Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI Active

Skoda Rapid is a subcompact car manufactured by Skoda India, the subsidiary of Soda Auto Czech Automaker. This Skoda model was launched only in the Indian market and lies in the C segment cars. This new Skoda model is very much similar to the Volkswagen Vento the only changes that it got are the looks. This sedan is giving tough competition to C segment sedans present in the Indian market. The sedan is priced very competitively which will further help Skoda to increase its sales. After the last launch of Skoda Yeti – in the SUV segment, “Skoda Rapid” is marching forward now in Skoda’s parade. Skoda India has installed some high-end tech specs in Skoda Rapid making it a milestone in sedan car segment. So sit tight for a whole new riding experience with Skoda Rapid. Skoda Rapid sedan is available in the market in 13 different variants with both petrol and diesel engine options.  Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI Active is the base petrol variant of this sedan which squeezes in all the basic features that a sedan should come with. The car comes with a 1.6 liter of MPI Active in line 16V DOHC liquid cooling transverse in front petrol engine that has a displacement of 1598cc. The engine is decently powerful and bold, which churns out 105bhp of peak power at the rate of 5250 rpm along with 153 Nm of torque at the rate of 3800 rpm. This engine is intelligently mated with 5 speed manual gearbox that helps the sedan to deliver brilliant city and highway mileage of 12 km per liter and 16 km per liter respectively. Besides being technically sound, the sedan also comes with power windows, power steering, air conditioning and central locking system. This variant is the base model therefore; the price tag attached to it very reasonable and hopefully will not burn a hole in your pocket.

Exterior

It's distinct design makes the Rapid a well balanced car and fills the gap between Skoda Fabia and the current Skoda Laura. Despite the fact that Skoda Rapid shares the same heart with Volkswagen Vento, it incorporates some features which make it look tad different from the Vento. Rather, a very noticeable part in the Skoda Rapid is its resemblance to Skoda Fabia from the front. The front headlamps resemble those of the Vento but they are still a lot different, one more is the change is the wider nose which makes it look bigger and more balanced than the Vento. The front grille is typical Skoda style above which there is a Skoda emblem embossed on the chrome strip. The side profile of the car is quite descent with Body colored ORVMs and door handles. The rear of the Rapid receives a pair of refreshed tail lamps that have a kind of `C` glow on the brake lamps when in action. High level LED is used in the third brake lights. The rear windscreen gets defogger with timer. The boot lid gets an angular press, looking like two dents on prism shaped insertions; on both sides of the number plates rendering the rear a different look. The rear bumper with a clean appearance has the rear park sensors that have become a norm in this segment.

Interior

The interior are designed in such a manner to fulfill all the desires of the Indian buyers. The sad part is that the interiors are more or less Vento-ish. The dashboard, switch gear, air con vents, climate control unit, power windows switches and pretty much everything else is a straight lift out of the Volkswagens Vento. The Rapid acquires a nice dark and light beige colored dashboard rendering an airy feel to the passengers. The leather wrapped steering wheel is a four spoke affair with a chrome insert on it rendering a rich look. Height and telescopic adjustment features in steering are standard on all the variants of Rapid. Some parts such as the steering wheel, instrument cluster and audio system are found to be carried over from the Fabia also. The highly informative instrument cluster has two dials reflecting green back light from within. Inside the dials, the green lit needles add to the charm of instrument panel. The entire tell-tale trip computer in the middle includes the digital fuel meter, clock, distance to empty (DTE) and trip meters. There’s a nice chrome strip around the center console that gives a gracious feel to the equipment control.

Engine and Performance

This Skoda sedan is powered by a 16V In Line petrol engine which provides a displacement of 1598cc . The engine has DOHC valve configuration with MPFI fuel injection system . The engine can generate a maximum power of 105bhp at the rate of 5250rpm and a maximum torque of 153Nm at the rate of 3800rpm. The car also delivers a decent mileage of 12kmpl on the city roads and 15kmpl on the highways . It has a fuel tank capacity of 55 liters which allows you to drive 740kms without refueling once full tank. The engine is complied with BSIV emission norm which is the Bharat Stage IV instituted by the Government of India to keep a check over the pollution caused by the internal combustion engines.

Braking and Handling

The brake mechanism of the car includes the disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the rear. As this is the mid priced variant so it lacks the advanced features like ABS with EBD, brake assist. The suspension system in the car has McPherson Suspension With Lower Triangular Links And Torsion Stabilizer in the front and Compound Link Crank-Axle at the rear. The suspension system avoids any inconvenience caused due to the shocks, vibrations and bumpers . It has a power steering wheel with direct rack and pinion steering column, it provides a turn radius of 5.3 meters.

Safety Features

The safety features in the car are not the advanced ones as this is the base variant of the Rapid sedan, but still the company has incorporated this vehicle with all the standard safety features. These are Central Locking, Child safety locks, Day and Night Rear view mirror, Passenger side rear view mirror, Halogen headlamps,Rear seat belts, Door ajar warning, front and side impact beams, Engine immobilizer and centrally mounted fuel tank.

Comfort Features

Skoda Rapid sedan comes with many comfort features like Power steering that provides low turning radius, front and rear power windows, remote trunk and fuel lid opener, low fuel warning light, accessory power outlet, vanity mirror, Rear reading lamp, seat headrest and armrest, front and rear cup holders and rear AC vents for effective cooling.

Pros

Interior features, comfort, diesel engine availability, competitive price

Cons

Similarity to Volkswagen and safety features

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Skoda Rapid is a subcompact car manufactured by Skoda India, the subsidiary of Soda Auto Czech Automaker. This Skoda model was launched only in the Indian market and lies in the C segment cars. This new Skoda model is very much similar to the Volkswagen Vento the only changes that it got are the looks. This sedan is giving tough competition to C segment sedans present in the Indian market. The sedan is priced very competitively which will further help Skoda to increase its sales. After the last launch of Skoda Yeti – in the SUV segment, “Skoda Rapid” is marching forward now in Skoda’s parade. Skoda India has installed some high-end tech specs in Skoda Rapid making it a milestone in sedan car segment. So sit tight for a whole new riding experience with Skoda Rapid.  Skoda Rapid sedan is available in the market in 13 different variants with both petrol and diesel engine options.  Skoda Rapid 1.6 MPI Active is the base petrol variant of this sedan which squeezes in all the basic features that a sedan should come with. The car comes with a 1.6 liter of MPI Active in line 16V DOHC liquid cooling transverse in front petrol engine that has a displacement of 1598cc. The engine is decently powerful and bold, which churns out 105bhp of peak power at the rate of 5250 rpm along with 153 Nm of torque at the rate of 3800 rpm. This engine is intelligently mated with 5 speed manual gearbox that helps the sedan to deliver brilliant city and highway mileage of 12 km per liter and 16 km per liter respectively. Besides being technically sound, the sedan also comes with power windows, power steering, air conditioning and central locking system. This variant is the base model therefore; the price tag attached to it very reasonable and hopefully will not burn a hole in your pocket.

Exterior

It's distinct design makes the Rapid a well balanced car and fills the gap between Skoda Fabia and the current Skoda Laura. Despite the fact that Skoda Rapid shares the same heart with Volkswagen Vento, it incorporates some features which make it look tad different from the Vento. Rather, a very noticeable part in the Skoda Rapid is its resemblance to Skoda Fabia from the front. The front headlamps resemble those of the Vento but they are still a lot different, one more is the change is the wider nose which makes it look bigger and more balanced than the Vento. The front grille is typical Skoda style above which there is a Skoda emblem embossed on the chrome strip. The side profile of the car is quite descent with Body colored ORVMs and door handles. The rear of the Rapid receives a pair of refreshed tail lamps that have a kind of `C` glow on the brake lamps when in action. High level LED is used in the third brake lights. The rear windscreen gets defogger with timer. The boot lid gets an angular press, looking like two dents on prism shaped insertions; on both sides of the number plates rendering the rear a different look. The rear bumper with a clean appearance has the rear park sensors that have become a norm in this segment.

Interior

The interior are designed in such a manner to fulfill all the desires of the Indian buyers. The sad part is that the interiors are more or less Vento-ish. The dashboard, switch gear, air con vents, climate control unit, power windows switches and pretty much everything else is a straight lift out of the Volkswagens Vento. The Rapid acquires a nice dark and light beige colored dashboard rendering an airy feel to the passengers. The leather wrapped steering wheel is a four spoke affair with a chrome insert on it rendering a rich look. Height and telescopic adjustment features in steering are standard on all the variants of Rapid. Some parts such as the steering wheel, instrument cluster and audio system are found to be carried over from the Fabia also. The highly informative instrument cluster has two dials reflecting green back light from within. Inside the dials, the green lit needles add to the charm of instrument panel. The entire tell-tale trip computer in the middle includes the digital fuel meter, clock, distance to empty (DTE) and trip meters. There’s a nice chrome strip around the center console that gives a gracious feel to the equipment control.

Engine and Performance

This Skoda sedan is powered by a 16V In Line petrol engine which provides a displacement of 1598cc . The engine has DOHC valve configuration with MPFI fuel injection system . The engine can generate a maximum power of 105bhp at the rate of 5250rpm and a maximum torque of 153Nm at the rate of 3800rpm. The car also delivers a decent mileage of 12kmpl on the city roads and 15kmpl on the highways . It has a fuel tank capacity of 55 liters which allows you to drive 740kms without refueling once full tank. The engine is complied with BSIV emission norm which is the Bharat Stage IV instituted by the Government of India to keep a check over the pollution caused by the internal combustion engines.

Braking and Handling

The brake mechanism of the car includes the disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the rear. As this is the mid priced variant so it lacks the advanced features like ABS with EBD, brake assist. The suspension system in the car has McPherson Suspension With Lower Triangular Links And Torsion Stabilizer in the front and Compound Link Crank-Axle at the rear. The suspension system avoids any inconvenience caused due to the shocks, vibrations and bumpers . It has a power steering wheel with direct rack and pinion steering column, it provides a turn radius of 5.3 meters.

Safety Features

The safety features in the car are not the advanced ones as this is the base variant of the Rapid sedan, but still the company has incorporated this vehicle with all the standard safety features. These are Central Locking, Child safety locks, Day and Night Rear view mirror, Passenger side rear view mirror, Halogen headlamps,Rear seat belts, Door ajar warning, front and side impact beams, Engine immobilizer and centrally mounted fuel tank.

Comfort Features

Skoda Rapid sedan comes with many comfort features like Power steering that provides low turning radius, front and rear power windows, remote trunk and fuel lid opener, low fuel warning light, accessory power outlet, vanity mirror, Rear reading lamp, seat headrest and armrest, front and rear cup holders and rear AC vents for effective cooling.

Pros

Interior features, comfort, diesel engine availability, competitive price

Cons

Similarity to Volkswagen and safety features