Skoda Rapid

The all-new BS6 compliant Skoda Rapid 1.0 TSI is now on sale in India and is available in both manual and automatic transmission options. The turbocharged petrol engine is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox and also gets a 6-speed torque converter on the automatic. The manual version is offered in six variants - Rider, Rider Plus, Ambition, Onyx, Style and Monte Carlo. Meanwhile, the automatic version drops the base Rider trim and is offered in the remaining five variants. The new Skoda Rapid manual is priced from Rs. 7.79 lakh, going up to Rs. 11.99 lakh for the range-topping variant. Meanwhile, the Rapid automatic is priced from Rs. 9.69 lakh, going all the way up to Rs. 13.49 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom India). 

The key highlight of the new Skoda Rapid is the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged petrol TSI engine that puts out 108 bhp at 5250 rpm and 175 Nm between 1750-4000 rpm. The power output on the new Rapid TSI is up by five per cent when compared to the older 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine. The torque output has increased by a good 14 per cent. The new Rapid manual is also 23 per cent more fuel-efficient over the older version with a claimed fuel economy of 18.79 kmpl. The automatic version comes close returning 16.24 kmpl. 

The 2020 Skoda Rapid remains identical to the previous model in terms of design and dimensions but has been styled to make it look a bit sportier. The Monte Carlo edition particularly gets new blackened elements like the 16-inch alloy wheels, gloss black finish, side skirts and black spoiler and a blacked-out grille. The feature list includes LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps (DRLs), as well as front and rear fog lights. Other design elements remain the same including the butterfly grille, large mesh-pattern air intakes on the bumper, and horizontal fog lamps. The top-end trims look even more sporty with the bright colour options including the red, blue and black, while there are also white, brown and silver paint options available. 

The cabin also gets minor updates with a dual-tone brown and black finish, while the Onyx and Monte Carlo variants get a black and grey cabin. The feature list comprises a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with SmartLink tech on the mid variants while the top trims get a larger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. Other features include auto climate control, 12-volt power socket at the front and rear, cruise control, and steering mounted phone and audio controls, automatic headlamps, auto-dimming IRVM, cruise control and lots more. There’s also a waste bin in the front door pockets like other Skoda models.