Skoda Rapid

Auto experts estimate that India will go up to become one of the top five largest automobile markets by the end of this decade. So many launches in 2011 and even Czech car maker didn't want to stay behind to cash in on the growing demand. Skoda has come up with the launch of Rapid. Skoda Rapid became a stunner of a sedan, more so because of its surprising price package. Produced in Skoda's Indian production facility the sedan is a befitting model to fill the gap between Skoda's larger sedan Octavia and its light-segment hatch Fabia.

Rapid is the sixth model to join the Skoda fleet in India and is being manufactured in the Volkswagen plant in Pune and the mid-size Rapid in many ways looks similar to the Volkswagen Vento; the two are built on the same platform and have ditto engines. Nevertheless, according to SIAM reports Skoda has seen 55% growth rate and re-visiting to the mid-size brand is a clear indication of the carmaker's 10% growth in this segment for the current year and the company's move to launch the Rapid makes complete sense.

Measuring a whopping 4390mm long and 1700mm wide with 1470mm height, the sedan comes with 500 liters cargo space - Skoda Rapid is sure to become the largest vehicle in its segment at least in the Indian sub-continent. This is a generously spacious car for five adults.

And here is a rapid take/our review on this Skoda Rapid...

Looks and anything unique.....Nah!
At the first glance the Skoda Rapid seems to have borrowed a lot from the Volkswagen Vento ...you may actually mistake the Skoda as Vento if you see it from behind especially the tail lights. However, the nose part of the Rapid looks a little different from the Vento, ah! But then this again seems to be a straight lift from Skoda's hatch Fabia; take a look at the grille, headlamps and fog lights, it has simply copied Fabia. Thus, the exterior seems to get thumbs down, as there is nothing fresh or nothing unique with regard to the styling and the design. The large fenders and the slightly modified chin area can be considered as new styling elements though along with the rear tail lamps, bumper and the boot lid that seems to have undergone slight change, else there is nothing much to actually set the Rapid apart.



What to say of the interiors of the Rapid? Well, frankly speaking, reminds you of Vento again, which could disappoint many rather you will not find anything new at all. Though one cannot disagree that the interiors are comfortable but customers will look for the x-factor and mostly Skoda seems to have failed bring about that change at least while designing the inside of the Rapid; you cannot put a Rapid sticker on an almost Vento looking car and sell it in the market, for the new generation customers are way too smart to note every detail and sign you off before they could actually realize that such a car existed rather made it to the market. The sad part is Skoda has not put any effort to at least bring about some change, they very conveniently copied all the features from Vento, be it the climate control unit, gear, ac vents, dashboard and almost everything loudly echoes Vento. If one wants to pick a difference then that would be the omission of chrome highlights, rough seat fabric and the steering does not feature audio controls or USB switches unlike the Vento. Now, it is for the customer to decide whether this difference is good or bad. The safety features of Rapid include SRS dual airbags and ABS (for the top-end version). Besides, the sedan comes with adjustable steering, height adjustable driver seat and designer wheel covers

Engine, performance and mileage
The Skoda Rapid is powered by 1598cc (1.6 liter) engine that delivers identical 105 bhp power for both the diesel and the petrol engines, although the maximum torque deliverance in the diesel variant is great deal more than its petrol counterpart (as much as 60% higher); it is 240 Nm (as opposed to 153 Nm), which in fact enables better performance at low engine revs and the 6-speed automatic transmission ensures superior fuel consumption. The Rapid is slightly quicker when compared to Vento; in a straight road Rapid reaches 100kmph a second faster than Vento and the initial progression of Rapid is smooth and more instantaneous. But in comparison to the Vento diesel Rapid diesel lacks the exuberant power.....dang resemblance by looks ain't good enough!
The driver might look for a more powerful car especially if the vehicle is laden with passengers and luggage at the rear and the fuel efficiency of 9.5 kmpl for petrol and 15.11 kmpl for diesel variants is not an out of the world number still one might consider it as a decent mileage.

Skoda Rapid variants and prices:
Rapid Active: Rs. 750,000
Rapid Ambition: Rs. 785,000
Rapid Elegance: Rs. 875,000
Rapid Ambition (Automatic Transmission): Rs. 885,000
Rapid Elegance Automatic: Rs. 975,000
Rapid Diesel Active: Rs. 875,000
Rapid Diesel Ambition: Rs. 910,000
Rapid Diesel Elegance: Rs. 990,000

Colors:
The new Skoda Rapid comes available in the following colors: deep black pearl, cappuccino beige, flash red, candy white and brilliant silver.

Verdict:
This is a bigger version of the Fabia in terms of body build quality, paint job, interiors, drive quality and suspension. Leaving that there are a few good aspects about the Rapid; immediate availability of Rapid diesel variant; refined engine, sturdy body build and a very competitive price tag; all of these could well attract buyers to it. But its close resemblance VW Vento could well become a turn off for badge lovers and distance the customers from looking at owning the Skoda Rapid.

There are some reasons that wouldn't make people turn to Skoda at least me; although agree it's quite subjective. Wafer-thin dealer network, poor after sales service and expensive spares are but few that make majority of Indians to look at the Skoda models, despite a mouth-watering price tag that came with the Rapid. Are you reading this Skoda?