I took my Skoda Octavia vRS on a 500-mile roadtrip: here’s what it taught me

Since 2008, my parents have owned two cars. The first was a Mk1 Skoda Octavia vRS, which they kept for 14 years before buying a Mk3 Skoda Octavia vRS.

Seeing as I’ve been living with the latest model for the last few months, I was keen to show it off to them and see what they think of it. This meant embarking on a 500 mile round-trip from Hampshire to Cornwall, and it would also give me a chance to compare my car to my parent’s, side-by-side.

Driving my Skoda Octavia vRS to Cornwall

The trip down to my sunny (ish) homeland would see me behind the wheel for four hours in either direction, covering around 250 miles on dual carriageways and twisty roads. It’s the longest stint I’ve had in this car, and it was an excellent travel companion.

I emerged at the other end with no backache thanks to the supportive seats, and I even managed to average 42mpg, beating the manufacturer’s claimed figure of 40mpg. The only real blip was when I hit a sleet storm (in April, seriously?) and the slush obscured the sensor pack for the adaptive cruise control. You don’t realise how nice that feature is until it’s gone.

As someone who likes to travel light, my luggage didn’t quite fill the Skoda’s cavernous boot. This is where the handy velcro dividers come in handy, because I use them to stop by bags sliding around.

Getting to Cornwall: my parents first impressions

After arriving back at home and parking up next to my parent’s 2015 Octavia vRS Estate, it was time for them to give the car a thorough inspection. Will they like it, or will this be the end of their 18-year run with these cars?

The first thing they commented on, as most people do, was the Royal Green paintwork. Everyone I’ve spoken to loves this colour, and it looked even better after chucking a bucket of water over the car.

Mum was also very excited about the umbrellas in the doors, and this is when I learned that there’s one for the passenger as well. She also commented that it looks “angrier” than their car thanks to the more slanted headlights. I’m not sure if that’s a compliment, but I can see what she means.

Dad also liked the way it looks, apart from one thing. He’s obsessed with wheels, and my car’s 19-inch rims didn’t meet his approval. The issue was the plastic aero covers. I’m not offended by them, but next to his car with its upgraded alloys I can see that they’re not as stylish. A bit of Googling revealed that you can remove the covers, and I reckon the car looks better without them.

Stepping inside, my car’s cabin looks like a spaceship compared to their Mk3 Octavia. Both Mum and Dad agreed that it’s a nicer-looking cabin, but the lack of proper knobs and buttons could put my technophobe father off this car.

Taking the family out

We went on two family excursions during my trip to Cornwall. For one of them we took my car, and for the other we took my parent’s.

The first thing I noticed after going four-up in both cars was that the old Octavia vRS is actually more spacious in the back seats. There’s not a huge amount in it, but there was definitely more legroom and the larger rear windows also make it feel a bit less claustrophobic.

But the new car makes up for this with its clever features. My sister loved the phone holder on the back of the front seats, and the central storage cubby came in really handy for chucking loose items into.

The new Octavia is also quieter and more refined on the move than the previous model, and the adaptive suspension means it handles bumps more smoothly as well.

What did I learn by taking my Skoda to Cornwall?

In the end, Mum and Dad were both very impressed by the new Skoda Octavia vRS, but they’re not scrambling to trade in their old car just yet. The Mk3 still suits their needs down to the ground, and despite its lack of umbrellas, they really like it. But I reckon when they do part ways with it, the new Octavia vRS has a place on their shortlist.

And I learned that Skoda hasn’t really changed this car’s recipe in the last 25 years. Despite its more high-tech interior and modern styling, the new Octavia vRS still felt familiar to the people who have owned them for over 18 years.

It’s that familiarity that keeps buyers coming back. You know what you’re getting with an Octavia vRS – a car which is nice to drive, looks sporty, has plenty of poke and offers cavernous practicality. It’s a safe choice, some might even call it a bit dull, but it’s a very good one.

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