The best-selling Skoda model has been updated for 2024. Naturally, it’s the hot vRS model that we’re interested in which has now gone petrol only. This may come as a surprise as the first generation Octavia vRS was praised for taking the 170 bhp Volkswagen group 2.0 litre TDI engine and placing it in a car that was as rewarding to drive as it was practical in both hatchback and estate guises. It’s no wonder that Police forces across the country picked them for being fast enough to pursue wrong-uns, spacious enough to carry all sorts of law-enforcing gear and subtle enough to fly under the radar when unmarked.

However, times have changed and owing to a small-scale revelation about the honesty of homologated diesel emissions in 2016, public opinion has rapidly turned away from diesel-powered cars, especially in the mass market segments. So for 2024, the Octavia vRS calls upon the 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine found in models like the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Cupra Leon to provide its performance. 

In this setting, it delivers 265 horsepower and 370 Newton metres (272 lb-ft) to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission - up by 21 bhp over the previous model. All performance Octavias gain 15mm-lowered suspension with an electronically controlled limited slip differential as standard, but optionally available is the Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive suspension which should make this one of the most interesting sensible family cars to put through the twisty road test.