Hi everyone,

I’m thinking of changing my mk3.5 vRS after nearly 4 years of happy ownership. The only gripe I have is with the noisy cabin, especially that echoey, hollow sound at speed. I’m looking for a bit more refinement and am considering a G20 BMW 3 series, however I’m reluctant to jump ship from Skoda and also considering a mk4.5 vRS.

Has anyone driven both variants? If so, is the new model noticeably quieter than the mk3.5?

Look forward to reading your experiences and opinions.

I find my 4.5 much quieter than the 3.5.
4.5 feels better put together and higher quality. Yes, there is a lot of plastic but not the thin, rattley type.
The 1.5 mild hybrid engine is quieter than the 1.4 and reduced tapping from the injectors.

Of course, your ears may tell you different

19 hours ago, vladRS said:

... The only gripe I have is with the noisy cabin,

I always assumed that was a design feature of the sporty models?

16 hours ago, darrenw said:

I find my 4.5 much quieter than the 3.5.
4.5 feels better put together and higher quality. Yes, there is a lot of plastic but not the thin, rattley type.
The 1.5 mild hybrid engine is quieter than the 1.4 and reduced tapping from the injectors.

Of course, your ears may tell you different

Thanks @darrenw , just the kind of info I am after.

I debated the Mk4 versus Mk3.5 when I was buying my car. I couldn’t justify the extra money at the time (especially when I preferred the Mk3.5) but the cabin was the biggest draw of the Mk4.

As an aside, what G20 are you looking at? The Octavia vRS is quite weird - it’s not a small car, but it still handles like a large hatchback. The G20, on the other hand, feels like a boat. I’ve only driven a 330i, but I would compare it to a slower S4 - faster than the vRS, but with subjectively worse handling. It’s a bigger car, in all dimensions, and the extra weight makes a difference.

I wouldn’t describe it as a boat, but don’t be buying a 330i M-Sport expecting the throw-ability of the vRS. Despite having the same stock power, it is an entirely different feel. I was very disappointed, compared to my vRS. An M340i is far more comparable, but like the S4, is a much faster and heavier car.

That’s the appeal of the vRS/Golf R estate/Cupra ST.

Thanks @OccyVRS , it was the 330i I was considering.

46 minutes ago, vladRS said:

Thanks @OccyVRS , it was the 330i I was considering.

It’s a very different thing. In a straight line, sure, it’s just as quick as a vRS. It’s more comfortable, much higher quality and is a lot more substantial.

All of this, though, comes at a cost over the Octavia. If you take away the LSD, add on an extra few hundred KG, soften the suspension and then put in a less-determined engine - that’s what you end up with. It doesn’t have the same front end “point and shoot” feel that the vRS does, or the determined nature of the tune.

Absolutely nothing against the 330i - they’re amazing cars - it’s just more motorway cruiser than hot hatch with a big boot. The nearest thing with a 3 in the name would be an M340i - but that’s a different thing entirely.

It depends what you’re after. If you like the mature hot hatch feel of the Octavia, then you’re looking at something a bit lighter and smaller - maybe a Golf R estate, S3 sedan CLA35. If you just want the straight line speed, that opens up any number of 2.0/3.0 A4/5, 330i, C-Class, Volvo V60 or similar options. Of course, these cars are all AWD/RWD, which is quite different to the feel of the FWD vRS. Again, though, do you like the playfulness of the FWD? Or is the ability to always have grip something you’re interested in, etc.

Bottom line, as I said to someone else a few months ago on here, you can’t really compare an Octavia vRS to a 330i. One is a GTI PP with a big boot, while the other is a 2.0 motorway cruiser.

Thanks for taking the time to post @OccyVRS. Your description of the 330’s quality and comfort may nudge me in favour of the BMW instead. I think I need to test drive them both to work out what suits me best.

On 31/01/2026 at 20:38, vladRS said:

Thanks for taking the time to post @OccyVRS. Your description of the 330’s quality and comfort may nudge me in favour of the BMW instead. I think I need to test drive them both to work out what suits me best.

If that’s what you’re after, why not get a Superb 280? Arteon R?

Good suggestions, but I’m not keen on the Superb and the Arteon is very rare.

my 4.5 Octavia in the cheapest trim (in Israel called "Selection") i have the 1.5 MHEV with DSG7. and its very quiet. i can drive at 130 KMH and still hear music in low volume and even speak to someone in the car without yelling.

before the Skoda, i had Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 2022. and it was so noisy. i was just counting the seconds to get rid of her :)

I think cabin noise can also depend on what wheel/tyre combination you have. Obviously bigger wheels with lower profile tyres will tend to be somewhat noisier, but the brand/model of tyre seems to have a big effect - I found the Bridgestone Potenza's to be very noisy, Good Year Eagle F1 less so and now I am using Toyo Proxes Sport and they have been the quietest so far, with great performance.

On 04/02/2026 at 21:59, CS363 said:

I think cabin noise can also depend on what wheel/tyre combination you have. Obviously bigger wheels with lower profile tyres will tend to be somewhat noisier, but the brand/model of tyre seems to have a big effect - I found the Bridgestone Potenza's to be very noisy, Good Year Eagle F1 less so and now I am using Toyo Proxes Sport and they have been the quietest so far, with great performance.

My car has the kumho tyres 16 Inch and they are good!

15 hours ago, TomerB2025 said:

My car has the kumho tyres 16 Inch and they are good!

But your car is not a vRS, correct?

8 hours ago, CS363 said:

But your car is not a vRS, correct?

no no.. i wish it was, but no.