Insurance Group: 15
MPG: 64.2
CO2: 114
0-62 Mph: 10.6 secs
BHP: N/A BHP
Range: 777 miles
PROS: The Rapid is a roomy, family car which offers excellent value for money and low running costs thanks to its frugal diesel engine.
CONS: It's built down to a price -- and it shows.
Under the bonnet, the Rapid is fitted with a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine which develops 104bhp and 184lb-ft of torque. The engine can feel a little flat at lower revs, but once you get up past around 2000rpm, it's perfectly acceptable. 0-62mph takes 10.4 seconds and flat out you'll be doing 118mph.
The Rapid is a competent handler and, although not as composed as the class leaders -- the Focus and the Golf -- it's a perfectly solid drive. The steering, while well weighted, is a little numb and distant.
The ride in the Rapid is excellent and even large bumps and ruts on the road are cushioned out very well indeed. The seats are also extremely comfortable and road and wind noise are well subdued. However, take the diesel engine up to around 4000rpm and the noise becomes noticeable.
Although the Rapid looks like a saloon, it's actually a hatchback, and we think that the car's crisp lines and three-box profile look classy in an understated way.
Standard equipment on this top-of-the-range Elegance model includes alloy wheels, air-con, electric windows all round, cruise control, CD player, MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth.
Practicality is where the Rapid really shines. The cabin is very large and not only is there plenty of space in the rear seats, but access to them is excellent. The boot is huge too -- a class-leading 550-litres with the rear seats up and 1490-litres with the seats down.
Safety should not be an issue as driver, passenger, side and head airbags come fitted as standard, as do ABS, ESP and a system which cuts the fuel line supply in the event of a crash. Although it has not yet been tested by Euro NCAP, a full five star rating is undoubtedly in the offing.
Skoda builds its cars very well indeed and there is no reason to suggest that the Rapid will offer anything less than bulletproof reliability. You also get a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty as standard.
At £17,850, this is the most expensive model in the Rapid range and, frankly, we think the cheaper petrol models make more fiscal sense. Having said this, the diesel engine offers superb economy at 64.2mpg on the combined cycle, and low CO2 emissions of 114g/km means cheap road tax under VED band C.
If you're looking for a decent all-round family car which will be cheap to buy and cheap to own while still offering plenty of interior space, the Rapid could just be the car for you. On the other ...
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