Rapid Action

Finally,Skoda has the appropriate car. The Skoda Rapid may be very similar to the car it is based on,the Volkswagen Vento,but there are a few key differences. Pictures dont quite do justice to the Rapid and it definitely looks better in the metal. The Skoda nose is large and prominent and makes the car look bigger and more balanced than the Vento. The headlights,grille and fog lamps come from the Skoda Fabia,and the key modifications to incorporate the Skoda face into the design are the new bonnet,the new fenders and the mildly altered chin. At the rear,the major difference is the detailing on the tail lamps,which adopt Skodas characteristic C motif. There are also subtle changes to the boot lid and the rear bumper.

On the inside,the cabin is almost identical to its VW counterpart,apart from the Skoda family steering wheel which has no steering-mounted controls,the instrument panel,the gear lever and the audio system. The model tested here also has climate control. Finished in black,the central console,however,stands out because there is some mismatch in the design of its parts. The vents,buttons and climate control come from the VW,while the audio system,with its large buttons and fonts,is clearly from the Skoda.

It will also be available with a petrol engine,but the diesel option is the more important engine and we drove that. Its the same 1.6-litre unit as in the Vento,making an identical 105bhp and 25.5 kgm of torque.

The motor feels slightly more refined than in the Vento and power delivery is quite linear. The engine pulls cleanly from 1,600 rpm and all the way to 5,000 rpm,great for a diesel car,and the performance is quite strong.

The petrol 1.6 also performs slightly better. The motor feels more responsive and more eager to rev. And it feels quicker,because the gearing is shorter. The mid-range is just as strong as the VW Vento and this slight increase makes the petrol Vento quite nice to drive too. Its no Honda City,but it isnt dull either.

The steering is light and makes driving around town effortless. Over undulating surfaces,the ride is pretty flat and theres almost none of that annoying pitching motion you get with the Vento. It has a slightly hard edge when going over larger bumps though,especially large craters,but the benefits in handling more than make up for the slight stiffness. The Rapid feels rock solid at speed; the steering gives you a reasonable amount of feel even at high speeds and the Skoda is agile in corners as well.

The impressive Rapid will be available in three trims Active,Ambition and Elegance,the last of which gets 15-inch alloy wheels and driver and passenger airbags. These new names are part of a revised branding system for Skoda,whose tagline reads Simply Clever.

With prices starting around Rs 8 lakh for a reasonably equipped version,the Rapid is also fantastic value for money. Comfortable,spacious,fast,decently equipped and nice to drive,the new Rapid is worth checking out,especially if you are in the market for a car in this class. It has the makings of a winner.

The writer is deputy editor,Autocar India