Subaru Levorg GT-S vs Skoda Octavia RS head-to-head comparison review

Practical performance cars offer turbo grunt in a convenient package.

David McCowen

02:4914 September 2016

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Subaru Levorg GT-S vs Skoda Octavia RS head-to-head comparison review

Value

Subaru: Though Subaru doesn't like to say so, the Levorg is essentially a WRX wagon that blends performance and technology in a practical five-door bodyshell. This Levorg GT-S sits in the middle of the range as a well-equipped sports wagon available from $48,890 plus on-road costs. That somewhat steep price brings plenty of standard features including 18-inch alloy wheels; a CVT automatic transmission with all-wheel-drive, a strong safety suite including active cruise control, blind spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking, self-levelling LED headlights, smart keys, dual-zone climate control, leather trim and a 7-inch touchscreen with sat nav, a reversing camera and basic smartphone connectivity.

Skoda: The sportiest Octavia shares its engine and core structure with Volkswagen's Golf GTI performance car, but like the Levorg it has a character of its own. Impressively priced from $37,890 as a manual sedan, the Skoda's asking price increases to $41,890 when sold in wagon form with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. That price brings standard features including 18-inch wheels, active cruise control and autonomous emergency braking, dual-zone climate control, bi-Xenon headlights, leather trim and an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and proper Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Our test model also featured more than $6000 in options including a Tech Pack and Comfort Pack that bring it closer to the Subaru's steeper sticker.

Winner: Skoda

Head to Head: Subaru Levorg and Skoda Octavia RS

Inside

Subaru: The Levorg GT-S benefits from the interior offered on the WRX Premium, which includes a lovely flat-bottomed steering wheel and well-bolstered seats offering excellent support on long drives. There are three digital displays including a 3.5-inch instrument cluster display, a high-set 4.3-inch multi function display that sits just below the windscreen, and a central 7-inch touchscreen stereo with six speakers. It's much better than previous Subaru efforts - charcoal leather with blue stitching is a particularly nice touch - but it feels a little dated in this company. Both cars here offer more than adequate room for rear seat passengers, and the Levorg's 522 litre boot should cover everything owners will throw at it.

Skoda: Understated on the outside, the Octavia's purposeful interior features black leather with red highlights and red stitching, a flat-bottomed wheel with paddle shifters, sports pedals and purposefully plump seats. It's a more cohesive space with a cleaner lines and a better-integrated 8-inch stereo with superior audio - particularly if you plump for the $1700 Tech Pack and its 10-speaker Canton stereo system. The Octavia's 588 litre boot is noticeably larger than the Subaru's, though it has a touch more road noise than its Japanese rival.

Winner: Skoda

Under the bonnet

Subaru: Both cars here feature turbocharged 2.0-litre engines and automatic transmissions, but the similarities end there. Subaru's iconic horizontally-opposed cylinder layout lends a pleasant burble to the Levorg's motor, which has much more power (197kW) than its European rival. Subaru claims the Levorg reaches 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, half a second less than what Skoda claims for the Octavia RS wagon. Much of that advantage can be traced to an all-wheel-drive system that offers immense traction under acceleration - more than the engine needs, unlike the front-wheel-drive Octavia that struggles to find purchase under heavy throttle from rest.

Thirsty fuel use aside, the Subaru is a clear winner on paper. But that doesn't translate to on-road excellence, as the motor feels blunted by its doughy and unresponsive Continuously Variable Transmission. The self-shifting unit dulls the edge offered by the manual WRX, dampening throttle inputs in a manner likely to frustrate enthusiastic drivers. The combination feels well sorted at low speeds around town, though the car's driver appeal rapidly unravels when you push it harder. Subaru has tried to address the engine's elastic responses by adding paddle shifters and an eight-step "sport sharp" mode to its engine program, but the result still falls short of the engagement we expect from a modern performance car.

Skoda: The Octavia's drivetrain is perfectly suited to the RS' sporting intention. It's 162kW motor zips around the tacho with far less inertia than the comparatively sleepy Subaru. It matches the Levorg's 350Nm torque peak, but feels faster in the real world as the mumbo arrives earlier and hangs around for longer - an effect multiplied by the Octavia's 200 kilogram weight advantage. Forget the 0-100km/h times and the Skoda feels more urgent once underway, offering drivers a more direct relationship between throttle and forward motion thanks to the direct connection offered by its six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Like the Subaru, Skoda offers a sports mode that further sharpens its reflexes - though we barely used it as the mode includes a droning, digital, fake engine sound that isn't easy to live with. The best way to avoid it is to use the car's "individual" mode, which allows you to adopt sport settings for the steering and driveline without suffering replica exhaust blare. Unlike the Levorg, the Octavia has a manual transmission option for traditionalists and a diesel engine variant for those looking to sacrifice pace for extended range between fuel refills.

Winner: Skoda

How it drives

Subaru: The Subaru offers broadly similar driving characteristics to many of its siblings. Its all-wheel-drive system offers outstanding traction when accelerating, and increased stability on slippery surfaces. The steering is feelsome but heavy, and the car generally feels like a solid machine. We weren't impressed with the Levorg's ride, which feels a little fidgety and unsettled over broken urban surfaces, but better at speed in away from city centres. Safe and dependable, the Levorg lacks the fizz and interaction we expect from performance cars. While it is a capable family cruiser, the Levorg doesn't have the same sporting intent as the Skoda - you're less likely to go for a spin for the sake of it.

Skoda: The Octavia does a much more convincing job of being a performance car. It's lighter, with sharper reactions, feeling nimble as opposed to the (relatively speaking) lumbering Levorg. The RS' sporty suspension tune offers plenty of poise while dealing with bumps in a more controlled fashion, never really upset by imperfections on the road. Its lighter steering feels more precise than the Subaru, and the Skoda's more willing engine contributes to a package that makes you far more likely to set an alarm early on Sunday morning. Let down from rest by its front-wheel-drive layout (and the lack of a limited slip differential) that can easily induce wheelspin and axle tramp under a heavy right foot, the Octavia comes alive when cornering at pace.

Winner: Skoda

Subaru's Levorg GT-S offers WRX power in a practical package.

Ownership

Subaru: Subaru supports the Levorg with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty that includes 12 months of roadside assistance. The all-wheel drive wagon requires servicing every six months, which pushes maintenance costs to a minimum of $2255 for the first three years of ownership.

While it is more expensive to buy and run than the Skoda, Glass's Guide automotive valuation experts predict that the Subaru will be worth 61 per cent of its purchase price after three years and 36,000 kilometres, significantly more than the 45 per cent figure predicted for the Skoda.

Skoda: Like Subaru, Skoda offers three years of unlimited kilometre warranty, though it's more generous roadside assistance program runs to 36 months of coverage. The Czech marque only requires its wagon to be serviced every 12 months, which results in a significantly cheaper service bill of $1197 for the first three years of ownership.

It should also prove around $500 cheaper to fuel each year for drivers that travel an average of 15,000 kilometres per year.

Winner: Skoda

Verdict

Subaru: Subaru is right not to call the Levorg a WRX wagon, as it doesn't really share the sedan's sporting intent. This is a car with plenty of technology, excellent safety credentials and more power than most buyers a likely to need. It's a decent all-rounder, and it deserves to find support from the Subaru faithful. While this contest may look a little one-sided, buyers are likely to have more difficulty choosing between the Levorg and its clearest rival.

Skoda: Practical, engaging and affordable, this Skoda represents one of the best-kept secrets on the road. It's a clear winner here, a well-rounded machine that represents more than the sum of its parts.

Winner: Skoda