- Manufacturer - Volkswagen Group Rus, Russia
- Year of manufacture - 2014
- In operation ZR - since July 2014
- Mileage at the time of report - 14,000 km
- Publications in ZR: 2014, No. 10; 2015, no. 5.
I got behind the wheel of the Rapid in October last year, and since then the odometer has counted 9623 km. During the entire period of operation, I never scolded him - there was no reason. Not a single breakdown! Only once did the front left speaker malfunction. For no apparent reason, instead of music, it began to make some kind of rattling sound. I had to change the audio system settings and transfer the sound to the right speakers. But within a day the musical hoarseness disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. The second breakdown is my fault. One sunny day, trying to block out the bright light, the sun visor pulled too hard - and it jumped out of its mount. With a slight pressure he returned it to its place. The troubles ended there.
The Rapid's interior is comfortable. With my average height (175 cm), I feel very comfortable behind the wheel. The rear seat has convenient child seat mounts.
Another plus is the trunk. The liftback body allows you to make it not just big, but huge. When moving from apartment to apartment, I managed to do without a truck; even large household utensils fit in without any problems. If desired, you can transport a refrigerator or washing machine. Flea dealers will appreciate the size of the hold.
But at first I was not happy with the dynamics - there was absolutely not enough traction. I don’t know if this is due to a relatively weak engine or an automatic transmission.
When you press the gas sharply, the Rapid first thinks and begins to growl in a deep voice - as if it is preparing to shoot, like a sports car. But you don’t have to strain yourself - the acceleration is very weak. However, I quickly got used to it. You just need to adapt to the road situation in advance and not take unnecessary risks.
In general, the “automatic” Rapid is quite suitable for my driving style. Moreover, a quiet ride results in enviable efficiency.
It is clear that the actual consumption is higher than that declared by the manufacturer. In the combined cycle, instead of the promised seven and a half, the Rapid consumes 9–10 liters per hundred, and if you tear from every traffic light, straining the engine, you will get 10–11 liters.
Such a short service life does not allow us to identify all the sores of the machine. But my verdict is this: Rapid is a reliable and unpretentious car. With a comfortable fit and a decent interior. The trunk is the envy of classmates and even larger cars.
The Skoda Rapid has proven itself to be a reliable, modern, trouble-free vehicle. It is able to provide its owner with comfortable and safe movement with sufficient dynamics. Its components and systems usually require only routine maintenance. Despite this, the machine has some disadvantages.
Advantages and disadvantages of Skoda Rapid
Having analyzed the reviews of Skoda Rapid owners, we can highlight the pros and cons of the car, which are summarized in the table below.
Table - The main advantages and disadvantages of the Skoda Rapid car.
| Pros of the car | Cons of the car |
|---|---|
| Sufficient ground clearance | Poor multimedia system |
| Spacious trunk for easy loading | Slow warm-up of the power plant |
| Stylish appearance | There is no illumination of the glove compartment, despite the fact that there is a seat for the lamp |
| Bright headlights | When it rains, water gets into the interior |
| Spacious salon | No heated windshield |
| Clear manual transmission shifting | Crickets in the cabin |
| Low fuel consumption | Reduced standard alarm system, without shock sensor |
| High-quality plastic torpedo | Short first gear for acceleration |
Powerplant problems
Most car owners note that the engine power is insufficient for a dynamic driving style. This is especially noticeable on the Skoda Rapid with a 1.2 liter engine. It is capable of providing comfortable driving in dense city traffic, but when driving on the highway it is clearly weak.
The most problematic is the 1.2 liter engine. Unlike other engines, it is the most sensitive to the quality of fuel and the correct selection of engine lubricant. There are cases when the engine fails the first time you fill it with adulterated gasoline.
To warm up the engine, prolonged idling is required. This is especially noticeable in winter. Reaching operating temperature may take more than 15 minutes.
The power plants have a declared resource of 250 thousand km. In domestic realities, only a 1.6-liter engine can achieve this much. The remaining engines require major repairs when they reach 180 - 220 thousand km. 
Problems due to the radiator grille
One of the main design miscalculations is the use of excessively large holes in the radiator grille. Vertical blades give the car an aggressive, sporty appearance. At the same time, too large distances between them lead to unhindered penetration of debris behind the grates.
As a result, the lower part of the radiator becomes clogged. This leads to poor heat transfer. Counter currents of air cannot cool the radiator. Because of this, the power plant overheats, which has a detrimental effect on the engine’s service life. To solve problems with excessively large grille openings, car owners install an additional mesh behind it. 
Water entering the cabin
The car does not come with windshields. Therefore, in rainy weather, water enters the interior through all the cracks. In addition, the door seals constantly squeak. Applying silicone grease only temporarily solves the problem. After a while the situation repeats itself.
There are also problems with water getting into the cabin at the front of the car. Rain flows down the windshield into the engine compartment. There, water floods the air conditioner and steering rack. The moisture then spreads into the interior. This leads to excessive wear of elements in contact with water. 
Transmission problems
A manual gearbox has virtually no disadvantages. In many cases it lasts longer than the motor. Problems with manual transmission can begin with mileage of more than 280 - 300 thousand km.
The automatic transmission is not known for its reliability. Problems may appear after a mileage of 60 - 80 thousand km. The most common problem is lack of smoothness when shifting gears.
When driving in a traffic jam or during dynamic driving, there are cases of automatic transmission overheating. Frequently exceeding the operating temperature can cause the machine to fail within 50-55 thousand km. 
Car comfort
The main advantage of the car is its spacious and easy-to-load trunk. The driver's workplace is made in a Spartan style. Owners' attitudes to this vary and depend on personal taste.
Landing in the Skoda Rapid is uncomfortable. The front seats are too hard and upright. In combination with a rigid suspension, this leads to the transfer to the body of the driver and passengers of all the unevenness of the road surface that the car overcomes.
Sitting in the back row of seats is even worse. They are designed for short passengers. Tall people have a high chance of hitting their heads against the ceiling or hitting their heads while traveling.
The back row does not shine in width either. Placing three passengers on it is problematic.
Suspension problems
Most car owners note that the suspension is too stiff. It transfers all imperfections in the road surface to the body. This significantly reduces the driving comfort of the car.
Problems with the suspension begin after a mileage of more than 40 thousand km. Shock absorbers most often lose their properties. With frequent trips on country roads, a strut overhaul may be required after 60 thousand km. 
With mileages of more than 100 thousand km, due to excessive stiffness of the suspension, cracks may appear in the metal of the body. To eliminate them, you will need to resort to welding. Therefore, many car owners upgrade the suspension in advance, making it softer.
Electronics problems
The engine control unit is not particularly reliable. The failure of the firmware program often occurs after a mileage of 40 - 70 thousand km. To eliminate the problem, you need to reflash the module. Under the most unfavorable conditions, the ECU may need to be replaced.
The standard multimedia system does not have USB. Its speakers are very sensitive to temperature. The sound quality is, in most cases, unsatisfactory. There are frequent cases of wires chafing during a mileage of 70 - 90 thousand km.
Sensors often fail during operation. Terminal blocks are too susceptible to oxidation. Deterioration in contact can be detected on cars with a mileage of more than 50 thousand km. As a result, the ECU does not receive enough information about the operation of the engine, which causes instability in the crankshaft speed of the power plant.
Corrosion resistance
The Skoda Rapid has a thick layer of paintwork. This protects it from the early appearance of chips, scratches and rust stains on body elements.
The weak point of the car is the wheel arches and the floor under the trunk covering. In the absence of additional measures to combat corrosion on the part of the car owner, rust spots may appear in the listed places. Despite the use of high-quality metal, after 2-4 years of operation, corrosion sites can turn into through holes. If the car owner periodically carries out anti-corrosion treatment, it will be impossible to detect rust even after a mileage of 250-300 thousand km.
Childhood diseases Skoda Rapid (2012 – present).
The name Rapid is not new for the Skoda brand. It was invented back in the mid-30s. Last mentioned in '84, it was a small two-door coupe designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Returning to the origins of model names is a tradition for Skoda.
2012, Mlada - Boleslav (Czech Republic), production of a new liftback model began (there is also a SpaceBack version - a regular hatchback) - Skoda Rapid. After 2 years, assembly began at the Kaluga plant.
Engines: 1.6 l (from 90 to 110 hp, acceleration to 100 km/h - 10.3 sec, average consumption - 5.8 l/100km), 1.2 l (85 - 105 hp, up to 100 km - 10.3 sec, mixed consumption - 5.4 liters), 1.4 (125 hp, up to 100 km - 9 seconds, city/highway consumption - 5.3 liters) and two diesel engines for Europe 1.4 (90 hp), 1.6 (90-116 hp) .
Transmissions: manual – 5 speed, torque converter automatic – 6 gears and DSG 7 (only for 1.4).
The Rapid is built on the basis of the Polo Sedan, but is 12 cm longer than its brother. The suspension is rigid, the ground clearance is 170 mm (just right for Russia), 5 - euroNcup stars, the interior plastic is hard but of high quality.
In the basic configuration: ABS, exchange rate control system, driver airbag, central locking, electric. power steering, front windows, daytime running lights, on-board computer, washer fluid indicator).
Maximum configuration options: climate control, 6 airbags, hill climb assist, sports front seats and steering wheel, keyless entry, light and rain sensor, cruise control, 4 power windows, bi-xenon headlights, rear view camera, heated seats and windshield glass, Amudsen navigation system with AUX/USB/Bluetooth, alloy wheels 16 radius, driver fatigue sensor, parking sensors, central armrest.
Children's sores of Skoda Rapid or what to look for before buying a used one?
| Sores | Solutions |
|
Engine |
|
| hum of the air conditioning compressor produced by the company - Sanden | the problem was solved in 2016 by installing a compressor from Denso |
| increased oil consumption 1.6 (110 hp) CWVA | do not pour Castrol oil, change the brand (for example, Liqui Moly 8977/9077), change the oil every 7,500 - 10,000 km (depending on the operating mode, city/highway) |
|
Electrics |
|
| The accelerator pedal oxidizes, stops responding to pressure, and the Check Engine lights up | changed the pedal assembly by , (a rare problem, but it costs free to replace) |
| water accumulation in rear doors | remove the door seals, clean the drainage holes, trim the seal at the holes |
| The speakers wheeze at sub-zero temperatures, the speaker diffusers freeze, after warming up the interior the problem goes away | replace with modified ones or supply non-original ones, the manufacturer replaces the speakers under warranty (since December 2014, modernized ones are installed) |
| the code and chrome on the gearshift knob are peeling off | replacement under warranty or installation of an updated handle |
| The side support of the driver's seat is wiped (to the metal base) | replace under warranty or repair |
The rest of the car's problems can be viewed at -. In the article about Polo, you need to pay attention to: hydraulic compensators, pump, rack, gearbox mount, stabilizer bushings, heater fan, knocking of pistons in the 1.6 CFNA engine - I did not find such a problem on the Rapids (assembled in the Russian Federation - 2014, engines were installed "cured")
There is still little information about turbo versions, but since 2013 they have become belt driven, and all the problems of previous modifications have been eliminated (we were lucky with the engines!). The latest generation DSG-7 (since 2014) is installed on the Rapid, no “old” problems were noticed, but do not forget that in this box it is advisable to change the oil every 50,000 km.
Story No. 1
The Rapid model appeared four years ago
In fact, the first generation of Skoda Rapid appeared not four years ago, but in 1935-6, 80 years before the current model, which bears the historical, revived name.
They have only one common purpose: to serve as a vehicle for all occasions for poor families, in the Czech Republic and in Europe.
And these days, also in Belarus, where Rapid modifications of Czech and Russian production are supplied, adapted for severe operating conditions, as the manufacturer claims.
Verdict: Story #1 is 100% a myth.
Story No. 2
Skoda Rapid 1.6 petrol engines are problematic, knock when cold and need repair
At the start of production, Skoda Rapid was equipped with MPI EA111 type CFNA engines with a displacement of 1.6 liters. The first series were indeed distinguished by sound effects in the form of a knock when starting from a cold state. This knock lasted from a few seconds in warm weather to several minutes in cold weather and disappeared as the engine warmed up. The reason is a design flaw, insufficient diameter of the piston bottom for this shape of its skirt.
As a result, during the reciprocating movement of the piston in the cylinder, a so-called off-design shift of the piston swinging on the piston pin occurred, accompanied by a knocking sound. Most engines could drive with this knocking noise for tens or hundreds of thousands of kilometers, but in some cases the symptom progressed, the engines began to “murmur” over the entire temperature range, from starting to operating. Opening and defect detection of such engines showed that the effect was accompanied by scratches and scuffs on the piston skirts, exactly as in this photograph.
The manufacturer's engineers quickly figured out the problem; in 2013, the pistons were modified, the diameter was increased and the configuration of the skirts was changed, and they were sent both on the conveyor and as spare parts to dealers, who accepted the owners' complaints and resolved them by replacing the pistons.
Since the second half of last year, 2015, the issue of 1.6 engines has been completely resolved, the EA111 type CFNA engines have become history, replaced by the EA211 type CWVA of the same displacement.
These are completely different power units, 5 hp more powerful. predecessor, with timing belt drive. There are no such problems for them.
Verdict: This story has a basis and is therefore not a myth. The issue has now been completely resolved.
Story No. 3
Skoda Rapid is a noisy car, the engine is loud
And this story is not groundless. If with TSI turbo engines the Skoda Rapid does not differ in any noise in principle, then with the previous “aspirated” 1.6 CFNA there was such a nuance. As soon as the tachometer needle touched the 2500 rpm mark and moved further in acceleration mode, the rustling of the engine and the rumble of its exhaust system became more audible than we would like. However, last year's installation of the new 1.6 CWVA with a quieter timing belt drive, while simultaneously increasing cabin sound insulation, largely solved this problem.
Now the muffled grumbling of the exhaust system reaches the cabin only in acceleration modes, at speeds above 3300-3500 rpm.
Verdict: This story is also not a myth, but it is also a thing of the past.
Story No. 4
The Skoda Rapid's interior is boring
At the end of 2015, the interior of the Skoda Rapid changed slightly in design, the center console underwent changes.
The new audio system is a real design find.
Its shape is simple and concise, the purpose of all the keys is intuitive, and the screen, “fitted” into the volume control ring, is perfectly readable, despite its small size. But there is still no riot of variety of shapes and colors, because the main thing, from the point of view of Czech engineers, is convenience, comfort, ensuring low fatigue of the driver and crew, and good visibility. And from this point of view, the interior of the Skoda Rapid and its driver’s workplace are almost flawless. The car is not a circus, and driving it is not a clownery to cause fun and entertain with red and blue lights on the nose, cap and sleeves.
Verdict: We believe that God's gift should not be confused with scrambled eggs. What is appropriate in entertainment venues is not appropriate when driving a car, and we are glad that Skoda Auto understands this 100%. A myth of the purest water.
Story No. 5
Skoda Rapid is a very spacious car for both cargo and passengers
The Rapid trunk is a bin. Without quotes. The giant trunk of Skoda’s signature “liftback” body, that is, a hatchback with a huge rear door that looks like a sedan, has an impressive volume of 550 liters, a low loading height, a rectangular space and at the same time is completely devoid of the main drawback of any sedan, a narrow opening. Georgia - I don’t want to. And the Rapid’s carrying capacity is also impressive, over half a ton. Let's say without exaggeration: there is no more practical, convenient and spacious trunk than the Skoda Rapid in this size class of cars. And if you fold the backs of the rear row of seats, the volume of loading space increases to one and a half cubic meters.
True, when folding the backrests there is no flat surface with the trunk floor, a step is formed, but for the vast majority of cases this will not be a problem.
In terms of cargo transportation capabilities, the Skoda Rapid is the clear champion in the class. Let's move on to the passenger seats.
The Wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axle) of the Rapid is 2602 mm. The figure is impressive but not a record in the class, but the doorway is wide, the opening angle of the rear door is close to 90 degrees and the space in the rear seats is quite significant. That’s why Alexey, a member of our test crew, settled down so freely, like a director. In general, the Rapid is also okay with passenger transportation; the car is as spacious and roomy as possible in this class of vehicle. It will be convenient for young people, children and the elderly.
Verdict: This story is the absolute truth.
Story #6
The rear suspension of the Skoda Rapid has features that limit its cross-country ability
We hung the first Skoda Rapid we found in the workshop on a lift to figure out this story, and in general, to find out how suitable the car is for use in difficult road conditions, taking advantage of the opportunity.
Almost the entire bottom of the Rapid, from the front bumper to the fuel tank, is “sewn up” with sheets of protective plastic. Dirt and sandblasting - no chance.
Only in the tunnel where the exhaust system is laid, there is no plastic. It’s clear: the temperatures are high, which is why a special heat shield is installed there. Another advantage is the powerful suspension of exhaust system parts, pipes, resonators, and mufflers. Even if the bottom is firmly packed in snow or mud, it is unlikely that you will be able to tear them off the fastenings when leaving.
The Czechs also did not skimp on anti-corrosion and anti-gravel protection.
This picture is everywhere, from the sills and all over the bottom. Everything is filled with “anti-gravel” under the paintwork, and spilled with anti-corrosion compounds.
In the wheel arches there are plastic fender lockers, which also have a protective function.
Now let's take a look at the pendants.
The front is a classic McPherson with a stamped L-arm and bolted-on ball joints. Replacing them, as well as replacing silent blocks, will not be any problem, including money. And on the rear axle we have two surprises.
From a design point of view, there are no surprises. A very popular suspension design on trailing arms connected by a torsion beam is simple, reliable and durable, allowing you to achieve decent driving performance with proper tuning. The first surprise of the rear axle is the brakes. They are disk. A complete “break of the mold” in the class of affordable vehicles, where almost everywhere there are drum brakes at the rear. It turns out that disc brakes are installed on the rear axle of the Rapid in the case of configurations with powerful TSI turbo engines and diesel engines. If the car is equipped with MPI naturally aspirated engines, drums will be installed. An absolutely clear solution: a faster or heavier car needs more powerful brakes. As for the second surprise, we recognize the low location of the support cups of the rear suspension springs. The designers deliberately placed the spring blocks lower to increase trunk space. The space has been freed up, but now there is a nuance that needs to be taken into account when entering parking lot curbs and when driving in ruts outside the asphalt.
Verdict: In general, the Skoda Rapid is very well protected and adapted to use in our conditions, including beyond asphalt. But there is a nuance regarding the rear suspension. This “story” is not a myth.
Story No. 7
Skoda Rapid suspension is a bit harsh
To find out the veracity of this story, we drove onto a gravel road, with turns of varying steepness and areas of outright “washboard”
It turned out that the suspensions quietly and elastically, without rattling on compression or clanging on rebound, “swallow” a broken gravel road. At the same time, in turns, we checked the settings of the chassis, steering and trajectory stabilization system, which is now available in the Rapid, starting with the basic configuration. There is no drift, when the car tries to slide out of the turn, no skidding - the car willingly obeys the steering wheel and drives only “slipping”, staying on the verge of sliding. Only a true “headless horseman” can fly off the line, making every conceivable mistake in choosing a safe speed and control.
Verdict: Story No. 7 is a myth of the purest water, born on the Internet by characters who have never driven a Skoda Rapid.
We have analyzed the seven most common stories about the Skoda Rapid on the Internet. Some of them turned out to be the purest truth, some were either partially true, or the issues raised in the story were resolved by the manufacturer, and some turned out to be 100% a myth.
Instead of the traditional conclusion, this time we will give the story of Alexander, the real owner of Rapid with about a year of experience, whom we met on the evening of the test day.
– Our family is not the smallest, two children, sons four and six years old. We also quite often travel quite a distance to visit, and we have a dacha, so small hatchbacks and sedans, in principle, are not for us. The former have a small trunk, and the latter have funny trunk openings; if you happen to transport it to a dacha or house, you will have to hire a car, no matter how many liters there are in the trunk of the sedan. They planned to buy only a new car; there were enough used ones to get enough of them. It turned out that with our approach to choosing, Rapid had only one competitor, and that one dropped out after the first test drive on each. The Czech turned out to be much more comfortable, quieter, and handles better.
What can I say: Skoda is completely satisfied. Both the trunk and the interior. And fuel consumption is normal, it never rises above 8-8.5 liters. The way it drives around the city and on the highway is also completely satisfactory, and it’s good for the children, especially since the car warms up quickly and stays warm. The only thing missing is a heated windshield, for some reason Skoda doesn’t install it on the Rapid at all, and a “windshield wiper” on the rear window, which is not small in size. But as for the “windshield wiper”, the dealer simply didn’t have the car equipped with it in stock. In general, I’ve already gotten used to it without it, it wasn’t such a big problem. But overall we are happy with the car. What the family needs.
Dmitry Perlin, especially for
SHOWCOLLAPSE
Less than a year has passed since the start of sales of the Rapid model from Skoda, and there are tons of reviews, solutions, problems, and laudatory odes on the forums. Which of this is true and which is a fake lie? Let's break down the mechanisms and impressions to understand the main pros and cons of the machine.
Rapid was designed to take away an impressive piece of the market from the Koreans and Japanese B-class. This is a car for those for whom a B-class car is somehow not enough, and a C-class car is somehow a little expensive. Created clearly with a sidelong glance at the base Octavia of the previous generation, the Rapid tried to inherit all its advantages, but become cheaper, thereby creating a huge headache for competitors. At the same time, you can’t compete with the Germans, of course, who wants to compete with themselves, after all, VW has only one pocket, so the “Czechs” have a development priority only behind the “Germans.” And what happened in the end?
Exterior and interior
There is nothing particularly outstanding in appearance about the Rapid. This spartan minimalism, but speaks of European style. It just so happens that chiseled, rounded, smooth shapes are more characteristic of Asian cars. Europe has slightly different requirements: nothing superfluous and everything you need. And the appearance of the Rapid fully meets these requirements.
An interesting solution is not to divide the counter between the doors. When open, the front door looks, let's say, interesting. Its side part is broken by a protrusion. Some people like it, others find it funny because of such savings.
On the other hand, this does not in any way affect the quality of the door itself; the glass does not rattle, it is silent even with strong lateral air pressure.
Restraint bordering on asceticism. This is the interior of the Skoda Rapid
Rapid’s clear, one might say chopped, features make him extremely similar to his older brother, Octavia. Therefore, in a stream of cars on the road, they can be confused. Although for those interested in new cars it will be easy to distinguish them.
Inside is the same Sparta. Minimalism in everything. However, this cannot be a minus, however, there is a “but”. Minimal doesn't mean bad. The shortcomings of the Rapid's interior decoration are rather in quality. The plastic leaves much to be desired, it is hard. But nothing rattles even in severe frost.
If we describe the interior of the Rapid in the same style in which it is made, two words will suffice: nothing superfluous. Light, soft green-blue illumination of the instrument panel. It looks good, everything is visible. The lines are straight. All the necessary indicators are clearly visible.
The spacious and simple interior of the Rapid will appeal to discreet people.
Not all trim levels have seats that are height adjustable. When choosing Rapid, you should sit, even take a test drive, in the car of the selected configuration. Lateral support is minimal, but not all drivers consider this a minus. You quickly get used to sitting and stop noticing this nuance.
There is enough space for the driver. However, tall people may find the height of the car uncomfortable. The disadvantage may be the low ceiling, it is uncomfortable when he is constantly stroking the hair on the top of his head. There is enough space in the rear seats, even with the front seat moved back, to sit comfortably. Compared to regular B-class cars, the width of the rear seats of the Rapid is superior. 3 adults can easily sit there.
An undoubted advantage, which is difficult to argue with, is the trunk capacity. Done perfectly. Thanks to the same Spartan “upbringing”, nothing reduces useful cubic centimeters. At the same time, there are useful niches and drawers for small luggage.
A huge plus of the Rapid is the trunk with a volume of 530 liters, the largest in its class!
Which of these can exactly be classified as advantages? Not much, because a lot is not for everyone, but there are several undeniable points.
Pros:
- Large trunk volume;
- Convenient driver placement;
- Plenty of space for rear passengers;
- Clear and understandable adjustments and a practical appearance of the dashboard.
Minuses:
- The plastic inside the car is of low quality.
- The interior upholstery is simple and cheap.
- Minimum set of options.
- Rapid, because of its asceticism, can hardly be called a women's car, because of this it loses a significant part of potential customers.
What's under the hood?
Rapid's engines are its advantage and at the same time its disadvantage. Turbocharging, even at 1.2, does wonders on the road. Frisky, fast, informative, responsive. The first gear is only for starting from a standstill, at low speeds only the second, and this is also where the main acceleration from a standstill takes place. For overtaking on the highway, 5th is best. At 6th, the acceleration slows down. Power is lost. Actually, there is nothing special, much less bad, about this.
But we are talking about an “empty” car, that is, only when performing a transport function - to carry yourself. Any additional weight affects speed, power, acceleration, and fuel consumption. When fully loaded, you will have to forget about quick overtaking on the highway. Well, except if a tractor is pushing in front of you, roughly speaking. This, of course, is a joke from life, but it is very close to reality.
The defining moment of choice: will the Rapid engine suit you? You'll have to weigh all its pros and cons
The gearbox may seem overly rough. Changing gears should be a clear, correct movement. It is difficult to “throw” the lever into gear; it will be in neutral. Therefore, after the soft, relaxed Asians, the Czech Rapid will seem rude and uncomfortable. On the other hand, you quickly get used to it. Even blondes will not be able to confuse 3rd gear with 5th.
On the other hand, the choice of engines is meager. As for a model that could be the best choice in the segment between C and B classes, Skoda spared powerful engines. It's a pity. As a result, we have only 4 engines. Either they didn’t think through it or didn’t plan it enough. Perhaps the same concern for “branded” VW cars is affecting us.
The biggest disadvantage will be Rapid's breakdowns. Again about the same engines. Unfortunately, a turbocharged engine is very demanding on the quality of gasoline. So unexpected breakdowns happen ahead of time. Their diversity is great, it is difficult to list everything. But it should be noted that this phenomenon is not universal. Well, there are two troubles of Russia: fools and roads. And if driving is not the first problem, then there is no insurance against the second even in megacities; it’s better to keep quiet about regional roads.
Gasoline consumption by Rapid: does your passport lie?
The consumption is far from the passport value. Driving at minimum revs won't do much. The dependence of consumption on vehicle load is significant. For every additional 50-60 kg, it adds 150-200 g of consumption. Too much. This fact can become unpleasant. And that huge trunk in which you can’t put anything will be offensive, because the car will stop moving.
Let's try to highlight the technical advantages of Rapid:
- Good running and acceleration with minimal load;
- Clear gear shifting;
- High-quality workmanship of parts.
Technical disadvantages:
- High fuel consumption, higher than announced;
- Small selection of motors;
- Frequent breakdowns, sometimes requiring long-term repairs;
- The stiff suspension, potholes and bumps are clearly noticeable.
Is Rapid worth the money?
Opinions are divided. Complete asceticism can hardly be called a plus for Rapid. Although it must be said that many people like this approach. For many buyers, the spartan interior evokes associations with European cars, and not with great savings. But when comparing the Rapid with its competitors, its interior and exterior loses, no matter what its admirers say. Obviously cheap plastic, savings on upholstery fabrics, lack of already familiar options (such as rear power windows) are only disadvantages of the “Czech”.
However, if you choose the right configuration, taking into account all the features of the car, you can get a good, solid, roomy car. The main thing is not to demand superpowers from her. Everything she is capable of can be seen at once. She doesn’t hide anything about herself, and she doesn’t have a good “mystery”. That's why you can't expect much from her.
