Plane sailing

Motoring editor PETER BARNWELL puts the Škoda's new sporty Octavia RS through its paces at Top Gear's favourite piece of tarmac at Sydney's Camden airport.

IT was with some relish that we drove the new Škoda Octavia RS on the Aussie Top Gear test track at Camden Airport. How difficult could it be unless planes were trying to land?

Not difficult at all really, especially in the new "performance" Škoda RS that arrives this month in liftback and wagon variants with a choice of 147kW turbo petrol or 125kW turbo diesel four-cylinder engines.

The Camden "track" has been extensively utilised by all and sundry drivers appearing on Aussie Top Gear and can be a lot of fun especially blasting unfettered down the long straight which is actually the runway. There's plenty of run off and the back part of the track is a tad demanding with some double radius corners, the "bus stop" and hairpins.

A good place to give the Škoda a fair old punt without running foul of the law or putting public safety at risk.

Down the straight the petrol Škoda was clocking about 180km/h before running up to a chicane — designed to slow drivers before a tricky hairpin beyond. It's a quick car with tidy manners and revelled in the challenge.

All sporty elements of the Škoda are up to the task especially the ride and handling and the responsive engines — yes, we also punted the diesel around the track and it wasn't that much slower than the petrol.

This is a mid-life revamp of the Octavia RS featuring a new front reminiscent of the just released Škoda Superb, a new rear-end look, LED front running lights and a revised interior.

The effect is much easier on the eye than the square-set and dated look of the previous RS.

Both engines are common across the VW, Škoda and Audi range and both offer superb performance with excellent fuel economy.

The 147kW TSI petrol calls up 280Nm while the 125kW TDi diesel has a healthy 350Nm.

The former is capable of about 7.7 litres/100km while the latter dips down to 5.9 litres/100km.

In performance terms, the 0-100km/h measure is 7.3 seconds and 8.4 seconds respectively (petrol/ diesel).

The six-speed manual standard in both offers a short throw change action for the closely spaced gears while the direct shift gearbox (DSG) is better again — the best of both worlds with either fully automatic changes or sequential manual. Flicking between ratios takes a blink and the two-mode DSG has paddle shifts on the wheel.

But it's the ride and handling that really impress — sporty yet comfortable and controlled — a great compromise for our driving conditions coupled with powerful brakes that could be a little sensitive for some drivers.

We were able to sample the RS petrol sedan and diesel wagon on the open road in between track activities and found both to be impressive all-rounders. Our preference was the DSG TSi petrol which is possibly the sportiest car in the range.

Škoda equips the roomy RS generously for the money which starts at $37,990 for the manual, petrol liftback. DSG adds $2300 to the price.

It has dual zone climate control air, six airbags, 18-inch alloys, impressive audio with an AUX input plug and a clever air quality sensor that flicks automatically to recirculate when it "sniffs" contaminants.

The interior mirror has an auto dim function, the wipers and headlights are auto and the exterior mirrors are heated.

Škoda offers plenty of options with the RS including xenon headlights, leather upholstery, satellite navigation and a sunroof.

It has a spacious interior and both variants have a huge load space. The wagon is positively cavernous, more so with the rear seats folded.

In the RS you get a lot of performance car for the money, medium-size with a functional and stylish interior, all the safety equipment and seats for five adults. And remember, Škoda's are essentially reskinned, keener priced VWs, built in the Czech Republic.