There’s no doubt that the Skoda Octavia is a great car. It’s comfortable, roomy, has a huge boot and is excellent value for money.

As handsome as it is, however, the standard models have never really excited me. That’s why I was pleased – and relieved – when I was able to climb behind the wheel of the vRS 230.

Not only does it have an extra 10bhp over the standard vRS – hence the 230 moniker – but it also has some additional styling tweaks to create a little more visual intrigue.

There’s a relatively discreet spoiler mounted on the boot and most of the other tweaks – black door mirrors, grille, VRs badging and exhausts, bi-xenon headlights with dark inserts – are equally as subtle. Except for the wheels. Stunning as they are, the beautiful 19in rims that the VRs 230 sits on seem just a little out of character - a bit too obvious, if you like - with the rest of the car and that gives them a bit of an aftermarket look.

Climb inside and you certainly won’t be disappointed with the level of kit. The heated, electrically adjustable, leather seats have contrast red stitching, the three-spoke, flat-bottomed steering wheel is bound in tactile, dimpled leather and there’s no end of electronics to play with.

You get cruise control, hill hold, lane assist and performance mode assist while the centre console is dominated by a large multimedia touchscreen interface with access to the sat nav, audio and handsfree telephone calls and, perhaps the most abstract – but also intriguing – of all, a lap timer.

The system also allows you to tether a mobile phone to create a wifi hotspot which all the passengers in the vehicle can use to access the internet on the move.

The cabin has a nice ambience to it and the materials – at least those that sit above eye level – are of excellent quality. It’s only when you dig a little deeper that you find exactly where Skoda have saved money.

There are hard plastics in evidence in areas where the average driver is unlikely to come into contact with them but, more disappointingly, there’s a degree of flex in the touchscreen that hasn’t been present when I’ve used the VW-sourced system in other cars from the group’s portfolio.

There’s a huge amount of room for front and rear passengers where the absence of a transmission tunnel means that even the unlucky soul stuck in the middle of the rear bench should find the experience is not unpleasant one.

There’s loads of seat adjustment available to the driver and the steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake so no one should have any trouble getting comfortable behind the wheel.

The boot is cavernous, boasting 590 litres of luggage-swallowing capacity that is easily accessed through the large hatch opening. Stow the rear seats away – it should be noted that they don’t fold completely flat – and that space increases by close to a factor of three to 1,580 litres.

Start the engine and you’ll find that it’s nice and quiet. What you’ll also find when you pull away is that it’s got plenty of power. Top speed, where permitted, is 155mph and 62mph arrives in a very respectable 6.7 seconds but those numbers don’t really tell the whole story because it’s the way that the 2.0-litre TSI unit delivers its power that impresses the most.

The broad spread of torque and free-revving spirit means that it surges along with real enthusiasm, whatever gear you’re in, giving the Octavia a real sense of potential. In sport mode that thrust is accompanied by a throaty exhaust note which is piped in via the speakers.

The intention is to add some aural excitement but in truth it sounds synthesised and, rather than increasing the thrills, it tends to distract from them.

There’s a lack of feel from the brakes but the front end bites keenly into corners and the e-diff it shares with the Golf GTi and which can send 100% of the torque to whichever front tyre has the most grip ensures a smooth exit.

There’s a nice weight to the steering, in Sport mode at least, and there’s enough feel to paint a pretty vivid picture of what’s going on beneath the wheels.

You can opt for a DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox but the six-speed manual that my test car was fitted with proved slick, accurate and positive.

The ride is firm, in fact the suspension settings are identical to the standard VRs, but not so harsh that it impacts on the car’s credibility as family transport.

Despite the badging the VRs is, first and foremost, a family car. And a very good one at that. It is very well equipped, spacious and with a cavernous boot. The fact that it also performs as well as it does is a huge bonus, as is the price. If you’re looking for pace and practicality the VRs 230 is a compelling combination.

Skoda Octavia VRs 230

Price: £26,350

As tested: £26,810

Engine: 2.0-litre TSI

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Power: 227bhp

Torque: 258lbft @ 1,500rpm

Maximum speed: 155mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 6.7sec

Combined: 45.6mpg

Emissions (CO2): 142g/km

For more information about Skoda cars visit www.skoda.co.uk