Road test review: Skoda Octavia RS iV and Superb Sportline iV

Tuesday, 3 May 2022

Skoda has launched the PHEV version of the RS hot wagon overseas - now its our turn.

SKODA OCTAVIA RS IV and SUPERB SPORTLINE IV
Base price: $72,990 and $79,990 (Octavia RS iV and Superb Sportline iV respectively) (RightCar estimated Clean Car rebate: $5750 each)
Powertrain and economy: 1.4-litre turbo-petrol inline-four, 180kW/400Nm, 6-speed automatic, FWD, combined economy 1.6L/100km, CO2 37g/km (source: RightCar). (Octavia RS iV)

The Octavia no longer has split headlights, but it gains an extra plug.

1.4-litre turbo-petrol inline-four, 160kW/400Nm, 6-speed automatic, FWD, combined economy 1.6L/100km, CO2 36g/km (source: RightCar). (Superb Sportline iV)
Vital statistics: 4689mm long, 1994mm wide, 1473mm high, 2680mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 490 litres, 18-inch alloy wheels. (Octavia RS iV)

The Superb looks a little older than the Octavia because it is, by about four years.

4862mm long, 2031mm wide, 1477mm high, 2841mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 510 litres, 19-inch alloy wheels.
Safety: 5 stars (Octavia, source: ANCAP. Superb not tested)

The interior of the Octavia is much improved.

We like: New interior, small size of the Octavia, police use Superbs so people actually drive properly around you, plug-in wagons are just cool
We don't like: Superb interior feels dated by comparison, still paying quite a premium for PHEV tech in Octavia

Skoda’s power couple of plug-in hybrids are here, in the form of the Octavia RS iV and Superb Sportline iV. Both use the same powertrain but aim for different areas of the market, and both are quite expensive, even when taking into account the $5.5k rebate.

Not that the Superb’s cabin is bad, of course. It’s just different.

OUTSIDE

Starting with the smaller of the two, the Octavia RS iV looks much the same as its petrol-fed twin, which was updated last year. That means angular Matrix LED headlights, 18-inch alloys and a sculpted bonnet, and an extra charge flap just above the front-right wheel.

Both cars use the same plug-in hybrid powertrain, but the RS badge means the Octavia is more powerful.

**READ MORE:

* Skoda plugs in the Octavia RS

* First drive review: Skoda Superb iV

You can add adaptive suspension to the Octavia, but it gets on fine without.

* Road test review: Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Skoda Octavia RS

The Superb Sportline iV doesn’t look all that different to the Octavia, aside from being generally larger.

The front end is more refined, with the lower fascia uninterrupted by strakes like the Octavia, and the rear lights bearing more of a ‘C’ shape than the smaller wagon.

This is mainly because the Octavia entered its fourth generation in 2019, while the Superb was only facelifted in the same year, meaning it still carries the bulk of the styling cues introduced in 2015.

INSIDE

Skoda ticks a lot of boxes for the Octavia RS by default, so it has things like front and rear parking sensors, a heated sports steering wheel, RS-spec sports seats, and 18-inch alloys all as standard.

In fact, the only optional extra listed is the ‘RS Plus Pack’, which swaps the seats for “split leather ergonomic comfort seats”, adds a head-up display, heated rear seats, triple-zone air-conditioning a black-polished exhaust tip, adaptive suspension, and different wheels.

The Superb Sportline is much the same, gaining a sports steering wheel with shifter paddles, rear heated seats, a larger touchscreen and a Canton ten-speaker sound system all as standard compared to the lesser Style.

More noticeable between the two is the Octavia gets Skoda’s minimal new interior, with a stubby gear selector, redesigned touchscreen, touch-sensitive controls for volume, and a redesigned dashboard.

Meanwhile, the Superb retains the tall shifter, physical AC controls, and older infotainment screen with its touch-based controls on the left, including the volume controls, which is annoying. I hate touch-button volume controls, they’re impossible to use fast if you’re a passenger. Just put a knob there or use a slider like the Octavia.

Superb is larger too, with acres of space in the back for both rear passengers and cargo. But the smaller Octavia doesn’t really feel lacking in storage either.

UNDER THE BONNET

Both these cars use the same powerplant, a 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbo four paired with an 85kW/330 electric motor and a 13kWh battery. That mean they offer very similar performance, although the Octavia’s RS badge means it pushes 20kW more than the Superb, for 180kW over 160kW combined. Torque is identical at 400Nm, making both wagons punchy things off the line.

Skoda says the Superb can drive a bit longer between charges, up to 62km compared to 60km, but I didn’t notice much difference on the daily drive. Both could handle the daily commute and some on electric power only, and will charge fully overnight.

And if you do need to drop into ICE mode for long-distance driving, even without any range showing the electric motor helps out here and there to keep fuel consumption down. Figures in the high fives shouldn’t be hard to recreate for either vehicle, depending on your commute.

ON THE ROAD

While this RS didn’t have the optional adaptive suspension, the standard springs took to our roads nicely, just like the petrol version. It’s not overly firm, nor is it wallowy in the slightest. The variable ratio steering is great too, as is the torque vectoring by brake on the front end, helpful if you’re particularly spirited on the way to the bach.

It’s comfy too, and quiet, aided by the fact the RS badge doesn’t actually mean rally sport any more, it’s more indicative of a slight performance bump than anything really athletic. Still goes hard though, the torque from the motor filling out the deficits of the small petrol engine nicely.

Meanwhile, the Superb doesn’t go all the way to RS levels, leaning more towards plush than power. The suspension is a bit softer than the Octavia, and the comfort seats are indeed comfortable. You don’t really notice the 20kW deficit either.

The NZ Police is currently evaluating the Superb iV for suburban duties, and already uses petrol Superbs for most other things, so you also get the added game of making everyone doing 110km/h on the motorway panic for a second when they see you in their mirror. Same effect as the old Commodores had.

VERDICT

The biggest point of difference between the Superb and Octavia, RS and Sportline aside, is the size. If you need a more spacious wagon, you’ll want the Superb, but if you’re okay with something smaller and newer, the Octavia is better for you. Personally, I’d go for the Octavia.

But more importantly, they’re the only two PHEV station wagons in New Zealand at the moment, and one of only a handful of wagons left on the market at all. The real hurdle will be convincing people to buy them over an SUV.

If that buy-in price is a concern, consider the fact the Octavia asks about a $9k premium over the petrol RS (including the rebate), but the Superb Sportline iV is actually cheaper than the Sportline TSI (including a $1265 fee for the ICE). However, the petrol Sportline gets a 206kW 2.0-litre engine and four-wheel drive. Be awesome if Skoda used that engine with the PHEV bits…