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Skoda Octavia RS Mk4Stage 1 to Stage 3 tuning guide

The petrol Octavia RS Mk4 has the EA888 Gen 4 2.0 TSI with 245 PS and 370 Nm, front-wheel drive and an electronic limited-slip differential, with a 7-speed DSG or a 6-speed manual (Skoda's press kit). The 2024 facelift raised it to 265 PS, DSG only (facelift release). The engine is the same as the Golf GTI Mk8's, so most software and parts are shared. Two things decide what you can do: whether your car is a facelift, and whether its gearbox computer is locked. This guide covers the petrol RS, not the TDI or the iV plug-in hybrid.

Years
2020–
Engine
2.0 TSI EA888 Gen 4, Garrett turbo (DNPA; DNPD on the facelift)
Gearbox
7-speed DSG (DQ381) or 6-speed manual; DSG only from 2024
Stock power
245 PS, or 265 PS from 2024; 370 Nm
Blue Skoda Octavia vRS Combi 2.0 TSI, 2024 facelift, driving past a grey fence, seen from the side

Power by stage

Stock is Skoda's figure. Stage 1 to 3 are the tuners' own claims, in PS or hp as each states them. APR's figures come from its Golf GTI Mk8 test with the same engine, at the engine, on 95 and 98 octane; most others don't say which fuel. The top of Stage 2 needs the particulate filter removed, which isn't road-legal; about 367 PS is the top with it kept.

Stock245–265 PS
Stage 1299–350 PS / hp Stage 2324–389 PS / hp Stage 3410–458 PS / hp Stage 4— no pump-fuel figure

Names with an arrow go straight to that part's product page for this car. Names in a dashed outline are other brands that make the part; exact links for them are being added.

1

Software only

299–350 PS

On 2020–2024 cars, the Continental Simos 19 engine computer is flashed through the diagnostic port; APR's list names the Octavia RS with engine DNPA (its coverage list). A remap claims about 300–350 PS with the filter kept. For the 2024 facelift, RacingLine lists the "Octavia vRS IV.5 2.0 TSI 265ps" for its plug-in box only, and APR, REVO and TVS list nothing yet.

Typical cost: remaps $526.95 (APR), £658.80–£720 fitted (REVO, RacingLine at QT Performance), €499 (TVS) or €650 (BR-Performance); RacingLine with gearbox tune £960 fitted; plug-in boxes €199–€459 (RaceChip), €689 (DTE) or £849.55 fitted (RacingLine PCM).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 1 tunes compared

TuneFuelClaimed powerClaimed torqueNotes
APR Stage 195 / 98 RON337 / 345 hp540 / 548 Nm$526.95; tested on a Golf GTI with the same engine
RacingLine Stage 198 RON345 PS500 Nm480 Nm without a gearbox tune; £720 fitted at QT Performance, £960 with the gearbox tune
REVO Stage 1—319–334 PS420–460 Nm£658.80 fitted at QT Performance; works with the stock gearbox software
BR-Performance Stage 1—320 hp450 Nm€650
TVS Engineering Stage 1 / 298 RON (Stage 2)300 / 350 hp450 / 500 Nm€499 / €599; stock parts
Superchips Stage 1—299 bhp (tested)441 NmPrice on request
MTM—300 hp (reflash) / 280 hp (box)—Each from €1,590
ABT Engine Control—290 PS (325 PS facelift)410 / 420 NmControl unit, €2,990.01
RacingLine PCM box (245)—285 PS420 Nm£849.55 fitted
RacingLine PCM box (facelift)—316 PS480 NmThe only software-style option listed for the 265 PS car
DTE PowerControl98 RON or more+56 hp+48 NmPlug-in box; €689, or €799 for the X version
RaceChip S / RS / GTS 5—+36 / +45 / +55 hp+33 / +42 / +50 NmPlug-in box; €199–€459; facelift versions €229–€549

The DSG: check whether it's locked

RacingLine is blunt: "If you own a 2022+ Octavia vRS… your transmission cannot be tuned" until the gearbox computer is unlocked (its Octavia page). Its dealers can unlock it by cable, or replace the circuit board with an unlocked one (3–4 hours, gearbox tune included). RacingLine's gearbox tune raises clutch pressure from 12 to 19 bar, "up to 650Nm". APR's DQ381 software ($649.95) says "most vehicles with a build date of 01/2022+ are not currently compatible". BR-Performance charges €400 for its gearbox tune.

Before you buyWithout a gearbox tune, the stock gearbox computer cuts engine torque, which is why most files claim less without one. RacingLine calls the 6-speed manual's clutch "a known weak point" at high power. Skoda UK's warranty excludes "software (Chip tuning)" that wasn't fitted at the factory (the terms).
2

Intercooler, intake and downpipe

324–389 PS

With the filter kept, Stage 2 means an intercooler and intake with a matching file: RacingLine's Stage 1+ claims 367 PS / 539 Nm on 98 octane and APR's Stage 2 353–358 hp. RacingLine's full Stage 2 (389 PS) needs a high-flow cat downpipe and is "not applicable" to cars with the filter, and exhaust makers list the petrol RS with a filter from 2020.

Typical cost: intercooler £839.99 (RacingLine) or $1,177.98 (do88); R600 intake bundle £773.35–£812.22 fitted; HJS ECE downpipe with filter £2,695.20; filter-back exhaust £793.91–£1,530.89.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 2 packages compared

PackageFuelClaimed powerClaimed torqueHardware
RacingLine Stage 1+98 RON367 PS539 NmIntake, turbo inlet, intercooler; filter kept (510 Nm without a gearbox tune)
APR Stage 295 / 98 RON353 / 358 hp540 / 548 NmIntake and intercooler
REVO Stage 2—324–340 PS465–510 NmIntake, intercooler and intercooler pipe
TVS Stage 2+98 RON365 hp530 Nm€699; intake and downpipe
RacingLine Stage 298 RON389 PS559 NmAdds a high-flow cat downpipe; not for cars with the filter
BR-Performance Stage 2—340 hp470 NmFull exhaust with the filter removed, big intercooler, gearbox tune

Parts list

Before you buyRemoving the particulate filter means the car won't pass inspection. The HJS pipe and RacingLine's Stage 1+ keep it; ask the shop which file matches the parts you fit.
3

Bigger turbo

410–458 PS

Two routes are listed. APR has a file for the bigger Continental turbo from the Golf R and S3 (part 06Q145703G), claiming 410–419 hp in its GTI test. RacingLine uses Garrett's PowerMax GT2260S, a direct fit on the 245 PS engine, and claims 439 PS / 529 Nm on 98 octane with the filter kept.

Typical cost: Garrett PowerMax turbo £1,495 on sale; RacingLine's Stage 3 package £4,659 (AwesomeGTI); TVS Stage 3 software €999.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Turbo upgrades compared

KitFuelClaimed powerClaimed torqueNotes
APR Stage 3 (Golf R / S3 turbo)95 / 98 RON410 / 419 hp542 / 545 NmTested on a Golf GTI; turbo price not shown
RacingLine Garrett GT2260S98 RON439 PS (458 without filter)529 / 556 NmNeeds RacingLine's intake, inlet and intercooler
RacingLine Stage 3 package—439 hp529 NmTurbo, intake, intercooler and software for £4,659 at AwesomeGTI, which says it's road-legal with the filter kept
Garrett PowerMax turbo only—up to 447 hp—£1,495 on sale; "direct fit on the 245ps EA888 Gen4"
TVS Stage 3———Custom software, €999; no figures

Parts list

  • Bigger turbo required Garrett PowerMax GT2260SRacingLine Stage 3 packageGolf R / S3 factory turbo

    Each turbo needs its matching file, plus the Stage 2 intake and intercooler. The gearbox needs its own tune, and on 2022-on cars that means an unlock first.

Before you buyA changed turbo isn't road-legal in Israel without approval. Unitronic warns about the DQ381's "failure-prone plastic oil tubes" (its kit), and REVO says repeated launches and track use wear the clutches faster. AwesomeGTI says it doesn't ship to Israel, so ask a local dealer.
4

Built engine

no pump-fuel figure

BAR-TEK lists a built-engine bundle for the Octavia RS (NX, engine DNPA): forged pistons with steel rods, a cylinder head kit, a Golf R upgrade turbo, a fuel pump, a 4" downpipe and an intercooler, for 600 hp / 650 Nm at €15,513.53 before fitting (its guide). But that figure assumes 102-octane fuel, which Israeli pumps don't sell, and the bundle lists a clutch for the DQ250 gearbox rather than the Octavia's DQ381. TVS offers Stage 4 software for €1,499 with a forged engine, without figures. So we don't give a Stage 4 number.

Watch: real builds

From tuners', shops' and motoring journalists' own YouTube channels. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play.

16:03
Stockcarwow reviews the 245 hp Octavia vRS Mk4carwow on YouTube
18:19
StockSeven months with a petrol Octavia vRS estateTim Rodie Drives Stuff on YouTube
15:58
StockTim Rodie reviews the 2025 Octavia vRS faceliftTim Rodie Drives Stuff on YouTube
1:09
Stage 1K-Fahrzeugtechnik's Stage 1 Octavia RS NX, 100–200 km/h before and afterK-Fahrzeugtechnik on YouTube
0:56
Stage 1MTR fits REVO Stage 1 and chassis parts to an Octavia RSMTR - The European Car Specialist on YouTube
0:17
Stage 2A Stage 2 Octavia RS NX, 100–200 km/hDawid Piędzio on YouTube
11:59
Road testA road-legal filter-back exhaust on an Octavia vRS Mk4NAWFABZ on YouTube

All build videos, by car

Questions to ask the shop

  1. What is my car's build date, and is its gearbox computer locked? If so, will you unlock it, or run a lower-torque file?
  2. Which file will you load, 95 or 98 octane, and what does the tuner publish for that exact file?
  3. Is my car a 2024-on 265 PS facelift? If so, what can you offer beyond a plug-in box, and will I get a full reflash later?
  4. Does the downpipe keep the particulate filter and carry ECE approval, so the car passes the annual test?
  5. Are you an authorised dealer for this software, and can you get the parts in Israel?
  6. Will you log and dyno the car before and after, say whether the figures are at the engine or the wheels, and can it go back to stock?

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