters its working mode... On Moscow roads covered with reagents, the non-studded tires break into wheelspin even in third and fourth gears, making the ESP furiously flash its orange triangle on the dashboard.

If you turn off the stability system, then starting from a standstill in such conditions becomes a test of your own restraint. You shouldn't press the pedal "to the floor" right away — it's better to balance on the edge of slight wheelspin, gradually adding throttle. And only closer to the end of second gear can you really floor the accelerator.

From 0 to 100 km/h
Octavia RS accelerates
in 8.4 seconds

This method of acceleration is relevant not only in winter — on dry asphalt, cold tires also break into wheelspin in first and second gears. But even on very rough surfaces, a sharp "shot" from a standstill won't work: the DSG electronics protect the friction discs and is in no hurry to deliver all 350 Nm to the wheels, so the Octavia hesitates slightly at the start. And only after accelerating to 20-30 km/h does the gearbox control unit stop strangling the engine... and the wheels start spinning again.

However, the main reason you fall in love with the diesel Octavia is not so much the locomotive-like thrust, but the amazing balance of all driving qualities. The "RS" has a very elastic and energy-intensive, but not at all "teeth-rattling" suspension. On the bright blue hatchback, you can calmly drive to St. Petersburg and back — and it won't shake your soul out on the broken road near Novgorod. And returning to the capital, you can go to a sprint race and have a great time. True, winning there is unlikely — the heavy nose due to the diesel and excessive torque on a winding track will rather hinder than help.

But in everyday life, the diesel "RS" behaves very "correctly" — it responds softly and quickly to the steering wheel, shows mild understeer that won't scare a novice with a sudden slide, and pleases with precise brakes.

Interior The interior of the Octavia RS is almost no different from the "civilian" versions — here there are only silver inserts on the front panel, a sporty steering wheel with the vRS emblem, and seats with pronounced lateral support and combined upholstery. The test car was equipped with a multimedia system with a hard drive and navigation. It turned out to be simple to use: the touchscreen eliminates the need to search for the right buttons, and the menu is intuitive and logical. The red zone of the tachometer of the diesel Octavia RS starts at 4500, but the speedometer is marked with optimism — up to 270 km/h. Although the maximum speed of such a car is only 223 km/h.

And how magnificently the Octavia RS engine-brakes! During dynamic driving, when you need to shed speed from 120 to 60 km/h before a sharp turn, the DSG with a pleasant quiet "growl" sequentially clicks through gears from fifth to second. And on the exit of the corner, the robot prudently keeps the revs in the middle of the maximum torque "shelf" — so that the driver can add throttle at any moment and "shoot" towards the next sequence of corners.

Try to find
10 differences of the diesel "Octavia RS"
from the regular one

But if active driving gets tiring, just move the selector to "Drive" mode — and you can enjoy smooth shifts and silence in the cabin. The gearbox will quickly reach sixth gear and keep revs around 1500-2500. Fuel consumption in this pace will be 8-8.5 liters per hundred, and even with a very aggressive driving style, the onboard computer never showed more than 9.8 liters of diesel per "hundred".

Does the diesel Octavia RS deserve a place in the "Red Book of Hot Hatches"? More yes than no. This car has excellent handling and an outstanding diesel engine, whose character is fully revealed precisely thanks to the DSG robot. The same engine with a manual gearbox would require much more concentration from the driver due to the very narrow working range.

But still, I am inclined to consider the diesel "RS" a separate phenomenon — a kind of hatchback with Gran Turismo manners. Long-distance trips at high speeds — that is the native element of our "Octavia". And it is absolutely indifferent to what is under the wheels — cracked asphalt of a provincial road or a winding serpentine of a mountain resort. In both cases, the Octavia RS will give the driver a lot of pleasure behind the wheel.

Technical characteristics of the diesel Skoda Octavia RS