What’s hot?
- Crisp, smart external design- the new ‘face’ of Skoda
- At 4.48m, biggest in the class
- Generous interior space; boot is class-leading
- Interior/dashboard design new plateau for Skoda
Another example of Skoda’s ‘human touch’ – the iPhone holder. Great for business car users - “Simply Clever” convenience features
- Elegant saloon looks but large hatchback accessibility
- Each trim level – S, SE, Elegance – well specified for (low) price
- Frugal, low-CO2 “Greentech” models to follow next year
What’s not?
- Fuel economy, emissions good but set no new benchmarks
- Thus BIK not among best
- Diesel not as refined as some rivals
- Diesel driving experience uninvolving; petrol version better
Business Car Manager road test verdict
It was mere coincidence to end up driving examples of the premium small hatchback face of the mighty Volkswagen group, Audi’s A3, on one day; the latest of its budget brand equivalent, the all-new Skoda Rapid, just 24 hours later. It was also instructive, if presenting few surprises, as an example of a business user getting what he or she is prepared to pay for.
In comparison with the small Audi, the new Rapid – especially in the 1.6 litre diesel version which forms the main subject of BCM’s test – does indeed feel very much built down to a price.
Engine and transmission noise, although far from intrusive, are more noticeable. The interplay between road and suspension is more keenly felt through the body structure.
Ride, steering and handling are supple but, particularly in the case of the diesel, hardly sporting.
But for the truly cost-conscious company car user, the new Skoda Rapid in other important respects leaves its posher cousin for dead.
The entry level Rapid S, with 1.2 litre 75bhp engine, costs £12,900 on the road. Add a few options to the entry level 1.2 litre A3 (albeit with 103bhp) and it is remarkably easy to soar well above £20,000.
Even the accessories-laden, top-range Skoda Rapid Elegance with 105bhp 1.6 turbodiesel presents a bill for a relative lowly £17,850, by when an options-laden 1.6 diesel A3 is scuttling towards £25,000.
Add in a crisp new design theme for Skoda, of which the Rapid is the first example; better than adequate cabin room for up to five; enormous, class-leading 1,490 litre boot capacity with the rear seats folded, thanks to the long, long hatchback of a car which looks deceptively like a four door saloon; some very sensible and convenient gadgetry, right down to an integrated ice scraper (of which Mr editor Morton writes elsewhere – see Company car drivers experience the human touch of Skoda) – and Skoda has come up with an effective challenger to mainstream but more expensive sector rivals like Kia’s C’eed, Hyundai’s i30 and even Vauxhall’s smaller-engined Astras or Ford’s Focus.
