Skoda Rapid - what do competitors say?
The premiere of the compact Rapid is really important for Skoda, because the manufacturer has high hopes for this model. The desire for success often enhances creativity, so the concern put forward a dangerous idea. He decided to compare the Skoda Rapid with its direct competitor - he gathered several alternative models and a lot of journalists in one place, and allowed them to evaluate the new Skoda against the background of various compacts.
I've had a relatively large amount of contact with this machine lately, and among the many questions I've observed, one in particular has come up frequently: "What is this?" This is a really interesting line. Skoda Rapid uses elements of the Fabia urban chassis, but outperforms the compact Octavia in interior space. But is the structure new? Yes, but not completely. The company simply used what was in stock - reassembled the parts and created an updated floor panel. Does this make the Rapid compact?
It is undeniable that the new model does not belong to class C. The dimensions of its cabin make it easy to fit into this segment. However, other manufacturers came up with a similar idea - for example, Fiat in the case of the Linea model. In practice, it is better to put Rapid between Fabia and Octavia, and not on a par with the latter. But why exactly? It's very simple - the target customers are just different.
Contrary to appearances, the world of compacts is as complex as a Rubik's Cube. And it's not that most people are drawn to lemon balm after contact with it. By itself, it has millions of combinations, which, when properly arranged, give the same solution - six plain walls. Class C cars are also different. Small SUVs, minivans, traditional and sports cars... However, they all have one thing in common - they are simply practical. If Octavia is a typical representative of standard small cars, then Skoda understands Rapid as just a state employee. This is a city car, "stretched" into the spaciousness of the C-class cabin, that's the whole mystery of this car.
41% of segment C are hatchbacks. 16% are station wagons and only 6% are sedans. The rest of the pie is occupied by SUVs, minivans and combos. Skoda Rapid is aimed at customers of the first three levels. How is he going to do it? In the first place, it looks like a sedan, but it is a liftback, as the tailgate rises with the windshield. What about the wagon? Nothing, but at the end of 2013 Rapid will see another body with the working name sportback - it will turn out to be more spacious and versatile.
The car will be offered in three trim levels. It is based on Active, which is surprisingly not quite a steering wheel with wheels and nothing more, but many elements are still missing, so it’s better not to rejoice ahead of time. It has central locking, 4 airbags, curtains and traction control with ABS. Other necessary gadgets are offered by other lines. Ambition added a CD/mp3 radio, manual air conditioning, on-board computer, central locking remote control and a few other little things. Alloy wheels, all power windows, parking sensors and cruise control are offered only in the highest configuration Elegance. Of course, the versions also differ visually. The base variant has unpainted door handles and mirrors, while higher trim levels feature fog lamps on the bumper. By the way, it’s hard not to notice them, because they have the surface of a festive dish.
The base Active doesn't offer much in terms of interior color either. Fans of a gloomy climate will be delighted - upholstery and cockpit can only be black. Also, they look a bit cheap, especially the cabin. It is hard and unpleasant to the touch. Ambition has a gray finish, while Elegance has a beige finish. Richer versions also have more chrome in the cabin, but one of the most interesting themes is the instrument cluster. Standard features include a tachometer and speedometer, thermometer, gear hint, mileage and an electronic fuel gauge. Not everyone likes the shape of the latter, because. I have already heard the opinion that in digital versions the fuel disappears from the tank faster ... Interesting - you may have an analog version in the car, but ... unfortunately - you have to pay extra for it. Then the engine temperature gauge will come - unfortunately, also an option. And how does the Skoda Rapid offer compare to other brands?
For several tens of minutes of comparative races on individual cars, it is difficult to notice all the advantages and disadvantages, but at least the biggest ones are striking. For starters, it's a good idea to set up the models in some reasonable way. In this case, which Skoda Rapid is better to buy? If to be budgetary, then the cheapest with a sluggish 3-cylinder 1.2 MPI 75HP. Unfortunately, with this unit you can forget about overtaking trucks, moreover, sorry for the faint of heart, because they can still get sick. Definitely better to be tempted by the supercharged 1.2 TSI 85KM - this is the cheapest offer that will keep the driver's psyche in everyday use for several years. The motor develops a torque of 160 Nm in the range of 1500-3500 rpm. so it's just a pleasure to ride with such power. And although the unit is not a direct champion, it accelerates quickly enough and allows you to accelerate to 100 km / h in less than 12 seconds. What about equipment? The Active doesn't offer much, but the Ambition already includes air conditioning, a CD/mp3 radio, an onboard computer, and some other useful bits. This option in combination with the 1.2 TSI 85KM costs PLN 57, and with the more powerful 650 TSI 1.2KM, it costs 105 km. It is worth noting that currently you can also count on a discount of PLN 60. Thanks to this, it will be possible to be tempted by metallic paint. What does the competition say?
Recently, you can observe a certain fashion - Korean cars. The Kia Cee'd and Hyundai i30 in particular look great. These brands were previously associated with automotive waste and are now at the top of budget offerings. The i30 and Cee'd, comparable in price to the Rapid trim, have 100-horsepower 1.4-liter engines that, when you press the gas pedal, are frisky, like a well-fed Persian cat. On the plus side, softer materials and a more refined cabin look than in Skoda. In Hyundai, maybe even a little too much due to the large number of different colors, led by blue backlit indicators. However, not everyone will like the ascetic interior of the Skoda - it is not very sophisticated. The Rapid also offers more space inside and 550 liters of boot space. It is a pity that it is impossible to write so well about the suspension - it is too stiff. Korean cars outperform Skoda in style, driving comfort and still drive well.
The new Skoda can also be combined with the typical C-segment representatives - Opel Astra and Ford Focus. However, this does not make any sense since the target customers are different. Firstly, you have to pay much more for German competitors. The Astra 1.4 and 1.6 Twinport have virtually no dynamics, so the cheapest rational choice is the base Essentia with a 1.4 turbo 120km under the hood. Such a car is more nimble than Rapid, but, unfortunately, much more expensive. In the case of Ford, nothing weaker than 1.6L 105KM is not worth buying. You can also get the new 1.0 Ecoboost engine, which theoretically fits the unit more than the C-segment cars, but thanks to supercharging, it gets as much as 100 km and may surprise you. On the road, the dynamics of 1.0 Ecoboost and 1.2 TSI are similar. Skoda traditionally wins over competitors in terms of the amount of space on the couch and in the trunk, it will also offer a lot in the front seats - in Opel and Ford, the extended cockpit cuts deep into the passenger space. Astra, however, has a really big plus - its dashboard design and workmanship are the best of any car presented for comparison at the Skoda presentation. Excellent materials, and spectacular lighting reminiscent of Tokyo at night. On the console, you can stick to a million buttons, but on the other hand, why? This is a car, not a cell phone. Ford follows the Astra in terms of finishes - in a car at this price, the buyer expects nicer materials, and varnished plastic, pretending to be aluminum, can be compared to a tan from a tanning bed. Nevertheless, the salon makes a better impression than in Rapid, because the designers at least tried in terms of design. Moreover, the whole car has a really strong trump card - driving. Perfectly tuned suspension, combining comfort with sporty lines, makes the Focus the one you want to drive. And despite the fact that the Astra and Ford have their drawbacks, it is felt that they are of a higher shelf in relation to the Skoda - although less practical compared to the family.
For dessert, there are two more competitors that can compete with the Skoda Rapid on price and roominess. Renault Fluence has a large interior and a trunk of 530 liters. Unfortunately, the loading opening is small due to the 4-door body, and the hinges penetrate inside, so that you can accidentally crush the suitcases. Option 1.6 l 110 hp has similar dynamics to Skoda, but its maneuverability is worse - the car is sluggish and starts to rotate slowly. Fluence pays special attention to driving comfort. A bad gearbox spoils the pleasure a little, but the suspension behaves like a hovercraft, especially against the backdrop of Rapid, informing the driver about every grain of sand on the road. Simplicity lovers will be delighted with the design of the Renault cockpit - a microwave oven can have more buttons, so the operation of on-board devices is trivial. The Skoda has a no less austere interior, but the horizontal Fluence lines optically expand the cabin. The French are famous for their strange decisions, not without the French compact. The clock is tilted like on a bus, but still easy to read. What about drivers who are prejudiced against Renault, dislike Skoda and care about practicality? For a comparable price, you can have a LT+ sedan with 1.6L 124hp under the hood of a Chevrolet Cruze. The power seems high, but the motor is incredibly lazy and reluctant to accelerate the car. The weaker side of the model is also the trunk - it has only 450 liters and, like Fluence, the hinges crush suitcases. Rapid traditionally also offers a more spacious interior, but the Cruze has something in it. The cab surrounds the driver nicely and the front is really comfortable. And this console design - against the backdrop of Skoda, it seems to be designed by Michelangelo. Enchantment flies when touched - as in Skoda, the materials are hard and cheap. In addition, the soundproofing of the cabin is not impressive.
Apple "stretched" iPhone 4 to iPhone 5, Skoda did the same? She made a compact out of a city car? One thing you must remember. The Rapid is meant to be a budget car - it was designed to be simple, cheap to manufacture, spacious and roomy. Each of the models has its own advantages and disadvantages. In addition, all people are different - someone prefers Dior, someone Channel. How many of them will bet on Rapid? This will happen when the produced copies will be released on the Polish streets.
