CZECH MATE!

The Octavia RS is a Golf GTI in a more practical avatar, but does it deliver the same thrills?

- WORDS SHIVANK BHATT PHOTOGRAPHY SUNIL CHAUHAN

You wait ages for a bus to arrive, and then two show up at once. Those were my first thoughts when Skoda announced the arrival of the fourth-generation Octavia RS in India — right after Volkswagen brought in the iconic Golf GTI. The only difference is, these two aren't buses. In fact, they're two of the best everyday performance cars in the world. And for the first time ever, both have landed in India together. Naturally, this has petrolheads across the country jumping up and down in excitement — whether they can they can afford one or not, well, it doesn't really matter.

Now, over the past few months, I've driven the Golf GTI to my heart's content, and I've come to the conclusion that it's the perfect everyday fun car for Indian enthusiasts. The Octavia RS, though, threatens to change that. It's more spacious, more practical, and a tad more affordable — while promising the same explosive performance and razor-sharp handling. But does it actually deliver? I spent a few laps at the Buddh International Circuit with it to find out.