Sports cars are cool. They have exhilarating acceleration, amazing handling, head-turning design, and owning one often gives a sense of prestige and exclusivity. Sports cars are expensive. Some models available in India are BMW Z4 (Rs 87.9 lakh), Porsche 911 Carrera (Rs 2 crore), and Mercedes AMG GT Coupé (Rs 3.05 crore).
Sports cars are cumbersome. Most have two seats, two doors, little luggage space, have low ground clearance, uncomfortable ride, and getting in and out is inconvenient. But Skoda has launched a car that promises the practicality of a family sedan and the performance of a sports car. We tested it accordingly, on a Formula 1 track.
What is it?
It’s the Octavia RS. Priced Rs 49.99 lakh, ex-showroom, it is limited edition (just 100 units are being sold, and more will come next year), has four passenger doors, space for five people, and a huge boot. It’s powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (265 PS, 370 Nm) mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox.
How does it drive?
Seating position is low, but not uncomfortably low of a sports car, and the steering wheel neatly falls in hands. In Eco and Normal driving modes, it feels like a comfortable family sedan. Suspension feels stiff, but should be acceptable for regular city commutes on well-paved roads.
Shift to the Sport mode, and as soon as you press the accelerator, everything around you seems to be getting fast-forwarded.
My test car went from 0-100 km/h in 7 seconds, and 0-200 km/h in a little over 20 seconds. But this car isn’t about straight-line performance — the way it handles the corners is amazing. The stiff suspension and low ride height minimise body roll, and the DSG selects just the right gear when you exit the corner for maximum performance.
Can it replace sports cars?
Not really. A true sports car — like the 911 or AMG GT Coupé — has another level of agility. While the Octavia RS handles corners like a pro and accelerates fast, most sports cars are twice as quick. It doesn’t have the all-wheel or rear-wheel-drive theatrics of most sports cars. Being a front-wheel-drive car, the Octavia RS ‘pulls itself’ and can tend to understeer, instead of rear-wheel-drive sports cars that seem to be getting ‘pushed’ from behind, and in the hands of a capable driver they have controllable oversteer. The advantage of the Octavia RS is its practicality. It swallows luggage, golf bags, and an entire day’s shopping bags. At a fraction of the price of sports cars, it delivers 90% performance, and 200% utility.
Any flaws?
While we tested it on perfect tarmac, its stiff suspension means it could be unsettling on broken roads and tall speed breakers. Also, while the cabin looks upmarket, it doesn’t seem to have the flamboyance of slightly higher priced German luxury sedan
