The Russian version of the Skoda Rapid liftback was officially presented in April 2014 (and the production of this car in Kaluga was launched a little earlier - in February).
This inexpensive and compact, but nice and practical "five-door", formally, belongs to the "B +" class, but in practice (in terms of its dimensions and equipment) it is easily ready to compete with many representatives of the "C-class" (which, in fact, the developers of this car "openly trump").
By the way, a "restyled model" immediately came to us. the world debut of "this Rapid" took place back in 2012 (within the framework of the Paris Motor Show), the novelty immediately entered the salons of European dealers, and in 2013 it reached Ukraine and Kazakhstan ... and in the same 2013 a "hasty restyling "(More like" correcting mistakes ") - the car received a new engine, a different steering wheel, an expanded list of interior design options and new optional equipment (in particular xenon headlights) ...
In February 2017, the five-door underwent another update, but it also cost "little blood": it slightly retouched its appearance, affecting the lighting equipment, the radiator grill and the bumper, added new modern options and expanded the palette of available power units (but only for Europe, in Russian the motors remained the same on the market).
The exterior of the car is executed in the spirit of the “new corporate style” of the Czech automaker, which, in fact, “Rapid” laid the foundation for. However, to call this liftback a trendsetter in its class, probably, it will not work ... and he does not pretend to this role, preferring to remain "a car with a simple but neat design, diluted with minor notes of sportiness, giving a special charm and charm." In addition, simple shapes allow for very good aerodynamics for a budget car - by the way, the aerodynamic drag coefficient of its body is 0.30 Cx, which is very important to ensure fuel economy.
The length of the liftback is 4483 mm, the length of the wheelbase is 2602 mm, the width of the body, excluding mirrors, is limited to 1706 mm, and the height does not go beyond 1461 mm. The front and rear track widths are respectively equal to 1463 and 1500 mm for versions with 14-inch wheels, as well as 1457 and 1494 mm for versions with 15-inch wheels.
The ground clearance (clearance) of the "European" Skoda Rapid liftback is 136 mm, but for Russia the clearance was increased to 170 mm.
The curb weight in the basic configuration does not exceed 1135 kg, and in the "top" version of the equipment - 1236 kg.
Salon "Rapida" is designed for five passengers and has a fairly simple design, which is distinguished by excellent ergonomics.
Convenient and easy access is organized from the driver's seat to all controls, and the front seats provide a very high level of comfort, which is quite a rarity for an auto-budget employee. Soft plastic and fabric upholstery are used in the interior decoration, but the Czechs clearly regretted the sound insulation, so they will have to put up with extraneous sounds in the cabin. As for the free space, there is plenty of it both in the front and in the back.
The trunk does not lag behind - already in the base it is able to accommodate 530 liters of cargo, and with the rear row of seats folded down, it can even accommodate 1470 liters.
Specifications. In Russia, the Skoda Rapid liftback is offered with three types of gasoline power plant. But diesel engines (presented in Europe in several variants at once) have not reached our country (at least, so far), so we will have to limit ourselves only to what they offer:
- As the base engine, the Czechs have prepared a 3-cylinder atmospheric unit with a working volume of 1.2 liters (1198 cm³), equipped with an aluminum cylinder block, a distributed fuel injection system and a 12-valve DOHC timing mechanism. The engine fully meets the requirements of the Euro 5 environmental standard and is capable of producing no more than 75 hp. or 55 kW of maximum power at 5400 rpm. The peak torque of this power unit falls at around 112 Nm, developed at 3750 rpm, which allows the Rapid liftback to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 13.9 seconds, and also reach a speed maximum of 175 km / h.
The younger engine is aggregated with a non-alternative 5-speed "mechanics", with which fuel consumption in urban conditions is declared by the manufacturer at 8.4 liters, on the highway - 4.8 liters and in the combined cycle - 6.1 liters. - The second one on our market is also an atmospheric unit, but already with 4 cylinders and a working volume of 1.6 liters (1598 cm³). The engine is well known to Russian motorists from the VW Polo sedan and is capable of producing 110 hp. maximum power at 5800 rpm, as well as about 155 Nm of torque at a peak falling at 3800 rpm. This motor can be aggregated both with a 5-speed "mechanics" and with a 6-band "automatic". With this power unit, the liftback “gains a hundred on the speedometer” in 10.3 / 11.6 seconds, the maximum speed is fixed at 195/191 km / h, and the average fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 5.8 / 6.1 liters per 100 km of track - respectively for "mechanics" / "automatic".
- And, finally, the "flagship" in the Russian market - the Czechs offer for this role a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder turbo unit with a cast iron block and an aluminum block head, as well as direct fuel injection and variable valve timing systems. This engine, which fits into the Euro-5 standard, is capable of producing up to 125 hp. (92 kW) of power at 5000 rpm, as well as exactly 200 Nm of torque in the range from 1400 to 4000 rpm. As a checkpoint for the flagship, Czech experts have chosen a 7-band "robot" DSG with two clutches, which will allow the novelty to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in just 9.0 seconds and eventually reach a maximum speed of 200 km / h. As for fuel consumption, in urban conditions the liftback will "eat" about 7.0 liters, on the highway it will be limited to 4.3 liters, and in the combined cycle of operation it will keep within 5.3 liters.
The Skoda Rapid liftback of the year shares a platform with its peer VW Polo sedan, but the Czechs have made a number of changes to it, in particular, using some elements from the Octavia and Fabia.
The Skoda Rapid has only front-wheel drive, an independent suspension based on MacPherson struts is used in front, and a semi-independent torsion beam is used at the rear. On the wheels of the front axle of the "Czech" ventilated disc brakes are installed, on the rear wheels there are simple disc brakes. Rack and pinion steering is complemented by an electromechanical amplifier.
Note that Czech engineers were very scrupulous about setting up the chassis. As a result, the liftback holds the road with confidence, is easy to control even in sharp turns, has good maneuverability and brakes well on any road surface. Of course, Rapid does not set record results in the listed "parameters", but it is not inferior to the main competitors. The most tangible disadvantage that we managed to identify during the tests is the stiffness of the suspension, which is slightly higher than Russian drivers are usually used to, but for our country the Czechs, subsequently, to some extent corrected this defect.
Options and prices. In the Russian market, Skoda Rapid in 2017 is presented in four equipment options - "Entry", "Active", "Ambition" and "Style".
- The basic equipment of the car costs from 604,000 rubles, and its functionality includes: driver's airbag, two power windows, central locking, ABS, ESP, two-way adjustable steering column, electric power steering, on-board computer, ERA-GLONASS system, audio preparation for four dynamics and some other options.
- For the "top" performance they ask for at least 817,000 rubles, and its privileges are: four airbags, heated front seats, cruise control, air conditioning, power windows for all doors, fog lights, "music" with six speakers, 15-inch alloy wheels and other "goodies".
In addition, as an option, the liftback can be equipped with: bi-xenon headlights, front parking sensors and USB connectors on the second row of seats for recharging mobile devices.
