To say the Skoda Octavia RS has been a success in Australia is probably an understatement, especially if we’re talking about the wagon.
More than half of all new Skoda Octavia models sold locally are expected to be RS versions, and between 70 and 80 per cent of those sales expected to be the wagon.
That’s what Michael Irmer, Skoda Australia director, told CarExpert at the launch of the fourth-generation Octavia RS.
“We fully expect the new Octavia RS to continue its sales success in Australia, particularly when you consider the extent of new technology in the car,” he told CarExpert.
Standard in the latest Octavia RS is a 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a new set of digital instruments, and a head-up display.
The car is bigger than before, although it packs only an evolution of the outgoing model’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with the same 180kW and 370Nm as before.
Interestingly, the 2021 Octavia RS sedan only attracts an $800 premium over the old model, although Mr Irmer expects up to two-thirds of buyers will opt for the Premium Pack despite its $6500 price tag.
“If you total up the individual items in the package it comes to $9750, so you’re saving $3250 – or 33 per cent,” he said.
“We think it’s an attractive proposition when you factor in the big-ticket items like adaptive chassis control, Alcantara RS upholstery, head-up display, and electric front seats with memory.”
The fact the Octavia RS wagon is so dominant against its sedan stablemate bucks the trend for sedan and wagon sales, especially in Australia where sedans have always outsold wagons by some margin.
Although the medium car segment below $60,000 represents just 1.4 per cent of the total market in Australia, the Octavia generally battles with the Mazda 6 for second-place behind the massively successful Toyota Camry.
MORE: 2021 Skoda Octavia RS review
