Skoda India has always been a brand that manufactures High quality, premium cars at an affordable price compared to Volkswagen, their parent company. Ever since the debut of the Octavia in 2002, they have impressed the petrol head enthusiasts and with the succeeding generations along with their flagship Sedan Superb, they became a major player in the Executive luxury car segment in India. However, Skoda India didn't have the same luck in the affordable budget segment in India. Their first hatchback, the Fabia, while being robust and practical, was quite heavy on the pocket and dull to drive. The rising competition from the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai i20 left the Fabia far behind in sales. The subtle updates and the new engines from the then brand new VW Polo didn't help much.

         After the launch of Volkswagen’s Polo based Sedan, the Vento in 2011, Skoda also we working on their own version of the same car. Later the same year, the Skoda Rapid was introduced to the Indian market. It was at first introduced as an affordable and toned down option to the more expensive Vento. But the buyers seemed to prefer the slightly more aggressive looks and value of the Rapid over the Vento. Since then, the Rapid has been the only bestseller for Skoda India till date which also included new engines and a facelift in 2017.

         Now in 2020, with the new BS6 norms kicking in, Skoda India has launched the new BS6 compliant Skoda Rapid TSI with a 1.0L Turbo petrol engine, replacing the 1.2L TSI and the 1.5L TDI. This new engine is claimed to be both frugal and fun to drive at the same time. The reintroduction of the entry level Rider variant at mouth watering prices also meant that the Rapid Sedan could be had at the price of a premium hatchback. The Top spec variants also introduce Skoda's new Android based touchscreen infotainment system.

    All these features and characteristics make up the strengths of the Skoda Rapid which are as follows:

POSITIVES

1. The Looks: The Skoda Rapid has always been a good and neutral looking Sedan. Despite being almost 10 years old, it is still handsome and satisfying to look at. The no nonsense look has aged well and remain timeless. The top spec Style variant gets the classic silver 16” alloys and Chrome highlights whereas the Monte Carlo edition receives some sporty updates including Glossy black ORVMs, contrast black roof, black treated front grille and lip spoiler with dual tone 16” alloy wheels. The Onyx variant sits below the Style variant and provides a stunning new Blue color option with glossy black 16” Alloys. The Ambition variant sits below that and still provides LED DRLs, projector headlamps, front and rear fog lamps and 15” Alloy wheels. The entry level Rider variant though including body color ORVMs and door handles, doesn't give any more features than that. That said, even the basic Rider variant looks clean and good enough with 15” Steel wheel covers.
2. Interior quality & ergonomics: The cabin of the Skoda Rapid is a very familiar place. However, the general quality and ambience is still good with near perfect ergonomics. Only the most basic Rider and Rider plus variants lack a driver seat height adjust lever. A till/telescopic adjustable steering is standard on all variants.
3. Space & Comfort: The Skoda Rapid can still give tough competition to some new rivals such as the Hyundai Verna for sheer interior space and comfort. The Rapid is also one among the rare cars in India to provide rear seat adjustable headrests, front and rear armrests and AC vents from the entry level variant itself. The Rapid also gets a decent 460L boot and other in-cabin storage options for Knick knacks.
4. Infotainment: All the variants of the Skoda Rapid offer some sort of an infotainment system as standard with decent audio quality. The base Rider and Rider plus variants offer a non-touchscreen 2DIN Audio system while the mid spec Ambition and Onyx variants offer a 6.5” touchscreen unit with Android auto and Apple carplay. The new 8” Android based touchscreen system on the Style and Monte Carlo variants offers more connectivity and browsing features while also being slick and easy to use.
5. Safety & build quality: The Volkswagen Vento had been awarded with a 4-star ASEAN NCAP rating for the 2 airbags equipped variants in 2014, which is also expected to be the same for the Skoda Rapid as well. Moreover the solid German build quality can ensure passenger safety even at higher intensity crashes. The Style variant offers additional 2 airbags on the sides in addition to the standard front airbags, ABS and EBD. Front pre-tensioner equipped seatbelts along with Engine immobilizer and Remote central locking are standard across all variants.
6. Ride & Handling: The Skoda Rapid is impressive in the Ride & handling department. The Suspension at the rear is very pliant and absorbent at low speeds while also being planted with good stability at higher speeds. The Electronic Power steering system is easy to twirl at city speeds, while being direct and confidence-inspiring at higher speeds.
7. Powertrain: This is the major talking point of the new Skoda Rapid. The BS6 Rapid comes with a powerful Turbo-petrol engine. The 3 cylinder 1.0L TSI petrol produces a Maximum power of 110PS with a Maximum torque of 175NM and is incredibly smooth and enjoyable. The Rapid TSI has been tuned with focus on drivability and the midrange acceleration is really strong & linear with a wide powerband. This ARAI claimed efficiency of this engine is also very good at around 18kmpl! The 6-speed manual gearbox is slick while customers will also be provided with the option of a 6 speed torque converter Automatic gearbox really soon.
8. Value for money: The new Skoda Rapid TSI Rider variant is priced at ?7.49L ex showroom, which is even lesser than some premium hatchbacks. Even though being a basic variant, it offers a decent 2DIN audio system, Reverse sensors, Automatic Climate control, Power windows, Power adjustable mirrors, 2 airbags ABS with EBD and remote central locking. Even if you compare with the VW Vento, the Skoda Rapid is cheaper by around ?1L even on the top spec variant. This makes the Rapid an incredible value for money option for sedan and hatchback buyers.

While the Rapid has its strong list of positives, it also has a few weaknesses, just like any other car.

NEGATIVES:

1. Dated design: Although the overall build quality is solid, the design and layout of the dashboard itself is a couple generations older. The design is rather plain and uninteresting with no stand-out element. Though the Monte Carlo variant adds Red highlights and a flat bottom steering wheel, it still feels dated underneath. VW/Skoda could have put in more effort to improve the design match the new set of rivals.
2. Missing features: The Skoda Rapid misses out on a few features which are expected to be available on all premium cars in today’s age. Features like a color MID display, Sunroof, Ventilated seats, LED Headlamps and push button start are missing even on the top variants. Weirdly, the highest spec Monte Carlo variant doesn't offer side airbags which the Style variant offers, despite the additional cost.
3. Lack of a Diesel option: With the dawn of the BS6 norms, VW and Skoda decided to pull the plug on all it’s diesel engines in India including the punchy 1.5L TDI powering the Polo, Vento and the Rapid. With only a turbo petrol option, Skoda India is forcing even long distance drivers to opt for the 1.0 TSI.
4. Middle seat comfort: Though the rear seat is wide enough to easily accommodate 3 passengers, the middle seat passenger needs to adjust to the massive floor hump at the center. The middle seat passenger also doesn't get any sort of headrest either.
5. Service & Maintenance: Like any brand, Skoda India also have their fair share of good customer-friendly dealers and not-so-good ones. There is also the general maintenance costs which are claimed to be on the higher side for the European brands. We expect Skoda and Volkswagen to really tighten up their sleeves when it comes to service and maintenance costs.

Conclusion: Skoda India as of now is clearly aiming to play the Value for money card in the C segment Sedan category. The pricing of the Skoda Rapid TSI says it all. The Rider Variant is priced at a mouth watering Rs7.49L and the top spec Style variant costs Rs11.49L. For younger buyers, the sporty looking Monte Carlo variant is available at Rs11.79L (all prices ex-showroom). These prices clearly make the Skoda Rapid the most affordable midsize sedan in India.

         Apart from the VFM tag, the Skoda Rapid TSI also offers great performance, solid dynamics, good space and comfort; making it so hard not to recommend. It is easily one among the best BS6 upgrades by a manufacturer in the current Indian Automotive market.

When it comes to service, you can see more than a few dealerships improving drastically with stricter norms, but on the whole, Skoda India needs to work harder to improve the customer experience. Find a good dealer with good customer reviews and experienced personnel and you will be happy for years. As for the Rapid, it is easily a great all-rounder sedan that can satisfy anyone.