Ford Fiesta vs Honda City vs Skoda Rapid

Just imagine depressing the clutch and shifting gears every other second and inching forward and then depressing the brake pedal. Yes, I am just giving you your typical office run scenario. So in this situation a car with an automatic transmission makes perfect sense. To tap this market, Ford has launched the New Fiesta with an automatic box which hails to be the best in class. But what about others in the segment, namely the Honda City and the Skoda Rapid ?Read on as we find out which is the best package.

The Fiesta sports the fanciest looking interiors in this test and the smartest looking clocks as well. However, one needs to get used to the plethora of buttons on the dash and the quality of plastics could be better as well. Equipment wise though, the Fiesta is the best endowed by far.

The Fiesta is ahead when it comes to fuel economy.

The new kid on the block is the Fiesta and it is a smart looking thing, at least from the front three quarters. It has a sweeping bonnet and a curvaceous front end. The rear though is in stark contrast and seems like a last moment glue on job. The boot really does looks very disproportionate. Inside though you are greeted by a smart dash and a sporty looking instrument panel. However, it is not the easiest to read, and the quality of the plastics all round just doesn't match up to the City's or the Rapid's either. The centre console again is studded with a plethora of buttons which takes time getting used to.

The positive side of having so many buttons is that they actually do something. Not surprisingly, the Fiesta comes with a sea of features. It gets steering mounted controls, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, electric ORVMs with auto fold and voice control among many others. Space though isn't the Fiesta's strong point, particularly at the rear. It is so snug at the back that you forget you are sitting in a sedan.

The City on the other hand has class leading room for the rear passengers. It also looks plusher, better put together and overall, a car that should cost more. It also has comfortable seats and a cabin that feels airy. The City may not be as well equipped as the Fiesta, but it does come with a sunroof; a feature missing on the other two cars.

It looks ravishing on the outside too though the chrome grille is a little overdone. As part of the recent face lift, besides new tail lamps, the City's groundclearance has gone up as well, making it a little more practical for our roads.

The City has the poshest of cabins. The twotone interior theme offers a bright and airy feel to the greenhouse. The clocks are clear and easy to read. Steering gets controls for audio as well as cruise control. City is also the only car to get paddle shifters.

In terms of outright performance, the City is king with the Rapid finishing last on both counts.

The Rapid which is basically the Vento with a Skoda face is the most sedate here. It doesn't have the flair of the Fiesta or the richness exuded by the City; it's a very middle of the road sort of a car. The Rapid has also adopted the interiors from the Vento apart from the clocks and the steering wheel. Moreover the Rapid seems to be toned down and is the only one here which does without features like steering mounted controls,cruise control etc. However it does feel spacious and gets comfortable seats.

In the city, you will be hard-pressed to notice the Fiesta shift through the gears. It is truly the best of the lot here. But, the engine sadly, isn't. It does not feel powerful enough and had it not been for the 'box, the Fiesta would not have been half as much fun.

In this kind of situation it is the power packed engine which comes to the Rapid's rescue ensuring the Skoda isn't left behind in a straight line drag with its competitors. In traffic too the box feels lazy and shifts take longer than desired.

Interiors of the Skoda are basic looking. In fact, there's not much in terms of equipment either - no steering mounted controls, no cruise control or paddle shifters. Ergonomics are good though and there's a detailed trip computer and one touch up/ down function for all windows.

Clearly the City looks the most proportionate followed by the Rapid and then the Fiesta. The latter's boot looks like an afterthought.

The Fiesta offers a very responsive steering setup - well weighted and with ample feedback. It also makes shifting lanes or taking corners in the Fiesta a quick paced but flowing sequence . The stiff suspension comes handy while tackling corners as well without compromising on the bump absorption ability of the car. Overall there is very little to complain about the Fiesta in terms of both dynamics and ride quality.

The City's steering in comparison is quite light. It is brilliant for city use and a joy while parking or making three point turns in a tight space. It's reasonably quick as well, but the feedback is hardly there. It feels a bit lifeless. As far as the ride quality goes, the Honda absorbs bumps and undulations better than the earlier City. Also, the tendency to crash into pot holes has greatly reduced.

The Rapid is bestowed with a very light steering which still offers good feedback. This makes it perfect for both tight city runs and also for the highway. Like we said before, it's a very good compromise for a variety of roles. It handles well too. It might not be as sharp as the Fiesta, but unlike the City, it doesn't roll around much either. It also feels more planted while making quick direction changes compared to the Honda. Ride quality again is good and the Rapid absorbs most of the rough patches well transmitting little inside.

Ford Fiesta -The Fiesta engine isn't great, but the dual clutch 'box certainly is fantasti.

The Fiesta gets a 109bhp, 1.5-litre engine. However the Powershift gearbox is the most advanced here. It's a dual clutch setup which is being offered with a 10 year or 2.4 lakh kilometer warranty. Fantastic. Start up the Fiesta and the car settles down smoothly. Floor the throttle and it accelerates fast with seamless shifts. Actually if you keep the throttle floored, the 'box doesn't short shift giving the Fiesta a sporty feel. However it is surprising to see that Ford has omitted the option of shifting gears manually. That surely would have made it a lot more fun.

Honda City -The i-VTEC on the Honda is a smooth operator and offers a good punch.

The City though has a wonderful engine in the form of the 1.5- litre i-VTEC motor. It is mated to a conventional 5-speed automatic. The combo works well for most part; there's good drive at both low and high revs and the shifts are consistent, even though a tad too pronounced in full auto mode. The City also comes with paddle shifters which give it a sportier feel. It also offers a certain degree of engine braking while downshifting. However, if you'd just want to waft back home, the City in full auto mode does that well too. It makes for a very well balanced car.

Skoda Rapid -The Skoda gearbox is slow, but the engine makes up for it with its punch.

The Rapid meanwhile gets the biggest engine here and that truly is a lifesaver; for the drivetrain. The 1.6-litre motor offers 105bhp and does wonders to compensate for the lazy 6-speed auto box. If you suddenly depress the accelerator, it seems to go bonkers and the revs climb while the box decides which cog to choose. It also hunts for gears a lot more than what seems necessary. The best way to drive the Rapid, as we found out, was to stick with manual mode. It's more predictable when it gets a helping hand from the driver.