First Drive: the Skoda Octavia VRS

218bhp Skoda is the most powerful Octavia...in the world. But is it any good?

Pub fact time: this Skoda Octavia vRS is the most powerful Octavia in the world, ever. Given that the last car wasn't exactly a slouch, that bodes well.

It's based on the same platform as the Golf GTI - another reassuring bit of info - and it gets the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. There's also a hot diesel available, like in the previous generation, which promises great performance and decent economy.