Skoda Octavia RS Wagon 2024 Review

The 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon is running driveaway pricing with the standard version coming in at $58,490.

If you don’t fancy the performance variant, the 110TSI Style and 110TSI SportLine are both $43,990 driveaway. The Octavia is also offered as a five-door liftback.

True rivals of the Octavia RS Wagon are hard to come by, but the $53,890 Mazda6 G35 Atenza Wagon and smaller $57,290 Subaru WRX GT Sportswagon (both before on-road costs) are the closest.

The 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon isn’t short on spec.

Matrix LED headlights are standard fitment, while the RS adds Gloss Black exterior accents, dual exhaust tips, aluminium pedals and a drive-mode selector (Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual). The Octavia RS also gains 19-inch alloy wheels, sport suspension and Progressive Steering.

Of course, with our tester being ‘bog standard’ there are some options left unticked, namely the $6600 Premium Pack. It comes with goodies ranging from Canton premium audio, multi-zone climate control, leather upholstery, powered, heated and massaging front seats, heated outer rear seats, head-up display, power door mirrors with auto dimming and adaptive dampers.

Other options include the $1900 panoramic sunroof and $1100 premium or $770 metallic paint. Keeping with the ‘base’ theme, even the bright Mamba Green hue of the tester is a no-cost colour.

Skoda has upped the warranty to seven years and unlimited kilometres, while servicing is every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first. A capped-price servicing scheme is available, or you can opt for a $2750 prepay plan which covers seven years or up to 105,000km.

The 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon scores a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating (2019).

It is fitted with a total of 10 airbags as well as a host of active systems. Highlights include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, emergency assist, lane-keep assist with adaptive lane guidance, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, driver-fatigue monitor, blind-spot assist, front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, park assist and rear cross-traffic alert with braking.

While the fourth generation has been around a while now with updates, the 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon isn’t short on tech.

The cabin is dominated by the Skoda’s latest version of Virtual Cockpit, which utilises a 10.25-inch digital display with crisp graphics and multiple themes/arrangements.

The central 10.0-inch infotainment screen is touch-enabled and includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio, sat-nav and an eight-speaker sound system.

A wireless smartphone charge pad sits ahead of the new shift-by-wire gear selector while there are two USB-C ports up front and two in the rear below the air vents.

It’s enjoyed significant upgrades throughout its lifecycles, but the 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon uses the esteemed EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine which is tied to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and an electronically locking limited slip front differential.

The front-wheel drive only Octavia RS Wagon packs 180kW and 370Nm with the 1575kg mass being able to cover the 0-100km/h dash in 6.7 seconds with the aid of launch control.

On paper, the 2024 Skoda Octavia RS is fast and frugal, with an official combined-consumption figure of 6.8L/100km.

However, drive it like a wagon deserving of a Rally Sport badge and you won’t come close to that marker. Including city, country and dynamic driving, we struggled to achieve less than 9.0L/100km on average.

The Euro 6 emissions-compliant Octavia requires at least 95 RON fuel and makes use of a 50-litre tank for a theoretical maximum distance of 926km.

To say the 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon is a Volkswagen Golf GTI with a bigger booty is both largely accurate and in no way a disservice to the venerated hatch from Wolfsburg.

Built on an elongated version of VAGs ubiquitous MQB platform, the front-wheel drive Octavia proves it is worthy of the RS nomenclature by being genuinely dynamically talented – it isn’t just the family bus or grocery-shop hero.

The 2.0-litre turbo engine is powerful and linear, so much so that you could assume it is naturally aspirated. Via the drive modes you can even manipulate the engine sound with Sport returning a particularly rorty soundtrack. It’s easy to tailor your own Individual mode, which is appreciated.

The EA888 four-cylinder pairs well with the slick-shifting seven-speed DSG, with steering wheel-mounted paddles available so you can take control. The gearbox’s only blight is some slow-speed jerkiness/hesitation.

The Octavia RS Wagon feels most at home on open, long-radius corners where traction isn’t an issue. You really can cover ground in an unassumingly fast fashion, with the RS feeling taut and willing to change direction with minimal fuss or roll. The variable ratio Progressive Steering is quick and appreciable tactile, making it easy to place the Skoda to the apex via the tenacious grip on corner entry.

The Octavia gains the XDS+ electronically locking limited slip front differential to help channel the grunt to the 225/40 R19 Bridgestone Potenza tyres. And it does an amicable job, but the front wheels can be overawed and either suffer from wheelspin or axle tramp – especially with steering lock still applied. Fiddling with the ESC and traction setting eithers cuts power or allows too much spin. Wider tyres would be a useful addition.

While the Adaptive Chassis Control found in the Premium Pack is worthwhile, you really don’t need the extra adjustability as the base passive setup is more than workable. Yes, it won’t iron out city lumps and bumps with as much aplomb as Comfort mode might with adaptive dampers, but it is absorbing enough. Unless you must ride a magic carpet, you’ll be more than satisfied.

The Skoda Octavia RS Wagon is a rewarding daily driver that doesn’t mind a spirited weekend trip.

There’s a distinct Euro-chic appeal to the 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon’s cabin. The days of the Czech offshoot being a cut-price Volkswagen are well and truly gone.

It looks and feels its monetary value, too, with an elegant aesthetic matched with high-end materials and top-notch build quality. The dark, rich hues only add to the upmarket appeal, while the diamond-stitched fabric seats make a welcome change from leather and hug you in all the right places with tangible bolstering.

Do you feel like you’re lacking equipment without the Premium Pack? The short answer is no, and it really does make you appreciate how good the ‘base’ Octavia is. However, being able to tick certain options individually, instead of lumping the entire $6600 pack, would be of value.

What does tend to grate and juxtaposes the premium vibe is the lack of sound deadening. The cabin can get loud, with NVH and road roar on course-chip surfaces infiltrating the cabin – a scenario the elongated wagon body style tends to exacerbate. Big hits to the suspension are heard more than they’re felt.

Another bugbear is a lack of physical controls, an issue that Skoda largely eschews due to the intuitive touch-screen. However, the volume slider below the big screen isn’t backlit, rendering it useless at night. And the fact you must delve into menus for simple HVAC controls can be distracting. Although, it must be said that the Octavia does a better job of this than some and there are a few handy physical shortcut buttons.

The Octavia affords so much rear legroom that you’d be forgiven for think you’re in the Superb, while space for head, shoulders, knees and toes is also generous. It really does utilise all its 2681mm wheelbase to offer occupant comfort in every seat.

Practicality is strong, with the boot offering a capacious 640 litres of cargo space that balloons to 1700 litres with the 60/40-split folding rear seats stowed – just be mindful it doesn’t create a completely flat load bay when doing so.

There are handy shopping hooks, nets and various luggage-holding devices that are synonymous with Skoda, as well as the handy umbrellas located in the front doors. Simply Clever? No doubt.

If you’re looking for booted pragmatic performance, the 2024 Skoda Octavia RS Wagon is hard to beat. Well, that’s unless you want to spend north of $200k or wait until 2025 for the Octavia update.

It’s a shame buyers fail to see the value in wagons, instead opting for jacked-up SUVs that rarely leave tarmac. The Octavia RS is a deeply rewarding product to live with, a car that suits myriad purposes and lifestyles.

What sweetens the deal further is the fact you don’t need to go crazy with options to gain the best out of the Octavia RS Wagon, with the base specification being more than worthy just as it is.

2024 Skoda Octavia RS wagon at a glance:
Price: $58,490 (driveaway)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 180kW/370Nm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 6.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 156g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)

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