Skoda Rapid [2011-2014] User Reviews

Made a big mistake of buying the Skoda Rapid and bigger one buying from Gurudev motors.. The lethal combinaton Skoda+Gurudev can leave you broke, frustated  and completely helpless..

Met with a small accident last week and had the car had to be towed to the Gurudev Motors service center .  Estimate is 90 K for repairs . Then i realised that the insurance policy was supposedly a depricated one which hardly covers half the cost. This is one of the policies that was given with the purchase of the car(bought in Dec2013).. It was my mistake probably  to have trusted the Gurudev motors folks to give a decent insurance policy ..infact i had even checked if the policy they were giving with the car was comprehensive and they had committed that it was.  Only to realise now that its not.. Anyway the problem is now mine as they came up with stories on how they were not responsible for it . I do agree that i should have been more careful as a customer but wonder how skillfully dealers us "free insurance"  as a great marketing tool at the time of sale and then leave you stranded with some useless policy.

The horror doesn't end ... now the estimated time for when i will get the car back is "we dont know" as spares are not avialable , they have ordered and dont have a clue on when they would receive it . This again is not a fault of Gurudev as they claim.. it is a Skoda problem

The apathy with which the service guys deal with you is appalling as they are so trained and used to giving such unreasonable responses. Basically trying to even rationalise that this is unfair on the customer is pointless and doesn't help in anyway . Just 2 choices .. NEVER BUY A SKODA ..and if you've bought one (due to some insane reason) Learn to bite the bullet and live with this scrap

safetyBad and extremely expensive service

Exterior Average quality.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Elegant but dated

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine perfoms after 5-6 KM,Milage 14-15 against 21 claimed,Frequent gear change required till 40 kmph, after that it is superb.

Ride Quality & Handling Hard shocker,bumpy ride, handling is good.

Final Words Main problem come when we require after sales support,sounds from all over in my car since 6 month of purchase.Sounds are like as you are driving a 5 year old car.no permanent solution from service people.parts quality is bad,rack,colomn and shocker mount changed within 30000 km.all were in waranty except shocker mount.Shocker mount changed twice in 6 months with Rs. 5k each.still sounds are coming from dashboard.

Areas of improvement From quality to after sales.

High gear range,stabilityLow gear range,worst after sales,engin noise,hard shockers

Exterior Looks are manly and sturdy yet attractive. Head lights look pretty awesome. If u have alloy wheels then u have everything in the car which can attract anyone's attention.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) As usual Skoda comes in with class european flat interface which has almost every feature on it with ease of access. Its very comfortable for every human physic sitting in front or back seat. It is covered with almost all features available today in its segment of cars, if not then there is always a higher version available.   

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine is as smooth as butter. No noise even at high speed of 150+ kms / hr. No vibration. The torque which skoda specifies is true to my knowledge because my car pick from speed of 15 - 70 in 3rd gear. Fuel economy on highway which i got so far is approx 20 and in city it is around 14 which is awesome in sedan with 1.6 ltr engine. Gearbox is extremetly smooth. 

Ride Quality & Handling  When u drive the car u will realise the class of skoda and its power. Handling is extremely smooth and easy even at the speed of 100.

Final Words  Skoda has done its best to launch the best car in its segment.

Areas of improvement

1) Steering mounted controls to sustain competition.

2) Instead of 1 rear fog lamp there should be 2, which is very small thing to be done. 

3) some very basic accessories should be provided with car itself, instead buying it for extra cost.

EverythingAs of now nothing except a delayed service which is tolerable if u need to go just once in a year

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

Poor service, costly, 8000+ for 1 st free service. They didn't even diagnosed a small puncture in the rt front tyre. in 1st service. Bad tyres 5 puncture in 36000 km. Usually smooth highway travels. Now need to change all 4 tyres. Parts took costly. Now horrible noise from engine but interior s noise proof. Again I don't know how much I have to spend on this. If u have lots of money kept aside foe maintainance then go for it. again even if u give money u won't get good service. So never ever go for this car. I got it on Nov 2012. U all get good cars at lower price.. only onlookers all be wondering of this car and u all be crying. I am going for next car and it all be never a Skoda. My dads ford s 100 times better Value for money.

As a new car good.. style, comfort etcbad mileage 14- 15 kmpl , costly maintenance and service. but poor service, parts costly..

Exterior Good looks.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Average but old gen interiors.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Bad combustion noise from diesel engine - like a tractor when I start the car in my basement parking.  Very poor engine reliability - diesel fuel injector failed within 30k km in my car. Car is off road for almost 3 weeks and still no response from dealer.

Ride Quality & Handling Runs when there is no failure - spare parts takes extremely long time combined with company and dealer indifference to customer issues- ignore this and you will regret later.

Final Words DO NOT BUY, DO NOT BUY & DO NOT BUY, Buy it only if you want to park it as a show piece in front of your house.

Areas of improvement Engine reliability needs drastic improvement. Approach to customers and addressing after sales issues - I would say a revolution is required in Skoda to do this.

Word to potential customers - Do Not Buy - you will regret the decision due to the extremely poor after sales service and spare parts support.

LooksAfter sales service and customer satisfaction

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

The car looks stunning and is characteristic Skoda, Good Body Contours, Optinum size for city driving, good road grip, quality built

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Host of modern features like anti-pinch, fuel cut off during accident, one touch power windows, ample leg room (both front & rear seats), comfortable rear seats, good boot space, 360-degree tilt steering, good nagivation information like gear shift change, average fuel economy, etc.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

1600 CC powerful diesel engine, 105 ps / 250 Nm, excellent pick up, good city average of 16-18 KM/litre, responsive steering, no fatigue in long drive, fair ground clearance

Ride Quality & Handling

Very very comfortable and entire family likes it. I am recommending others to buy it

Final Words

Except a bit noisy engine (silent inside) and poor rear view (reverse camera should be a standard fitment) it is a value for money car

Areas of improvement  

 1. Improve rear view from inside as it become very difficult to reverse the car

 2. Rear parcel tray is slanting and hence cannot keep anything

 3. Engine noise should be reduced

 4. Ground clearance can be a bit enhanced

 

Good Fuel Economy, Stunning Looks, Well Built, Excellent ComfortPoor Rear View from Inside

Exterior

Very Stylish, cant make out if its the Laura or the Vento. The top of the car does not have any black lining which is present in most of the other cars. Thanks to VW and Skoda for having this in the Rapid. Is a head turner.Very Stylish, cant make out if its the Laura or the Vento. The top of the car does not have any black lining which is present in most of the other cars. Thanks to VW and Skoda for having this in the Rapid. Is a head turner.Very Stylish, cant make out if its the Laura or the Vento. The top of the car does not have any black lining which is present in most of the other cars. Thanks to VW and Skoda for having this in the Rapid. Is a head turner.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Biege colours very pleasing for long drives and easy to use 

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Very silent for a diesel car. 21 km/lt in highway, good shift

 

Ride Quality & Handling

Awesome ride quality 

 

Final Words

Best buy in the same segment

 

Areas of improvement  

Vento Version 2 to be released as its very similar to the Rapid.

 

 

Mileage, Styling, Brand Name, Interiors, priceVento Look Alike