First Drive: Skoda Rapid 1.5-litre diesel DSG

It could be a subject for Ripley’s Believe it or not if we say two humans from different parents lookalike. But, when it comes to cars it is possible! One such product is the Skoda Rapid, essentially a Volkswagen Vento with different styling.

We often refer to different models from a particular car company as siblings which could be an SUV, hatchback or a sedan. This concept of same products with different badges can at times be confusing for a customer who makes his purchase based on the brand he prefers, or is there more?

While one knows that the Rapid and the Vento are two same products, the Rapid which was launched in 2011 got some minor updates early this year. Skoda has updated it again and this time it gets a new 1.5-litre TDI diesel mill and more importantly, the seven-speed DSG gearbox. A good automatic car in the budget end was always desired and the timing couldn’t have been better as more manufacturers move towards offering ‘clutch free’ commuting. We packed our bags and headed to Goa for a combination of highway and city driving to assess mainly the new Rapid 1.5 TDI DSG.

Skoda hasn’t updated the styling of the Rapid, and what you get is the 2014 model introduced earlier this year with minor changes. Everything is same, the body panels, the bumpers, the fog lamps, the grille, and the mirrors, sans the headlamps and the new design alloy wheels. When the Rapid was launched it looked better than the Vento and it still looks better than the facelifted Vento, the car it is based on. Despite the lack of a comprehensive facelift, Skoda is offering its customers who want a little extra in the styling department the ‘Black Package’ as the company calls it. This isn’t a trim instead a dealer option with smoked headlamps, fog lamps, black alloy wheels, mirrors and black grille, the blackened roof and stickers are optional extras.

Step inside the cabin and it is hard to spot any differences over the 2014 model introduced earlier, except for the automatic gearbox and the cardholder placed under the AC vents. This card holder is not to be mistaken for something that will hold your business card; it helps you place the toll cards; your parking passes for easy access at eye level. This slot helps you place the toll cards; your parking passes for easy access. The Rapid also gets cruise control, traction control for the automatic variant, but doesn’t get leather upholstery or parking sensors. The feature list may seem incomplete without these two, but it is a very smart move on Skoda’s part. Both parking sensors and leather seats can be added as aftermarket fitments, while the cruise control is a big plus over its competitors.

The drive was spread over two days and on the first day, I was a little eager to drive the 1.5 TDI mill with the five-speed manual box, but I got my hands on the 7-speed DSG gearbox first. My first impression after driving it was, why did they take so long to give us this brilliant transmission with the diesel engine? The shifts are quick and smooth, the ratios are well thought of and there is some lag when you floor it out of the blue, but nothing that one will complain about. The manual mode lets the computers rest while the driver works through the gears, you can rev it close to redline in this mode, but it won’t let you stay there and will shift up if you hit the redline.

This 7-speed DSG gearbox makes the most of this 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine’s 103bhp of maximum power and 250Nm of peak torque. The DSG gearbox is tractable in the city and equally responsive on the highway, the shifts are smooth and quick. Until now the Hyundai Verna was the only C-segment car to offer the option of an automatic car with a diesel engine, now it has competition.

The Rapid DSG has a claimed 21.66kmpl as compared to the manual car’s 21.14kmpl (ARAI). In comparison, the Vento has a claimed 21.21kmpl for the DSG variant and 20.34kmpl for the manual.

When in Goa, be like the Goans who love their laidback chilled out life, the DSG-equipped Rapid spoilt us on the narrow roads of Goa but, the next day it was time for some hardwork for the left foot. It was back to the H-gate, well. I didn’t like the heavy clutch but the smooth shifting gearbox was the saving grace and the well chosen ratios made it feel sprightly. There wasn’t sufficient time to test it to our satisfaction but the ratios were quite similar to the Polo 1.5 TDI. The diesel motor is noisy and what we expected was better insulation than the Polo we drove last, but doesn’t seem to be the case. The noise notwithstanding, it is a tractable mill with useable torque flowing from as low as 1500 revs and the power delivery getting stronger post 2000 revs and continuing until 4500 rpm. Driving it on the narrow streets of Vasco finding old churches and beaches wasn’t tiresome, but it did give a hard workout to the left leg.

The Rapid hasa clear advantage over its competitors in this department with a good balance of ride and handling, better than the segment leader Honda City and the second best Hyundai Verna. It is a good highway cruiser and thanks to its sorted dynamics, it feels planted at high speeds, but does feel skittish at the limit.The steering is direct, but doesn’t offer sufficient feel while hard cornering. It handles well, althoughyou can’t call it a great handling car. Itis capable of taking turns in quick succession without breaking into a sweat or scaring the driver. It rides well over broken roads, and there is not much noise from the suspension either. However, while crossing bigger than usual speedbrakers the rear suspension emits a bassythunk.

The Rapid truly shines in this department and feels surefooted at high speeds, it is a little firm at low speeds, but overall has a good balance of ride and handling.

In this case a typical C-segment buyer will have to live with his purchase for at least three years. So, the car has to be good to drive, be chauffeured around and also be efficient and low on maintenance to suit all needs. The Rapid was always a good option in the C-segment marred only by the service support of Skoda. The segment leadership still vests with the Honda City, which is closely followed by the Hyundai Verna, also the recently launched Maruti Suzuki Ciaz looks good to be in the top-three. So it is more of a rivalry between the Rapid and the Vento for the fourth spot, more so a rivalry for honour.

The Honda City has enough goods to satiate the hunger of a C-segment buyer, but doesn’t get a diesel automatic. While the Verna does get a diesel automatic, the more advanced DSG gearbox is the one to go for.

It is tough to say this as there is not much price disparity between the Vento and the Rapid. Their only ally, the Hyundai Verna 1.6 CRDI AT SX is cheaper by about Rs 15,000 than the Rapid Elegance. But, that’s a small price to pay for the brilliant DSG gearbox, in the end, it comes to the choice of brands. Also, there is a cheaper Ambition AT if you aim to own a good diesel automatic car and can make do without a few features. There isn’t much to differentiate between Skoda and Volkswagen when it comes to after-sales support either. It is a tough decision to choose between the Rapid and the Vento, as except looks there isn’t much to differentiate between them. If given a choice, I would pick the Rapid, for its design appeals to me more than the Vento.