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| 2013 Skoda Rapid |
Now, if you're from India, then to you, your India's Rapid is different from our Rapid. As I want to say, the real Skoda Rapid we'll talk about is the new one. The real one. The made-in-Mladá Boleslav one. The one from the Paris Motor Show. Not the poor man's Rapid which was made in Pune. Indian Rapids had the old Skoda badge on it while the Rapid that was made in Mlada Boleslav, Czech, has the new Skoda trademark front as well as the new Skoda logo. See the difference? Yep, it stays true to its brand slogan; "Simply Clever".
Hopefully, I don't want anyone from India reading this article or searching for it. Anyway, this new Rapid is coming back fighting and the most powerful version as of now is the 1.4 TSi model that produces 122PS of power, 0-100kph time of 9.5 seconds, and top speed of 206kph. Most fuel efficient is the one with the 1.6 TDi engine mated with the 5-speed manual that promises combined consumption of 23.8km/L (4.2l/100km). There are other engine types available such as the 1.2 MPi, 1.2 TSi, and a 1.6 TDi with 105PS power output and whichever engine you're on, transmission offerings will be a 5-speed MT, 6-speed MT, or a 7-speed DSG.
Prices start at about 289,000 Koruna or about an estimated 11,500 Euros for the basic Skoda Rapid Active 1.2 MPi 5MT varnat up to 459,900 Koruna or about an estimated 18,210 Euros for the top of the line Skoda Rapid Elegance 1.4 TSi 7-speed DSG model.
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| 2013 Skoda Rapid interior |
It looks nice though and somewhat practical because what's underneath the Rapid is a chassis from the current generation Volkswagen Polo, which means there's a bit of cleverness going on. Sure, Skoda is the Czech subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, the Germans have done it again to keep the new Rapid well-made for the developing markets, even China's going to get one of these soon.
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| 2013 Skoda Rapid |
It may look like a saloon car but it is essentially a 5-door liftback promising a luggage capacity of 550 litres. That makes it a good compact car all-round for everyday use and I think the all new Rapid could claim to be Czech's first of its kind.
However, it must now face this. A car that seems to be the identical twin of the Skoda Rapid...
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| 2013 Seat Toledo |
The se habla español SEAT Toledo. It's back. The compact saloon is back and now it uses the same aesthetics from the Skoda Rapid. It might be more of the production version of the concept version as seen from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show but by the looks of it, the Seat Toledo's dramatic design blows the Rapid out of the water. It looks even more premium and stylish unlike any other compact saloons in this category.
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| 2013 Seat Toledo interior |
Even though the new Toledo, like the new Rapid, comes with the same engine choices such as the 1.2 MPi, 1.2 TSi, 1.4 TSi, and the 1.6 TDi engine but when it comes to dimensions, the Toledo is longer than the Rapid thanks to its long wheelbase.
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| 2013 Seat Toledo |
However, there are a couple of chinks behind the Toledo's elegance; while the Rapid costs about an estimated 11,500 Euros for the entry-level grade, the entry-level grade for the Toledo will cost you 13.990 Euros, that's more than the Rapid even though they are made at the same line and they used the same A05+ platform. Also, the Toledo's less wider than the Rapid. You really can't tell which one has a wide stance.
But still, the Toledo is much more better looking than the Rapid because while the Rapid is focused to be more simple but the new Toledo is very stylish, very practical, and very emotional in every corner. These two compact saloons is what the Czech and the Spanish are capable of in the midst of the Euro Debt Crisis that hampering European carmakers for days but would they work in today's economy? You'll have to find that out soon...
Photo: Skoda Auto, SEAT