Skoda Rapid [2011-2014] User Reviews

Exterior

Eye Soother, Looks Like Shrunk Superb, Good Built Quality

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

I Own Top End Model, But When I Compare It With Premium Hatchbacks, I Feel, My Car Should Have More Features. After All, It Is SKODA. But Then, No Complain. You Feel Good Inside.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

I Recently Got A Fuel Economy Of 26.6 KM/L On Noida Expressway. I Have Been Getting Good Fuel Economy Of About 22 KM/L On NH1. And Around 19 KM/L On Other Highways (More Crowded Ones Like NH8, NH58, etc). Within City, I Get Around 16 KM/L. (All Numbers With AC ON).

Ride Quality & Handling

No Complains. Smooth. 

Final Words

Skoda Is Providing Good Deal 5x5. I Envy This Now. Product Is Real Good. No Doubt. But, Just Be Careful With Service. It Sucks Big Time. Arrogant Service Team (Specially Nawab Motors), No Customer Service, Lame Excuses. Zero Customer Satisfaction. Prefer To Send Your Driver For Service Intervals (If You Have One). If You Can Live With SLOW, Lame & Service With Incomplete Details, Go Ahead And Buy One Today. Else Buy VW Vento (Same Product, Almost With Better After Sales Service).

Areas of improvement  

 After Sales Service Is The Only Major Issue In India. Poor Service, Specially If You Live In Delhi / Noida.

 

Style, Comfort and MileageAfter Sales Service

Exterior Ok up to some extent.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox: Engine performance is good but fuel economy is average. Quality of gear used in gear box is also not up to the mark as it starts noise after few thousand kms.

Final Words Overall performance is not good and after sale service is non responsive. I got my RAPID serviced first time at Jai Auto, Mathura Road, New Delhi but they have not checked even coolant which was totally exhausted.I don't know, how should I take up this issue to get replaced the front shockers of my new car which I purchased during July, 2012 and I faced shockers problem only after driving approx. 20,000 kms. My strongly suggesion is to improve after sale service of SKODA being a reputed brand and name.

Areas of improvement Quality of front shockers should be improved a lot. After sale service also needs drastic improvement.

Brand nameFront shockers are of burst quality.

Exterior Simple & Elegant.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Good But not Contemporary.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Cant get better than this... Amazing.

Ride Quality & Handling I am satisfied with the overall ride quality. t handles well the uneven roads(It sails like ship on road ...nothing like a horse ride) and gets really noisy when taking potholes. When comes to handling this car is amazing. At higher speeds like 140+ Handling is excellant.

Final Words Done 20000 KMs in 9 months. Driving Between 80 - 100 KMPH delivers a milage of 22 KMPL. 100 - 130 KMPH delivers a milage of 18 KMPL. In City Like coimbatore it delivers 15 - 16 KMPL. Features like antipinch windows, all express touch power windows, Remote Boot control & Remote Power Windows are awesome. Alloy Wheel(5 Spokes) looks that not gr8 to me.

Areas of improvement Air Con - its just ok but really not comparable with other cars. Features Like Parking Sensors, Touch Audio, Steering Mounted Audio Controls & Blue Tooth Conectivity.

Good Mileage, Great Ride Quality & Handling.. Excellent PowerTrainModerate Air Con, Noisy Suspension(But works well in the uneven roads)

Exterior

 Looks great

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

 Excellent.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

 Good

Ride Quality & Handling

 Too good except for suspension

Final Words

Not worth at all buying the Skoda Rapid, the rear suspension noise so bad as you feel the vehicle does not have any suspension. Not sure whether its a Skoda design.

Not enough expert Skoda Technicians to address these issues not sure how about in other places but I had bought the car in Hyderabad just few days back.  I am chasing the Skoda Servicing Team in Hyderabad everyday, I have many proofs to prove this. Just test drive on any Sharp Speed breaker and you will hear the noise and the team is mentioning its not an abnormal at all, I never heard that kind of sound in any other car. Skoda after sales service is really wose. 

If you want to live with the wiered sound of rear suspension and ready to deal with low expertise team who would not reach you on time but instead customer has to chase them to know the status of car, if you can manage both you can go ahead and buy.

Areas of improvement  

 Skoda seriously have to look into Suspension issues and need more expertise team to fix the issues.

 

Skoda looks great on the smooth road, Good styleIssues withe Rear Suspension

Exterior

 Very good Solid, no-nonsense exterior just like its other siblings.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Materials used inside, be it the chrome/plastics, they are of top-quality. The music system and the stock speakers rate more than expected. Except for a very minor screech-sound on the door pillars over a rough stretch of road, everything else is absolutely fine. Even this noise was corrected during the first service.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Diesel Engine is a gem. The car moves from 40kmph onwards with the 5th gear and just a small dab on the accelerator peddle is enough to get the car sprinting towards 100kmph mark without a gear down-shift. You do not feel a glimpse of the turbo-lag unlike the FordFIESTA/HyundaiVERNA. Moves from 0 - 140 Kmph like a breeze. After 120 Kmph, the engine sound becomes little audible, but definitely not an ugly noise. After all German/Europeans like their cars to make that noise!!! Be it 120kmph or 140 kmph or 160 kmph, the car just remains in control and the feedback from the steering is definitely the BEST!!! Low-speed driving in the city roads is very comfortable as well. All thanks to a very good low-end torque on the engine. A well erected road-hump can negotiated effortlessly on the 3rd gear itself!!!

Fuel Economy:

In the city with normal traffic conditions (continous movement) , I have got a mileage of around 14.5 - 16.5 Kmpl.

In very bad bumper-bumper traffic conditions, wherein you keep driving in the 1st or 2nd gear (with constant gear shifts) with a speed of 10-20 Kmph, I 've seen  the mileage dropping to as low as 10/11/12 kmpl.

On the highways, if you are an economy driver who'd like to cruise at a constant speed varying between 80-100 kmph on the 5th gear, I bet you'll get a mileage exceeding 21 Kmpl. I've experimented myself and seen the mileage go beyond 23 kmpl.

Again, on the highways, if you prefer to cruise at speeds exceeding 120/130 kmph, you can expect a mileage between 16-18 depending on the frequqncy of gear-shifts.

 

Ride Quality & Handling

SKODA has always been known for its superior ride-quality & handling and this behavior was exactly the reason that made me lean towards this car. Prior to buying the RAPID, had test-driven the Fluidic Verna, Duster and the likes. I know its very hard for all the Hyundai Verna owners to come to the terms with the fact, but can't help it. Yes, Skoda RAPID is a clear winner in this aspect. The RAPID never goes out of control/behaves indecently at high speeds. As far as my experience with many other cars in the Indian Market is concerned, the RAPID has got an amazing steering. It just feels awesome!!!

 

Final Words

I admit that this car does not have all the unwanted gizmos such as the in-built  GPS, steering mounted audio controls, reverse-parking cam etc

But for someone, who cares to own a GOOD CAR considering the core-qualities of a car such as the ride-quality, handling, engine performance, top-quality interiors, solid-looking exteriors, JUST GO AHEAD with it!!! It is definitely a Value-for-Money car. 

I have currently reached the 15,000 kms mark on my RAPID and got the servicing done, unlike the many other posts that i've seen/read about the SKODA's after-sales support, I got a very good service. The supervisor took enough care to fix all the minor complaints that I had reported and the SKODA was pro-active enough to give me a call to take a feedback of my service experience. Of course, I gave them a 5.

The delivery was made within a day's time. The only drwaback with the after-sales support is the low number of SKODA service centres available in any city.

 

With this review, I would like to state that I'm not a SKODA guy or a SKODA fan writing this review to support the brand. I just want anyone looking to buy a new car to have a good review from an owner himself. The normal crowd mentality is to go with a car (if you could not guess, I'm talking about the so-called FLUIDIC) that just boasts of a sporty look, but does not have enough under the hood to behave like one!!! So people, time to invest your money on a good buy!!!

 

Areas of improvement  

1. Need to come up with few more authorized service centres.

2. To cheer and draw the crowd, the SKODA can think of including a few gizmos in the RAPID :D

3. I definitely would like to see the European RAPID released in the Indian market.

 

 

Best ride quality, no-nonsense SOLID exterior looks, soothing interiors with top-quality materialsThe only problem i have faced till date is that the mud-flaps take a beating on a road-hump

Exterior Its an awesome car, majestic and looks like Laura only, many of my friends having b/c segment car mistook it for Laura and checked if it was about 17 la. Majestic looks, some of my team members not knowing whose car it was took pics standing next to it in a resort. Definitely a head turner.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Nice and comfortable, cd track changing is easy, climate control is easy if you understand it else you will keep fiddling as to how to cut off the ac, high seating position even 5 ft tall people can easily drive the car as the seat can be adjusted and at its highest position even a six footer like me has no problem with my head room, i need not adjust the seating. Auto fold of outside rear view mirror is missing and it is pain folding the mirror after parking, high boot in the back offers very LITTLE visibility while reversing, if you dont have a rear view mirror it is better to check the rear side like you do it in a lorry/bus/van before reversing. Leather seats would have added elegance to the majestic car. Interiors are nice and done well, plastic quality is good, doors are like armours and close with a thud, solid doors requires some energy to open and close. Bottle and cup holder in the front is not there and hence a problem, low reflecting ovrm and rear view mirror is new exp because you really dont know some two wheeler moped tailing you.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Excellent, in second gear though the car pulls on its own, the beast doesn't stop unless you downshift or reduce the acclerator to zero, its scary in bumpy roads because the second gear has so much power. Gear box is smooth, no hassles at all, it slots nicely, the rear and the first in the same position, since the rear needs pushing the gear lever down and engaging there is no issue. I have touched 120 at best and not have experimented with high speeds yet and at 120 its steady and composed, nothing it sails smoothly and there is no strain at all, in 3rd if you put the accelerator down there is huge surge of power and your companion will definitely grab the hand rails for support. Its really too fast and can leave the fast motorbikes at the signal way behind if there is an empty stretch ahead. 2nd and third are as good as a peppy petrol car. Overall mileage is about 18 km, fill it forget it, on a nh stretch you can see distance to empty as 830 km etc for about an hour or so.

Ride Quality & Handling Excellent ride quality, very composed, the bumps dont get into the cabin, back seat is a great place apart from the drivers seat. in highway at high speeds if you go over a pothole you dont feel it inside most times but once it came inside heavily with a big noise in kerala road. turns are great, high speed turns are no problem and brakes are great.

Final Words Excellent car, hope service exp also matches to the cars performance

Areas of improvement Rear view camera, steering mounted controls, rear airbags,usb port, lcd screen,cup holder/bottle holder in front, sun glass holder in front, dust and dry leaves get into the rear glass from c pillar to boot, keyless entry, start stop button (ladies prefer this very much), leather seats

 

Looks, Power, Comfort, Fuel EconomyRear view camera, steering mounted controls, rear airbags,too much power in 2nd gear,usb port

Exterior

 very beautiful car with inbuilt projectors,good lloking front grill,a heavy car

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

very spacious car-- large knee and head room at rear seat,very good audio system with aux, usb, card and bluetooth, one touch all window glass up and down , many good features like steering mounted controls,height adjustable seat, front and rear arm rest,tilt as well as telescopic steering wheel,display screen shows temperature,fuel economy,how much more u can drive with remaining fuel,beautiful and simple interior shows class not like verna typical chinese material

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

good response from engine,gear ratio is very good i like it ,no turbo lag,overall average 18 to 19 depends on situation as in city around 16 on highway surely get 21.

 

Ride Quality & Handling

brilliant ride quality and handlig,even at 160 km/h speed u dont have to worry nice and steady ride,very very good braking-no body roll at back seat (in hilly areas)

 

Final Words

 this is a best sedan,if u want built quality,ride quality,comfort and safety then go for it, and if u want just looks then go for verna

Areas of improvement  

spare wheel should be of same size as others

 

 

looks,built quality ,handling,suspension,power,steering controls,audio systemno leather seats

I purchased my Skoda Rapid Elegance 1.6TDI CR MT from M/s Mahavir Auto, Bhubaneswar. After lot of research I purchased this car. Before buying Rapid I already had test drive of Ford Fiesta, Honda city, Nissan sunny, Vento, Renault Scala, Hyundai Verna.On the 1st test drive I was very much impressed. At very high speed its road grip is excellent. Engine Power is wonderful. There is slight engine noise but can be compormised with other parameters. Car exterior is really impressive from the side it look like a vento but its RAPID. Its suspension is also very good on rough roads. Road clearance is OK. I am yet to experince the after sales service. In Odisha M/s Mahavir Auto being the only dealer they need to give attentions on road site assistance and emerginecy assistance across the state.

I have opted for two years extended warranty.SKODA's insurance partner M/s Bajaj Alliance need to be more customer friendly.After several requests my address of comminication has not been corrected so far.

Exterior Excellent.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Very Good.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Execellent Engine, Gear box is very smooth.

Ride Quality & Handling Execllent.

Final Words Value for money.

Areas of improvement After sales service.

Engine Power.Fuel Economy,Aerodynamic stylingEngine noise

Exterior Experior styling is good & competitive in this segment.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Space is more than sufficient & giving good feeling on long driving.Exterior It looks good and sturdy.Exterior Skoda has managed to revamp a seemingly good exterior design of the vento into a more bold and muscular one with the restyled bonnet and the typical skoda grille.The sedate front end was the least exciting part of the vento.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Turbo charger response time is best in class. . Otherwise engine performance is good  Fuel econimy is perfect on this size sedan. I am getting 20-23 KMPL on long drive . Gearbox handling is best in class.

Ride Quality & Handling This is the perfect point I have felt. I have driven more than 2250kms, includes single day return of 300kms sometimes. I have not tired & feld exhasted as generally happens during driving. But more important, I feel that braking on high speed is a littel poor & felt that vehicle is waving.

Final Words   This is a perfect vehicle on this budget & No one can go beyond the German Technology.

EVERYTHINGNOTHING