Skoda Octavia RS. This car doesn't turn too much

Every tenth Skoda Octavia sold is an RS. Given the total number of copies sold, you can imagine how big that number is. Why such popularity? And how does that compare to other hot hatch games? 

Hot hatches were supposed to allow people who didn't make millions to experience the experience of driving a sports car. However, that doesn't mean we don't have to pay extra for all these sports accessories - they're also the most expensive versions of popular models we can buy.

What should be a hot hatch? Of course, it must be based on a C-segment car, usually a hatchback, have a sufficiently powerful engine and sports suspension, but, above all, it must be a pleasure to cover every kilometer.

And although Skoda Octavia However, in terms of bodywork, it is not quite suitable for this class. PC version it was classified as a "hot hatchback" for years.

Also in this case, it's the most expensive version of the Octavia we can buy. But as many as 13% of sales are accounted for by the RS model - every tenth. Octaviacoming off the assembly line is RS.

Got something to brag about?

Hot hatches are surprisingly popular

We were wondering how this result compares with competitors? So we asked representatives of several other brands about their results.

It turns out that fast hatchbacks - although they seem like very niche options - are doing very well.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI in Poland accounts for just over 3% of Golf sales overall. However, let's not forget that the Golf comes in several sporty variants - there's also the GTD and R, which also come with a Variant body. All these varieties together account for 11,2% of Golf nad Wisłą sales.

An interesting fact here is the result of the latest GTI TCR model. The special version of the GTI has the largest share among high-speed Golfs and accounts for 3,53% of sales!

Renault Megane RS

Relatively recently, Renault released the Megane RS, in 2018, out of 2195 Megane 76s sold, Renault Sport was produced. This is 3,5% of total sales. In 2019 (January-April), the share of RS increased to 4,2%.

Hyundai i30 N

The Hyundai i30 N is increasingly being hailed as a contender for the king of hot hatches - front-wheel drive at least - with sales through April 2019 accounting for about 3,5% of total i30 sales. However, it is Hyundai that produces almost the only competitor model for Octavia RS – i30 Fastback N. In i30 N sales alone, the share of fastback is approximately 45% of the total.

Conclusions?

Drivers love hot hats and don't care about higher prices. The performance of all these models is really good, but for some reason Skoda Octavia RS has the largest share in sales of the base model.

Expectations versus reality

It would seem that the "hardcore" hot hatch, the better it should sell. After all, this means that it is more sporty and at the same time better suited for fast driving.

A prime example is the Hyundai i30 N. It's a car that sounds great and drives great, but that handling has to come with sacrifices in other areas - unless we're paying twice as much for this sports car. Although the N-ek arrives on the Vistula River, drivers are probably not convinced by the very stiff suspension.

Looking at the Volkswagen data, we also see that in the case of hot hatches, diesel versions are of little interest to us. If there must be a sport, then it must be a gasoline engine.

Golf sales data also show a different relationship. The Volkswagen Golf R accounts for less than 3,5% of sales, while the GTI accounts for more than 6,5%. Of course, an important factor here is the price, which in the case of R is as much as 50 thousand. more zlotys than the Golf GTI, but on the other hand, the best-selling GTI TCR, which costs only 20 thousand. PLN is cheaper than "eRka".

These results may support another theory that customers who buy hot hatches still seek driving pleasure in them. While the Golf R is an absurdly fast hatchback, the GTI definitely wins when it comes to fun.

What happened to the Octavia RS?

Okay, we have some data, but what? Skoda Octavia RSwhat your competitors don't have?

I think having driven several thousand kilometers behind the wheel of our editorial of the RS, I may know the answer - or at least guess.

I would see the reason for the often underestimated nature of hot hatchbacks. Sport is sport, but if these are the only cars in the family, they should prove themselves in many other roles. They will occasionally go on the track or a night tour of the city, and you will have to go to work, school or somewhere else every day.

Skoda Octavia RS it is perfect for such everyday situations. First, it has a gigantic trunk that holds up to 590 liters. Going further forward, it also offers plenty of space in the second row. Even if the driver is tall, you feel like you are in a limousine from behind - all the more so, there are no problems with fastening the seats. We can also count on great comfort in the driver's seat - there is an armrest, the seats are wide enough, and it's easy to find a comfortable position behind the wheel.

As the Skoda, Octavia RS it is also practical. It has an umbrella under the passenger seat, large pockets in the doors, armrests, an ice scraper in the gas tank, nets and hooks in the trunk.

However, when it comes to driving Octavia RS it remains motionless for a long time. We can take corners even at high speed, and the reactions of the RS still very predictable. In tighter corners, the VAQ's electromechanical differential also helps a lot. Octavia literally bites into the asphalt.

Engine power is quite enough - 245 hp. and 370 Nm allow it to accelerate to 100 km / h in 6,6 seconds and reach speeds of up to 250 km / h. And even when we were driving it through Germany at over 200 km/h, Octavia RS was sure.

Just such a force makes Octavia RS it's fast Octavia - but not performance, extreme or something like that. The suspension is also not very stiff, in the non-DCC version the car feels compact and ready for a harder ride, but the oil seals do not fall out when passing speed bumps.

It is a pity, however, that when the engine was adapted to the new fuel consumption standards, the frames characteristic of the DSG gearbox disappeared from the program. I'll even say more Octavia RS it's surprisingly quiet with a stock exhaust system. The only sound effects here are generated by Soundaktor in the pit, but it sounds rather artificial.

Octavia RS however, the price of PLN 126 helps. That's a lot for Octaviabut in return we get a fast and practical car. What else do you need?

Versatility is still included

When other fast hatchback manufacturers raced at the Nürburgring, they beefed up the suspension and increased the power of the cars. Skoda decided to take a look. Instead of a competitor for the fastest hot hatch, a hot hatch was created that will primarily work in everyday life. He will show his sporty face only on a clear signal from the driver.

It would seem that such an approach contradicts the idea of ​​​​this class of cars. Even at the same price, we can buy faster and better sounding models. So why don't they sell better than that Skoda?

Apparently we want to have everything in one - Octavia RS it's just that kind of car. It has all the necessary features, but does not twist too much in any direction. He is balanced. And this is probably the key to success.