New Skoda Octavia vRS costs from £22,990

New Skoda Octavia vRS (pictured) costs from £22,990

Skoda’s take on the VW Golf GTI – the Skoda Octavia vRS – was revealed last month ahead of its debut today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and now we know it will costs from £22,990. For your £22,990 you’ll get the Octavia vRS with the 2.0 litre TSI engine delivering 217bhp and 0-62mph of 6.8 seconds. Pay a bit more (£23,260) for the diesel (why would you want to do that?) and you’ll get 181bhp from the 2.0 litre TDI and get to 62mph in 8.1 seconds.

Both the petrol and diesel vRS come with a six-speed manual ‘box, but you can have the DSG gearbox if you prefer for an extra £1390, and having the shed bolted on the back to make the vRS estate costs an additional £800.

But whether you choose a petrol or diesel vRS – as a hatch or estate – you do get a car that is, in many ways, more appealing than the VW Golf equivalent.

The vRS looks good with its subtle body tweaks, 18″ alloys and more butch bumpers, with an interior that sports sports seats with vRS logos, leather steering wheel and piano black trim.

And under the skin Skoda seem to have done a good job too, with a new chassis setup with a lower ride height, XDS Diff and a new progressive steering system.

The new Skoda Octavia vRS – Hatch and Estate – goes on sale on 1st August

By Cars UK