The Rapid is the entry level sedan in Skoda’s portfolio in India and shares its powertrain and main components with the Volkswagen Vento. The Rapid has been a bit slow in terms of sales and there was news that it is going to have an update soon. Skoda has officially launched the updated Rapid in India and it is priced at Rs 8.85 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The updates to the Rapid are pretty minimal and are limited only to the top end Elegance variant.
The changes in the Rapid include projector headlamps which will also be available in the Active Plus trim. Projector headlamps aren’t standard in this segment. The Skoda Rapid has a list of features which include chrome lining on the steering wheel, Bluetooth enabled security coded audio system, steering mounted audio controls, front passenger seat adjustment from the rear and storage pockets on the backrest.
The Skoda Rapid competes with the Vento, Renault Scala and Hyundai Verna in the Indian market. Soon heavy competition will arrive from the new Honda City. Skoda still hasn’t introduced the 1.2 TSI engine in the Rapid which powers the Vento Automatic. The company continues to use the old 105 PS, 1.6-litre petrol engine. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and also has an option of a 6-speed automatic. The Rapid is also powered by a 105 PS, 1.6-litre diesel engine, coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
