Skoda Octavia RS Scores 5 Stars In Australia NCAP Crash Test
Skoda’s performance sedan, the Octavia RS, is a popular car among enthusiasts in India and many other countries. Last year, we got the first batch of the Octavia RS in limited numbers, and the response from buyers was overwhelming. The 100 units from the first batch were sold out even before the official price announcement.
Now, Skoda is planning to bring the second batch of this sedan to India. Skoda also sells this sedan in Australia, and the car was recently tested by ANCAP, where it passed with flying colours. The car scored a full 5-star rating in the crash test.
ANCAP is said to be one of the toughest crash-testing agencies in the world. This crash test follows a protocol similar to Euro NCAP, and ADAS is considered mandatory for achieving high safety ratings. Like most crash tests, the Skoda Octavia RS underwent multiple evaluations before securing the rating. Just like in India, the Octavia RS is sold in Australia as a CBU. The car was assessed on the basis of Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP), Vulnerable Road User Protection (VRU), and Safety Assist (SA).
The first test was the frontal offset crash, which was conducted at 50 kmph. In this test, the driver's chest received marginal protection, while the legs of both the driver and front passenger received adequate protection. The full-width frontal crash test at 50 kmph also offered adequate protection to the driver's chest.
Next were the side-impact tests, where the sedan scored good ratings in all critical areas. The car received a marginal rating in the side-pole impact test. Post-crash, all four doors of the car could be opened, and the windows could be rolled down in case the vehicle was submerged in water. In total, the car scored 34.22 points out of 40 in Adult Occupant Protection.
Coming to Child Occupant Protection, the car scored 40.04 out of 49 points. The 10-year-old child dummy received adequate protection in the frontal dynamic test. However, neck protection was rated poor. The six-year-old dummy received good overall ratings. In the side dynamic test, chest protection for the 10-year-old dummy was rated poor, while the six-year-old dummy was rated good.
In the VRU test, the Octavia RS scored 51.39 points out of 63. It was revealed that the bonnet provided good protection, while the windscreen was rated as adequate. The car's A-pillars were rated poor. In the Safety Assist test, the car scored 81 percent.
The Octavia RS is a popular four-door sedan that offers the best of both worlds to customers. It provides a practical four-to-five-seater layout along with an engine tuned for performance. The car is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine that generates 263 hp and 370 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. It can sprint from 0–100 kmph in just 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 250 kmph.
The second batch of the Octavia RS is expected to arrive in India during the festive season, and the brand is likely to price the car at a level similar to that of the first batch.