2021 Skoda Octavia RS wagon long-term review: Farewell

Looking back on three months with the 2021 Skoda Octavia RS wagon, I’m struggling for reasons not to recommend this car. For me, it’s exactly the type of car that I would like to own one day. It’s eminently practical, is a real hoot on a spirited drive, and stocks a premium interior that makes you feel special. It seems like a natural progression from my own 2009 BMW 323i E91 Touring.

When we first published the introductory update, we caught wind of more than a few comments insisting the new generation is too expensive and that Skoda’s innate value proposition has eroded away.

I kept this pushback in mind throughout the following months I spent with the car. While it’s no doubt more expensive than it has been historically (it’s now $54,490 drive-away), you’re getting a very well kitted car with an interior that, I thought, genuinely rivals that of premium stablemate Audi.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, I’ll catch you up on what I’ve been up to. I’ve spent three months in the new-generation Skoda Octavia RS wagon as a daily driver that doubles as a sporty weekend steer. It’s helped the Drive office weather coronavirus lockdowns around Melbourne, performed as a holiday road tripper, and has thoroughly impressed after some back-road blasts.

As ever, the relationship took a while to get off the ground. We took delivery through Melbourne’s fourth lockdown in May and couldn’t get up to too much. However, the Skoda really came into its own on a weekend road trip down to Lorne in early July. Apart from a frustratingly unintuitive cruise-control system, the wagon toured beautifully and all passengers enjoyed the ride, luggage in tow.

While down the coast, I took the opportunity to sneak away for a drive through the Great Otway National Park. It rained the whole time, but I was surprised the weather didn’t dampen the driving experience. It might not pack much of an impression on paper – its carryover 180kW/370Nm outputs only see it achieving a 0-100km/h dash in 6.7 seconds – but the real-world feel is more than exciting enough for a set of twisty roads.

It tracks well through the wet weather, and when you do find yourself going a bit too hot into corners, the front end pushes predictably and safely. It’s agile and nimble enough, especially for a wagon body style, though I was not fond of the piped-in induction noise that Skoda does.

Last update focused on everyday liveability. Though its list price is higher than before, it’s not like Skoda has arbitrarily raised the price of the Octavia and not changed anything. In saying that, it’s somewhat of a sour reality that the engine is a carryover from the previous generation. But like I said earlier, I happen to find the interior a space that punches above its weight class and into the premium space.

The amount of customisation afforded between the two screens will have any new owner excited by the possibilities. The materials used and build quality are great, and the stack of kit on our car would see me comfortably motoring for years without feeling I’ve missed out on newer features.

In saying that, our Velvet Red metallic example featured $9500 worth of add-ons including the Premium pack (adaptive dampers, head-up display, electric memory seats with heating, 12-speaker Canton sound system, hands-free boot) and a panoramic sunroof. Though it’s hard to stomach paying an extra $6500 for the Premium pack on a car that should already include a lot of that kit standard, I’d probably bite the bullet and option that pack.

The same with the $1900 panoramic roof. I said in my initial report that it’d be nicer if Skoda offered some of these items on an as-needed basis, rather than in just the one big Premium pack.

All-in, our car now costs $63,990 drive-away – $1500 more expensive than it was when I first took delivery back in May. Keep in mind, this is basically as complete a car as you can get, with every option box ticked including $1100 paint, but there’s no doubt it is now pushed into an upper echelon compared to where it operated previously.

That said, I still believe you’re getting a good package for what you’ll pay. It essentially operates in a segment of its own, being a sports wagon, until the next-generation Subaru Levorg (to be sold In Australia as the WRX Sportswagon) comes along. The Hyundai Sonata N Line does come more affordable, which is a viable alternative as long as you’re not deadset on a wagon body style.

To add some solidarity, consider the new Volkswagen Golf GTI (which it shares a great deal with) is also more expensive than its predecessor.

So ultimately, where do we sit after three months on the Octavia RS wagon?

On the whole, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Octavia RS. Yes, the lift in price over its predecessor hurts, but there is still such good value to one of these. Not only is it well kitted out, but the interior is genuinely premium and the car transforms to fill a number of roles. It does sports as well as it does the everyday commute.

There are those that fret about the lifted price over its predecessor, but when you consider it’s roughly the same price as a new VW Golf GTI hatch, I know which one I’m parking in the driveway.

For more specific insight into what life has been like with the 2021 Skoda Octavia RS wagon, read one of the preceding long-term updates below.