First drive: Skoda Rapid

2013 Skoda Rapid.

The Skoda Rapid to be sold in Australia next year is a European made car, but its prime targets will be from the Asia-Pacific region – including the locally-made Holden Cruze.
It won’t be pitched as a Golf competitor, says Skoda Australia’s director, Matthew Wiesner, who says it will be going up against the likes of the Mazda3, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla.
Despite the Rapid sharing some gear from siblings and other brands in the VW Group, Skoda hasn’t set out to create a Czech-flavoured Golfs or Jettas.

On pock-marked rural and city Slovakian roads not much better than ours, the Rapid couldn’t match the Golf dynamically but measured up well against potential rivals from this neighbourhood.

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Adjustable steering column and seat-height lever allows the driver to get comfortable.
The 90kW TSI petrol in upmarket Elegance form, was flexible and energetic, though a little strident above 5000 revs.

This variant also showed some inclination to push a little wide on tight turns.  Perhaps it was the extra weight of the DSG gearbox – some 50 kilos – which hurt its steering turn-in.
The twin-clutch DSG (with Sport mode), under constant improvement according to Skoda, was seemingly always in the appropriate gear, shifting cogs almost imperceptibly.  The steering, with 2.8 turns, lock to lock, didn’t rattle or jump over bumps.
Road noise was light though we may have to re-evaluate this on Australia’s coarser surfaces.

Brake pedal feel was reassuringly progressive and responsive.
Rearward vision was restricted by the high boot line, and parking sensors, which the test cars had, should be obligatory.
Drive’s pick of three models tested is the 77kW petrol TSI.  The engine isn’t as powerful as the 90kW version, but mated to the easy-shifting six-speed manual, it felt lively and not as thrashy in the upper reaches. Overall, this slightly lighter 77kW Rapid was more nimble and, ultimately more fun.

 

Gearing in all the Rapid versions is quite tall, helping account for the outstanding fuel economy. The two petrol engines, even the 1.2-litre four cylinder, are impressively flexible, accelerating away under light throttle from 1100 rpm.
Families will find a lot to like; driving enthusiasts won’t be lured away from the Golf.

Nuts and bolts
How much? Approx. $25,000 (unconfirmed)
Engine: 1.2-litre FSI petrol/1.4 FSI petrol/1.6 TDI diesel
Transmission: 6-sp manual/7-sp dual-clutch DSG
Power:  77kW/90kW/66kW
Torque: 175Nm/200Nm/230Nm
Weight:  1175kg/1236kg /not available for diesel
Consumption: 5.4/5.8/4.3L/100km