Grown Up But Not Slowing Down

The highly-coveted Octavia returns to India, in its most extreme avatar, the RS. And with updated engineering, improved drivability, and signature Octavia functionality, it shows how to carry a legacy ahead

- By Kanaad Chatterjee

The Skoda Octavia needs no introduction. At 11 years old, I still remember sitting in the Mk1 and being awed by the plush interiors and the power with which the sedan pulled through. At around Rs 13 lakh for the base model, the pricing was aspirational. It was perhaps one of the first cars in India that defined aspirational before it became a buzzword and jargon for marketing pitch decks. And that stayed consistent through the three generations we've had on our shores. Sure, the Laura did dent its appeal a little, but the Mk3 more than redeemed it with the RS230 and RS245 trims.

Naturally, expectations were high from the Mk4. Right from the first teaser to the promo campaigns and even OOH ads set the tone just right. All 100 units allocated to India were sold out in 20 minutes. Heartbreak for the millions of petrolheads who've grown up admiring the legacy of the Octy? Sure. Envy those whose neighbours got lucky enough to own one? More so.