Review: 2017 Škoda Rapid (India)
15 December 2017, Neil Parkhi
Introduction/Heritage
The Škoda Rapid seen here, is a subcompact car produced by Škoda India, the subsidiary of the Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto, exclusively for the Indian market, which was introduced in November 2011. It features a similar front end design with the second generation of the Škoda Fabia, but is not directly related to it, the Rapid being based on the newer PQ25 platform of the Volkswagen Group. In October 2011, Škoda resurrected the Rapid nameplate for its similar version of the Volkswagen Vento made in India, with sales starting in November. The car is produced by Škoda Auto India Private Limited in Pune. The 2017 Skoda Rapid facelift comes with revised styling that makes it look sharper. New exterior changes include new front grille, headlamps, chrome door handles, smoked out tail lamps, etc. Some of the new features include cruise control, rain sensing wipers, reach and rake adjustable steering, cooled glovebox and footwell lighting. The European model of the ŠKODA Rapid is based on the Škoda MissionL concept car, and was launched in 2012. It is, however, a different design, slightly longer, with different interiors, a slightly different body shape, and different engine options. It had its premiere at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012. The new updated Škoda Rapid sedan made its way in the Indian car market in November 2016. The new facelift model comes with an array of changes and updates to help it enhance its appeal to the customers and to increase the sales volumes. It has been endowed with a new front fascia that is in line with Skoda's new design language that has been used on its new family of cars such as the new Octavia, new Superb and the car maker’s latest Kodiaq SUV. The new Rapid facelift’s fresh front end comes with a newly styled radiator grille that is surrounded by a chrome finished frame and new angular headlight design to appear sharper than before and to enhance the aggressive visual appeal. The sedan model also gets a new bumper design that is sharper than before and houses a large honeycomb air intake that further enhances the sharper and bolder appeal, while fog lamps are placed on either side of the air intake. The new updated Rapid also comes endowed with some mild updates on its rear design. The updates on the car’s back design include a restyled bumper and a new chrome strip on the car’s boot lid. Skoda has also endowed a new boot lip spoiler and revised tail lamps to offer a fresher look for the rear façade of the facelift Rapid. The side profile of the sedan remains unchanged, excepting for the redesigned alloy wheels. The range topping variants of the sedan also offers LED daytime running lights which are integrated to the dual barrel headlamp setup of the car. All these design updates make the new updated Skoda Rapid look and feel more contemporary, premium and stylish than the previous model. The new updated Skoda Rapid sedan offers a very well-appointed cabin design. The classy looking interiors with nice fit and finish are like that of its German sibling and market rival, the Volkswagen Vento. The cabin of the Rapid has also been improved with some upgrades and changes to match its fresher exterior. The car offers a very spacious and comfortable cabin with nice well-supportive seating arrangement and ample legroom to offer a comfortable drive experience for all the occupants. The sedan also gets some added features such as cruise control system, light sensing automatic headlamps and rain sensing automatic wipers. The top of the line variant of the Rapid sedan offers a 6.5-inch touchscreen integrated infotainment system that comes along with MirrorLink feature that allows one to put all the smartphone content on to the automobile’s display. There are also the standard connectivity options such as AUX, USB and Bluetooth. Other features include Automatic Climate Control, Multi-function Steering Wheel and more. The Skoda Rapid sedan competes with some very well established and bestselling models in the Indian C-segment, such as the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, the Honda City and the Volkswagen Vento. The Rapid sedan also shares its platform as well as engine range with its German competitor, the Volkswagen Vento. Although the Rapid has been a highly popular product from Skoda and a major sales volume drawer in India, its popularity is not even closely comparable to the top sellers of the C-segment of India. The new updated Skoda Rapid sedan’s petrol price range has a price range that starts at 827000 rupees, or 8.27 lakhs or 12900 US Dollars that goes up to 1.1 million rupees or 11 lakhs or 16900 US Dollars for the top of the line model, while the diesel variants have a price range starting at 948000 or 9.48 lakh rupees or 14500 US Dollars that goes up to 1.2 million rupees or 12 lakhs or 18400 US Dollars for the top of the line model.
Specifications
| Steering and Transmission | |
|---|---|
| Steering Type | Speed Proportional, Electro-Mechanical, Rack and Pinion Power Steering |
| Transmission Type | 5 Speed Manual or 6 Speed Automatic |
| Wheels and Tires | |
| Front Wheel Type | 15 inch 5 twin spoke alloys |
| Rear Wheel Type | 15 inch 5 twin spoke alloys |
| Front Tire Type | 195/55R16 |
| Rear Tire Type | 195/55R16 |
| Front Brake Type | Disc |
| Rear Brake Type | Drum |
| Suspension | |
| Front Suspension Type | Independent MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension Type | Compound Link Crank |
| Suspension Features | Stabilizer Bars, Coil Springs, Gas Pressurized Shock Absorbers |
| Dimensions | |
| Length (in, mm) | 173.7in, 4413mm |
| Width (in, mm) | 66.9in, 1699mm |
| Height (in, mm) | 57.7in, 1466mm |
| Wheelbase (in, mm) | 100.4in, 2552mm |
| Weight (lb, kg) | 4332lb, 2619kg |
| Engine Specifications | |
| Engine Type | 1.6 litre TSI 16 valve petrol inline 4 cylinder |
| Power (bhp, PS, kW) | 335bhp, 340PS, 250kW @ 5900 rpm |
| Torque (lb-ft, Nm) | 332lb-ft, 450Nm @ 1500RPM |
| 0-60 mph (0-97 kmph) | 4.3 seconds |
| Top Speed (mph, kmph) | 155 mph, 250 kmph |
| Drivetrain | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Tank Size (gal, L) | 14.5 gallons, 55L |
| Fuel Type (AKI, RON) | 91 Octane/AKI Petrol (95 RON) |
| City Fuel Economy (mpg, kmpL) | 31mpg, 12kmpL |
| City Fuel Economy (mpg, kmpL) | 40mpg, 15kmpL |
| Cargo Specifications | |
| Cargo Space (ft3, L) | 16.2ft3, 460L |
| Max. Cargo Space (ft3, L) | 16.2ft3, 460L |