Skoda Rapid Spaceback: Tasty Home-style Cooking

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

The Skoda Rapid Spaceback is not a sensational car. It's home cooking instead of nouvelle cuisine - in the best sense of the word. The VW subsidiary made a really good impression during the test drives.

By Frank Mertens

Sure, there are gourmets who like to dig a little deeper into their pockets for their special taste. You don't care if a trip to the starred restaurant is a little more straining on your wallet. But not everyone can afford something like this. But home-style cooking isn't bad either, especially when it's well prepared. She can also ensure enjoyment and happy faces in her own way.

It is the same with the Skoda Rapid Spaceback. If you compare it with the VW Golf, then the Wolfsburg-based model plays a class higher: the workmanship in the interior almost exudes a small touch of premium and the surcharge list includes niceties such as driver assistance systems.

Lots of plastic in the Skoda Rapid

There is no such thing in the Skoda Rapid Spaceback: there is a lot of plastic in the center console and there are also no electronic helpers such as a lane departure warning system or distance warning device. Is that why the Rapid Spaceback is a bad car? No, not at all. He is able to convince, even if he is ultimately not a cheap home.

The entry-level version of the Rapid Spaceback is in the price list as a 1.2 TSI with 86 PS for 14,990 euros. For the Golf with the same engine, but then as a three-door, 2175 euros more must be paid. Admittedly, the comparison between the Golf and Spaceback is a bit slow, because the technology built into the model of the VW subsidiary is not based on the current Golf, but on that of the aging Polo or Fabia.

But does the Spaceback drive worse because of that, does the average Otto consumer notice this? But no it doesn't. It is therefore worthwhile to take a closer look at the Rapid Spaceback, which more and more customers are currently doing. According to figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the sedan or the short-tail version accounted for at least 2599 sales in the first two months of the year.

Low consumption with diesel

We chose a Rapid Spaceback 1.6 TDI with 90 PS in the Elegance equipment variant for our tests. It then costs at least 21,390 euros. And if you order little things like the Amundsen navigation system (990 euros), a Bluetooth system (310 euros), hill start assist (120 euros) or xenon headlights (480 euros), you can easily get 24,265, as with our test car Euro arrived. There is no longer any question of inexpensive compacts. But so be it, driving a car is expensive fun anyway. But what do I get for so much money? First of all, a lot of space. The driver and front passenger can comfortably sit on the well and sufficiently tightly contoured seats, without having to feel that they are sitting a bit cramped. And behind? Even tall fellow travelers can take it here really well. In the 4.30 meter long Skoda, there is both sufficient knee and headroom. The trunk also has a capacity of 415 liters. That is more than decent. This is where the Spaceback collects its first plus points.

And what about the processing quality? Well, the center console is made of a lot of hard plastic, but it is not immediately obvious. You can only feel it when you run your hand over it. But who does that, except maybe a few auto journalists. But that's not really annoying. The rest of the cockpit gives little cause for complaint: it is clearly structured, and the instruments are easy to operate and read. It has to be like that. If there is something to complain about, then it is the small screen of the Amundsen navigation system, which is now a bit old.

Sixth gear would be desirable

But these are nodding points - which you quickly ignore when you have covered the first few kilometers in the four-cylinder diesel. The engine is present, but not intrusive. And if you initially thought that the 90 hp might be a little too little for the 1260 kilogram Rapid, you are mistaken. They are perfectly sufficient. Thanks to a maximum torque of 230 Nm (between 1500 and 2500 revolutions) a powerful drive is provided. 100 km / h is reached in 11.9 seconds and the top speed is 184 km / h. These are values that are completely sufficient for everyday life. The Spaceback is on the move with a manual five-speed gearbox that does its job to the fullest satisfaction. Nothing hooks or jerks - even if you miss a sixth gear on the highway,but this was done without for cost reasons. The steering responds directly and gives really good feedback on the road.

And what about the consumption? The New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) promises a combined consumption of 4.4 liters. A value that rarely has anything to do with practice. But the Rapid Spaceback provides a surprise here. After the test drives, the on-board computer showed an average consumption of 4.7 liters - that is a really excellent value that rounds off the good overall impression of the Spaceback.

And anyone who thinks that home-style cooking cannot be quite stimulating has not yet seen the Rapid Spaceback in the Style + special edition. It comes with sports seats, a panoramic glass roof and sports pedals so that you can click your tongue in appreciation. Gourmets can also get a taste for it here.