The Skoda Rapid golf-class liftback was presented in 2012. Sales of the model in most countries around the world began twelve months later. Rapid reached Russia only in 2014 in a modernized form. The manufacturer slightly increased the ground clearance, improved the suspension and adapted it to our roads.
Despite the fact that very few years have passed since the start of car production, today the Skoda Rapid can boast of considerable popularity. And all because the manufacturer managed to design a car that was successful in every sense, which filled the gap between and Fabia. Before purchasing a liftback, it is best to familiarize yourself with the service life of the engine on this vehicle.
Powertrain options
Initially, anyone could purchase a Skoda Rapid with one of three available engines with a displacement from 1.2 to 1.6 liters. The three-cylinder 1.2-liter engine was frankly weak, and did not allow the owner of the liftback to fully experience all the drive and enjoy driving. The motor has often been criticized by independent experts, and it is worth saying that it is quite justified. Ultimately, the Czechs decided to refuse to further equip their brainchild with this engine modification.
Thus, since 2015, the following installation options have remained available:
- Atmospheric 1.4-liter engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission;
- Atmospheric 1.6-liter engine paired with 5/6-speed manual/automatic;
- Turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with 7-speed robotic gearbox.
As for choosing the degree of boost, those who want to acquire a modern liftback have a small choice: 90, 110 and 125 horsepower, respectively. However, the manufacturer has done a lot of work recently. The Czechs are constantly working on Skoda Rapid engines, improving them technically. More recently, all three developments have received updated fuel injection system technology, and the design, which predetermines not three, but four cylinders, helps to reduce fuel consumption and increase the dynamic performance of the car.
Engine life 1.4 TSI
The naturally aspirated 1.4 TSI engine paired with a manual gearbox is by far the most popular modification. The turbocharged version can rightfully be called a top-end assembly. The four-cylinder power unit operates via a timing chain, which has a good service life. The manufacturer recommends replacing it after a mileage of 70-80 thousand kilometers. Despite the fact that the timing chain was initially positioned as a “perpetual mechanism,” practice has shown that sometimes it fails even before the allotted time. Therefore, it is recommended to replace it earlier if the car is used in difficult conditions.
The manufacturer assures that a Skoda Rapid with a 1.4-liter engine under the hood will cover at least 250-300 thousand kilometers. There are serious reasons to trust this information. The fact is that this power unit has shown impressive reliability since the time it was installed on Volkswagen cars. The new E211 units, which replaced the EA111 series motors, are distinguished by a cast iron block, an aluminum head, lightweight pistons and a reinforced crankshaft. Improved technical characteristics allow the owner of the Skoda Rapid to count on trouble-free operation of the car up to the first 300 thousand km.
Motor resource 1.6 MPI
The engine block is made of aluminum, but the cylinder liners are cast iron. This design is not the cheapest, but from an engineering point of view it is reliable. After all, cast iron is distinguished by its heat-conducting properties combined with high wear resistance. Heat transfer becomes even more efficient due to the rough surface of the sleeve walls. The 1.6-liter engine has improved, lightweight pistons. The “flat” shape of this part makes the motor more powerful and dynamic. This is a technological innovation, because previously designers could not achieve optimal combustion of the fuel mixture in the chamber due to the flat bottom of the part.
There is also a chain, which is more reliable than a belt, but requires more time and money during replacement. The model with a 1.6-liter engine is ideal for daily trips. In addition, this version of the Skoda Rapid is convenient for long journeys. Due to its improved design compared to the 1.4 TSI modification, the 1.6 MPI assembly also has a longer service life - about 350-400 thousand kilometers. It is not uncommon for a Skoda Rapid to cover half a million kilometers of road.
How long does a Skoda Rapid engine last according to reviews from car owners?
About what the real consumption of the Skoda Rapid engine actually is, reviews of owners who have been convinced from their own experience of the high duration of stable operation of the main unit will be more informative.
1.4TSI
- Pavel, Moscow. I am the former owner of a Skoda Rapid 1.4 l. It just so happened that I recently had to say goodbye to the car. In general, it left behind a good impression - a comfortable and practical body, low fuel consumption, and, of course, a long service life. It is not difficult to find components, and many of them fit VG cars. Personally, I drove the car about 80 thousand km during all this time, I did not notice any problems or “jambs” in the assembly. There are also no complaints about the chassis, it holds the road vigorously.
- Alexey, Saratov. I don’t drive too much; I’ve clocked up 120 thousand kilometers in four years. Replaced the chain, a labor-intensive process, but worth it. Moreover, it was replaced at the turn of the first hundred thousand, although the car did not give any signals. The 1.4 engine is peppy and energetic, this volume and power is quite enough for comfortable daily movement around the city. Service is inexpensive and so are the parts. I expect to drive the car at least 250 thousand km to the capital.
- Mikhail, Rostov. I purchased a new car in 2012. When I first started using the car I noticed the pistons were knocking. I went to the service center, they quickly fixed everything. The Czechs have known about this for a long time; supposedly, the problem was solved back in 2013. I don’t know how things are with the pistons on new assemblies. Today the mileage is 180 thousand kilometers. During this time, I changed the timing chain once, which is much more reliable than a belt. Once replaced, you can drive another hundred thousand kilometers. I use imported motor oil. If you use certified fuel and lubricants, the engine will cover 300 thousand km without problems.
- Kirill. Moscow. Great machine, no complaints. Definitely worth the money. I do not recommend spoiling the firmware; it may affect the overall service life of the Skoda Rapid engine. It eats little, maintenance and components are inexpensive. In three years I have already accumulated 90 thousand kilometers. The chassis is excellent, the ground clearance is just right for our roads. The build quality is no worse than many models from VG, and in some cases even better.
Owners of the Skoda Rapid 1.4 TSI note the modification’s high performance properties, reliability and long engine life. The life of the chain is 90-100 thousand kilometers, which is longer than the period stated by the manufacturer. This car can cover 200-250 thousand km without any problems.
1.6MPI
- Vasily, St. Petersburg. From my own experience I can say that the service life of the engine depends 30% on the quality of fuel and lubricants, and 70% on driving style. I maintain a calm manner, so my Rapid, after four years of use, has never seriously broken down. Like everyone else, I underwent scheduled maintenance, changed consumables and the timing chain. It is also important to refuel with good fuel, fill in imported oil and have it serviced only by an OD.
- Sergey, Voronezh. I will say this - I am dissatisfied with the car. When the 150 thousand kilometer mark was reached, literally everything began to break down. The new pistons are clearly unfinished; it was necessary to spend a lot of money on replacing parts of the piston group. I've been using the Skoda Rapid for five years, and just recently sold the car. In return, I received frayed nerves, sleepless nights and a lot of wasted money.
- Albert, Vladivostok. Initially I thought of purchasing the version with a turbocharged engine, but at the last moment I changed my mind. I purchased a 2013 Skoda Rapid 1.6 l with a manual transmission. I like everything about the car: from assembly to design. One friend works as a taxi driver on a turbocharged Rapid, his mileage has already exceeded 300 thousand, however, the turbine needs additional care. I'm currently at 120 thousand km.
- Vladislav, Khabarovsk. I have a 2017 car with an upgraded 1.6-liter engine. I don’t know if I came across a bad assembly, or if the Czechs simply forgot how to assemble cars. The reliability of the new naturally aspirated engine has clearly dropped, and the new pistons are to blame for this! The timing belt is now quieter, but it is unsuitable for repair, plus every time I notice a “burn” in the engine oil. I am not sure that this unit will exhaust at least the resource built into it, let alone produce beyond the norm.
Skoda Rapid 1.6 received different ratings from drivers. Mostly owners of cars produced in 2013-2014 speak positively about the car. Owners of the new version have so far noted some design flaws, which the manufacturer may eliminate in the future. In general, this version of the car covers 250-300 thousand kilometers without problems or breakdowns.
The new Kaluga-made VW engine should be indestructible. Our test of the Skoda Rapid 2016 left no doubt about this. Video test Skoda Rapid 2016, technical. characteristics at the end of the article.
To Sochi and back
The summer before last, my colleagues from Za Rulem and I were fabulously lucky with a week-long business trip in a new car! Under the hood of our snow-white front-wheel drive companion was a 1.6-liter engine producing 105 hp. paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. We didn’t know then that this would actually be the base engine for Russia’s first foreign engine production.
Skoda-Rapid appeared on our market in the spring of 2014; it is assembled in Russia.
Skoda Rapid today is a serious competitor to the relay baton of the people's car. Its transfer from Lada and Samara is clearly taking longer. It is all the more interesting to watch this process.
The strong trump cards of the Skoda Rapid () are Russian: assembly and engine production. Yes, there is still a fifth door, and inside there is a huge trunk.
After the Sochi run, that Skoda Rapid traveled more than 30 thousand km without breakdowns; on the way to Sochi and back, the engine consumed about 400 grams of oil per 1000 km.
It didn't score points because of its modest multimedia system; some thought it was noisy and maybe not fast enough. I just fell in love with it and even wanted to buy it, but a new wave of offers overwhelmed me, and now I’m going to test the Skoda Rapid 2016 with a Russian engine.
With a Kaluga-assembled engine.
I'm tempted by the new Skoda-Rapid with a 1.6 liter 110-horsepower engine.
In our country, we love naturally aspirated engines, and Skodas with a stunted 1.2-liter engine, which at some point disappeared from dealers’ price lists, were certainly not popular. Current choice: new 1.6 liter engine. 90 or 110 hp with a 5-speed manual or with a more powerful engine - a Japanese Aisin automatic transmission with 6 gears.
We would have been happy to take a more modest version, but we got the option with an automatic, and it was well packaged.
Interior
However, you shouldn’t kill yourself from excessive luxury, and it’s not here. Even at a price of under a million, the plastic in the cabin is hard, and there is no backlight in the sun visors. Not that it interferes much, but it immediately indicates the status of the car. You have to pay extra for the navigation light and the rear lamp, but what can I say, the base has one airbag and side mirrors without heating.
Excellent ergonomics! The steering wheel is adjustable in height and reach, not for show, but in large ranges, which are certainly enough for both petite ladies and basketball players.
There is plenty of legroom in the back thanks to the wheelbase lengthened by 50 mm compared to the VW Polo.
In the back seats I spent a long time, lounging, observing the Russian expanses on the road. The ceiling does not press on the top of the head. The headrest is always there, so you don't roll off the back.
And what a trunk! The 530 liter figure is empty words, only slightly larger than traditional sedans, but when the huge rear door rises, any luggage here seems too small.
This is the trunk, it’s a pity that the budget class does not allow you to make the floor level.
With the seats folded down, the volume is almost a cubic meter, except that there is a decent step. Alas, this is the problem with almost all of the concern’s models. Only the Yeti and Roomster have truly comfortable folding rear seats. There they can be completely removed from the interior. Although even then you won’t get a level platform, it will free up additional volume.
It won’t be difficult to stuff a large suitcase, a TV, a refrigerator, and at the same time a basket, a picture, a cardboard and a dog. In the video we pushed the dining table here.
Motor made in Russia.
The new engine is 1.6-liter, 110 horsepower, with a timing belt and an exhaust manifold in the cylinder head.
It is not at all easy to distinguish the new 110-horsepower engine from the 105-horsepower one that drove us to Sochi based on driving characteristics, especially when paired with an excellent automatic. The developers promised that the new engine would heat up faster, thanks to the fact that the exhaust manifold is now hidden in the cylinder head and washed with coolant.
The timing gears have a modified geometry, which makes it possible to significantly increase the belt life. Turbo engines are now being built on the basis of the same block. So for them all these innovations should be more relevant; VW didn’t have any special problems with naturally aspirated engines before. Yes, the pistons on Chinese-made engines clanked, but dealers usually replaced them under warranty without unnecessary resistance. But those who are faced with replacing the timing chain or, God forbid, breaking it on turbo engines, should now relax. The Germans claim that all these problems are history.
The engine turned out to be so balanced that the Czechs, it seems, could completely abandon sound insulation.
On the road
At idle you can only guess that the engine is running by looking at the instruments, but after 3000 rpm the cabin is a bit noisy. Moreover, the hum comes from both the engine and the road. On a good surface everything is fine, but where do we have perfect asphalt? So after 80 km/h, either turn the music up louder, or pay extra for sound insulation.
By installing an automatic on the “Rapid”, the Skoda people seem to be proving to themselves that the reunification of gearboxes with two dry clutches with small displacement engines was, to say the least, a mistake.
Driving the Rapid is a pleasure. You always know what the wheels are holding on to. It allows you to go fast in corners, insuring even the hottest drivers. The rear suspension is always ready to play along, helping on turns. On bad roads, it takes the shock without passing it on to the riders. But the ground clearance is only 130 mm, so we didn’t get far from the asphalt.
Just in the city, a friend asked me to help him tow his hybrid Infiniti Q50. Almost 2 tons of live weight for one lightweight Skoda Rapid. Believe it or not, I didn’t even have to press the gas. You release the brake and at a speed slightly above idle, the Rapid crawls forward as if nothing had happened.
The Skoda Rapid is a well-balanced car. It was like going for a walk with him in your favorite sneakers. Doesn't press or irritate anything.
From the caption to the photo, maybe you thought that he is passionate about corners? Perhaps not, there is no sense of sportiness here, however, there are no complaints about the Rapid in terms of handling. It is very obedient, rolls moderately, and the informative steering wheel always very accurately informs the driver about the limit of road grip.
Our test of the Skoda Rapid 2016 ended at the opening celebration of a new farm store in the Moscow region. The hostess asked to bring the festive table. Everything turned out just fine: a Russian-assembled car with a Russian-made engine was involved in the process of import substitution in the best possible way. What came out of this look at video below.
The material was prepared in collaboration with Igor Sirin (co-host on the video).
Video test of Skoda Rapid 2016, technical specifications, help below.
ŠKODA RAPID: Just the facts
1. The name “Rapid” was first invented at Skoda in 1934.
2. Since 1942, it would seem that he was completely forgotten until 1984.
3. Reincarnation took place in the form of a hatchback, but after 1990 this name was again consigned to oblivion.
4. Finally, in 2011, the Skoda Rapid sedan appeared, but only for third world countries; Europeans had to wait another year. Moreover, their “Rapid” - 2012 was seriously different from the previous version.
5. It is interesting that the first-born of 1935 had the same displacement as the current version 1.4 TSI: 1386 cm3. But it only produced 31 hp. However, thanks to a mass of only 550 kg (the body was half wooden!) the car was able to accelerate to 100 km/h, which justified the name.
6. “Rapid” 1984 was drawn by maestro G. Giugiaro himself! This coupe with a 1.2-liter four was already capable of reaching 150 km/h.
7. The car for developing countries was assembled not even in the Czech Republic, but in distant India. There were almost no technical “frills” in it, but there was increased ground clearance. This version was the first to receive a diesel engine, which, like the gasoline engine, developed 105 hp. In addition, the Rapid finally became front-wheel drive.
SKODA RAPID
Specifications| COMMON DATA | 1.6 MPI / 90 hp | 1.6 MPI / 110 hp | 1.6 MPI / 110 hp /AT | 1.4 TSI / 125 hp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm: length / width / height / base | 4483 / 1706 / 1474 / 2602 | 4483 / 1706 / 1474 / 2602 | 4483 / 1706 / 1474 / 2602 | 4483 / 1706 / 1474 / 2602 |
| front/rear track | 1463 / 1500 | 1457 / 1494 | 1457 / 1494 | 1457 / 1494 |
| Trunk volume, l | 530 / 1470 | 530 / 1470 | 530 / 1470 | 530 / 1470 |
| Curb / gross weight, kg | 1150 / 1655 | 1165 / 1670 | 1205 / 1710 | 1217 / 1722 |
| Acceleration time 0 - 100 km/h, s | 11,4 | 10,3 | 11,6 | 9,0 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 185 | 195 | 191 | 208 |
| Fuel / fuel reserve, l | A95/55 | A95/55 | A95/55 | A95/55 |
| Fuel consumption: urban/suburban/combined cycle, l/100 km | 7,8 / 4,6 / 5,8 | 7,9 / 4,7 / 5,9 | 8,2 / 4,9 / 6,1 | 7,0 / 4,3 / 5,3 |
| CO2 emissions, g/km | 135 | 136 | 142 | 122 |
| ENGINE | ||||
| Location | Front transverse | Front transverse | Front transverse | Front transverse |
| Configuration / number of valves | P4/16 | P4/16 | P4/16 | P4/16 |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 1598 | 1598 | 1598 | 1395 |
| Power, kW/hp | 66 / 90 at 4250 rpm. | 81 / 110 at 5800 rpm. | 81 / 110 at 5800 rpm. | 92 / 125 at 5000 rpm. |
| Torque, Nm | 155 at 3800 rpm. | 155 at 3800 rpm. | 155 at 3800 rpm. | 200 at 1400 - 4000 rpm. |
| TRANSMISSION | ||||
| Type | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | M5 | M5 | A6 | P7 |
| CHASSIS | ||||
| Suspension: front/rear | McPherson / elastic beam | McPherson / elastic beam | McPherson / elastic beam | McPherson / elastic beam |
| Steering | rack and pinion with electric booster | rack and pinion with electric booster | rack and pinion with electric booster | rack and pinion with electric booster |
| Brakes: front / rear | ventilated disc / drum | ventilated disc / disc | ventilated disc / disc | |
| Tire size | 185/60R15 | 185/60R15 | 185/60R15 | 185/60R15 |
After selling Renault Logan, which served for 5.5 years and was sold with a mileage of 83 thousand km, it was decided to choose a car costing up to 600 thousand rubles. I started looking at Rio/Solaris as expected, Kalina 2 with automatic transmission with climate control, and again Renault Logan. The requirements were a better 16 valve engine (the Logan had a 1.6 8 valve 82 hp - rather weak) and AIR CONDITIONING (without it, cars should be prohibited from being produced, I was tormented in the summer of 2010 after it and really regretted that I didn’t buy it with it).
Rio/Solaris. After Logan, the interior is cramped, the design of the Solaris has a poor smoothed-out panel (for me, the panel of the Lancer 9 is the “top of design”), the feeling of a Chinese car is a disposable rattle, while driving the suspension seemed to break through easily, reacts harshly to potholes, in general, the Koreans never learned how to do pendants, far from the French. The only thing I liked was the 1.6 123hp engine. running well. Price 610 tr. 1.6 and the air conditioner shocked (it was June 2015). Let's choose further.
Renault Logan. After the update, the car was transformed, the engine is 16 valves. And the air conditioner cost 560 thousand rubles (in addition to the price of the site in my region + 35 thousand rubles for “delivery” and this is an official dealer!, such is Renault’s policy, it seems to have been canceled now). I didn’t try it on the go, they say I started to behave more collected and tougher. Yes, and I wanted something different.
Kalina 2. I liked the new interior, suspension (no worse than Logan), but the stereotype about the VAZ, and the price is under 500 tr. for the Lada too much. It was decided not to sell the car at all, but to drive on.
Then I began to remember about other brands. I remembered the Skoda Fabia, it seems there is a combo. Call to the office The dealer is told there is a Skoda Rapid for 499t.r. and above, not believing my ears, I say, well, it’s from 600 thousand rubles. and then with a 1.2 75hp engine. 3 cylinders. As a result, I came to the dealer, it turns out that a new 90 hp engine came out. and a new 110 hp, both with a timing belt, supposedly for the entire service life. Engine with cast iron liners, 16 valves, the torque is the same for both (the difference in weight is 15 kg, I don’t know what exactly it is). And the price is now not as before 559t.r., but has become 499t.r. and engine 1.2 3 cylinders, changed to 1.6 90 hp. Having sat in the cabin, and experiencing the joy, like from a toy in childhood, after which I opened the trunk (the liftback is a theme!), It was decided - TAKE IT! I find out the prices, they say there are 3 rapids, 2 are already occupied, and 1 is free. Price 544 RUB, 499+ metallic color and air conditioning. I booked it. With the new model range, ESP and ASR (anti-slip) were added to the base. I wanted to order for 572t.r. a complete set that would include electric mirrors, heated seats, a seat back divisible into 2 parts and a folding key, but I was afraid of price increases (the car would have arrived in September, I think I was lucky, because prices have gone up the other day).
Now about the car itself:
Engine: Looks like new 90hp. 16 valves, runs quietly, pulls great from idle to 90 hp. works completely. The dynamics are like the VAZ 2114, maybe a little worse than the Priora. While the mileage is 2800 km, there is nothing special to say. I drove 600 km on 40 liters, 300 on the highway and 300 in the city (there were also traffic jams), the average was 6.7 liters, I don’t know if that’s a lot or a little. The declared highway is 4.8, in the city it seems to be 7.6.
Gearbox: Manual 5 mortar, smooth as an AK 47 bolt, no vibrations, reverse gear is always engaged without a crunch (on Logan and VAZ it almost always crunches). The clutch engages very smoothly, not like on other cars sharply at one point, but throughout the entire pedal stroke, you can simply release and give the gas, without jerking, it will just go smoothly. The gears are optimal in length, at a speed of 100 km per hour the revolutions are 2400, at 120 km per hour - 2900 revs.
Body: The metal is not exactly foil, it is processed well from the factory, the hood seems heavy and the metal is thicker than on Logan (it cannot be compared with Rio and Solaris). I think the liftback body is ideal, it looks like a sedan, but more than a hatchback. The trunk is 550 liters, with the seats folded down 1480 liters! The back, unlike the Logan, folds (in my configuration it is completely folded, not 60/40).
Suspension: There were tires for 14 Kama euros, I immediately replaced them with 15, I bought Dunlop SP Touring T1 tires, on bad asphalt there is a hum from the noise, it even resonates in the cabin. Handles perfectly, rolls are minimal. In general, the suspension is a bit harsh, but at a speed of 130 km per hour with small waves, it allows for swinging. Logan allowed even more, in this regard, the VAZ 2110 goes like glue! When you press on the body, it sag very easily, and with a full trunk and 3 people in the back, you can’t even sit down. It is much more difficult to push through the VAZ 2110 from the rear, and also from the front. You can rock the Skoda, it feels like the shock absorbers don’t hold up at all. Apparently, when triggered more sharply, they still hold, because There is no buildup at the back, apparently these are the settings. The EUR at speeds up to 30-40 km per hour is very light, at 100-120 km per hour the steering wheel becomes heavy, I really like it.
Salon: The design is strict, somewhat similar to the Lancer 9 (ideal for me). It’s spacious everywhere, there’s plenty of legroom in the back, but the width at the back lets us down, even the shape of the seat seems to hint at a third wheel. No creaks yet. I have the base, the door handles in the cabin are just black, not chrome. At the same time, there is no feeling that they saved money on you (like in the old Logan, not to mention the first body).
ABS, ESP, ASR have not worked yet, only when I was slipping once the ASR came on, but I was already slipping a lot. I thought it would fire and choke the engine even at the slightest slip.
Conclusion: An ordinary budget car, in some ways worse or better than Logan and Rio/Solaris. The main thing that stands out is good handling, an advantageous liftback body, and a spacious interior.
The crisis is coming. The American dollar in exchange offices is timidly approaching the mark of 20 thousand Belarusian rubles, oil prices are rapidly falling against the backdrop of the collapse of the Chinese stock exchange and dragging analysts, bankers and journalists into the abyss of uncertainty. But not ordinary citizens. Belarusians, with the calmness that is characteristic of us, go to work and manage to save a month from their ruble salary, without losing interest in new budget cars.
It would seem that all savings were taken to Russia during last year's auto boom. But no! Generous New Year's promotions from car dealers, favorable purchasing conditions and truly affordable new foreign cars forced our compatriots to forget about tomorrow and live for today. Thus, at the end of December, there were no popular budget models left in the warehouses of Volkswagen, Nissan and Skoda dealers. The people took it all apart.
Today we will look at several popular "state employees" as part of a test drive of an unusual car among its classmates - the Skoda Rapid liftback. The test car was taken for a reason: at the end of this year, Rapid received at its disposal a new 1.6-liter MPI gasoline engine (110 hp) from the new EA211 series. And purely from subjective impressions, Rapid, out of the three or four most popular budget cars, looks like the most attractive model.
Simply put, the exterior of the Skoda Rapid looks fashionable. It is made not in an ostentatious and glamorous style, but in a modern urban look. Simple and bold. That's what I would call him. The neat, light silhouette of the “Rapid” is not burdened with unnecessary stampings and does not boast of fashionable LEDs in the optics. But at the same time, the car does not seem faceless. On the contrary, his appearance is characterized by the elegant severity of a fitted suit from a famous couturier.
Recognizable Skoda touches, such as two dynamic lines stretched from the logo across the entire hood, accurately indicate the time of creation of this car.
And even after a few years, “Rapid” will not lose its natural charm bestowed by the designer. I am sure that even without unnecessary cosmetics (a la fashionable LEDs in optics) it will already give odds to the familiar VW Polo, having once become a real classic.
As for the interior, there is nothing particularly surprising here. If you have already had more than one date with Czech models before meeting the Skoda Rapid, you will feel right at home.
The front panel is strict and laconic. Nothing superfluous, nothing to catch your eyes on! But at the same time, you can find all the necessary buttons and switches easily and intuitively. Five points for the ergonomics of the devices! Indeed, the Skoda Rapid is exactly the kind of car that you don’t need to get used to at all: once you look at it, you can easily customize everything for yourself.
There are also no complaints about the information content of the instrument panel. The large MFA display shows the on-board computer readings in white on black. The radial markings are slightly unfamiliar at first, but you quickly adapt to them, and your eyes easily capture the smooth movements of the arrows on the digital values of the speedometer and tachometer.
After the used premium, beloved by many Belarusians, the finishing materials in Rapid will seem very mediocre to some. Yes, the plastic is “oak”, noble varieties of wood are not visible in the decoration... But, wait! We are driving a budget liftback, not a luxury sedan.
In general, I don’t want to criticize the interior of the Skoda Rapid for its spartan decoration - the model plays in the budget B+ class. In addition, I personally cannot say that the plastic on the front panel is completely “wooden” - the tactile sensation under your fingers cannot be called unpleasant: press harder and it gives in. Therefore, I can say that the interior finishing materials in the Rapid are not frankly cheap, but just inexpensive.
But all this fades into the background when you start trying on the Skoda Rapid for yourself. We open the door, sit down and are surprised! The driver's seat pleases with good lateral support, convenient settings, and the steering column is adjustable both in reach and height. And now you are holding on to the comfortable three-spoke steering wheel with undisguised pleasure. It's time to hit the road!
With my height of 180 cm, I sat in the front seat without any problems, and then without any problems, with about a hand's space around my knees, I sat behind myself in the back seat. Beauty!
There will be plenty of space for rear passengers on a long journey. And in practice it was tested: two adults and a child in a child seat do not push each other.
And a three-year-old child won’t be able to reach the back of the chair with his legs. Another problem that arises when traveling with small children is the bright sun, which irritates children's eyes. The creators of "Rapid", apparently, are family people and know about this, because the rear hemisphere of the liftback is tinted.
A special pride of the car is the huge trunk with a volume of 530 liters up to the top shelf. And if you consider that the “fifth door” rises high up, then you can load assorted luggage directly from your shoulder. A bag of potatoes? Please! It will go in without difficulty.
On the sides there are niches, nets, and hooks for bags that are traditional for many new Skodas. At the same time, the full-size spare tire is hidden underground and does not “eat up” useful space.
By the way, the volume of the luggage compartment can easily be increased up to 1500 cubic meters! To do this, you simply need to fold down the back of the rear sofa. But, alas, you won’t get a smooth floor.
And now about the new “Rapid” heart - a 1.6 liter MPI with a power of 110 hp. from the new EA211 family. Actually, this is one of several engines that were specially developed for the modular MQB platform (approx. SKODA Octavia, VW Passat B8).
According to the manufacturer, the naturally-aspirated units of the EA211 family are maximally unified in design with their turbocharged counterparts, which makes it possible to minimize the cost of their production. Also, the new family of engines allows you to reduce fuel consumption: during a test drive, the ŠKODA Rapid had a 1.6 liter. MPI (110 hp) mixed fuel consumption was 7.2 liters, at a speed of 100 km/h - 5.4 liters, 120 - 6.8 liters. AI-95.
The cylinder block of the new engines is made of die-cast aluminum and has an open cooling jacket, “Open Deck” technology. The cylinder block is cast with pre-installed individual gray cast iron cylinder liners. Their outer surface is roughened, which increases the surface area and improves heat transfer to the cylinder block. In addition, this ensures a high-quality connection with a positive connection between the cylinder block and the cylinder liner.
An exhaust manifold built into the cylinder head causes hot gases to heat the engine, bringing it to operating temperature faster, so the cabin should now be warmed up much faster than with previous engines.
Instead of a timing chain drive, an exclusively toothed belt is used. The manufacturer recommends using AI-95 gasoline as fuel. However, it is still allowed to use gasoline with an octane rating of at least 91.
The technical characteristics of the engine that was on the test car are as follows: power 110 hp. and 155 Nm, displacement - 1598 cc. cm, compression ratio - 10.5:1, piston stroke - 86.9 mm. Complies with Euro-5 toxicity standards. It is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission.
According to subjective impressions, the 1.6-liter 110-horsepower engine is an excellent choice for those who like leisurely movement around the city and on country roads. First and most importantly - it is economical! When driving dynamically in the city, there is a slight loss of traction when accelerating sharply from a standstill ( approx. only 155 Nm), so you have to play more actively with the 2nd and 3rd gears of the manual transmission and not be afraid to apply the gas at the start from an intersection. But if you don’t pretend to be a racer, the car behaves very predictably and obediently.
The gears are short and shift clearly. Just know, go with the speed of the flow. Moreover, even in third, the engine pulls out confidently after a leisurely drive over a sleeping policeman. And to be honest, with such a “mechanics”, an automatic transmission seems overkill. Especially for older people, to whom this tandem of manual transmission and 1.6 MPi is, in fact, addressed. Moderately dynamic, but simple and familiar “aspirated” with familiar “mechanics” is no match for the complex and not resource-intensive TSI with robotic DSG. This means that people have more trust in him.
Noticeable acceleration is felt from 2500 rpm, and for a more dynamic jerk you need to turn the engine up to 4000 rpm. This way, of course, you can’t save gasoline - the BC in city traffic with rough driving showed 9-10 liters per hundred. But if you go out of town, accelerate to 100 km/h and turn on cruise control, the numbers before your eyes will delight you!
At 100 km/h in fifth gear it turns out to be just under 2500 rpm. At 120 km/h the speed jumps to 3000 rpm and consumption increases by about a liter.
I really liked the clutch - it “grabs” almost immediately. As soon as I released the pedal, the car moved smoothly forward. Beginners behind the wheel will appreciate it. Especially when parking near the house in the evening. When maneuvering between cars, you don’t have to touch the gas pedal at all. Just know this: just turn the wheel and look in the mirrors.
Unfortunately, everything good and for relatively little money only happens in a fairy tale. Alas, reality quickly puts everything in its place. This good, well-tailored car shows its obvious budget class, as soon as you drive off the smooth asphalt.
And if minor road defects in the form of a small hole, a joint or a hatch sagging into the asphalt are eaten up by the Rapid suspension more or less tolerably, then on a country road any unevenness as the speed increases is clearly felt by the passengers of the Czech liftback. For the sake of experiment, I drove a couple of kilometers on an ordinary Belarusian gravel road and noted to myself that it is not recommended to drive the Rapid on a country road above 40 km/h.
Not the smallest ground clearance - 170 mm for the Russian (140 mm for the European) version - but the short-travel suspension is forgiving only on relatively flat sections of gravel roads. A small hole or unevenness - immediately reduce the speed, otherwise the risk of scratching the lip of the front bumper on the gravel increases many times over. But, interestingly, even when in contact with the ground, no extraneous sounds are felt in the Rapida’s cabin. The naturally aspirated engine does not roar, but purrs quietly under the hood, the wind does not whistle in the mirrors, and stones do not scrape along the bottom. In general, as for a budget class, the sound insulation of the Skoda Rapid is at a decent level.
After 2 days of close acquaintance, I came to the following conclusion: Skoda Rapid today is the most balanced offer among new budget cars, based on two main criteria - price and quality.
She will hook young people with her stylish appearance ( approx. Bright body paint colors and more than 70 options are available) and exciting handling. Married couples will definitely like the spacious interior (approx. Three(!) child seats can be installed without any problems) and the overall practicality of the liftback. And the older generation will definitely pay attention to the spacious, comfortable trunk (approx. the largest in the class) and a simple, economical engine. In general, today “Rapid” is what the crisis prescribed!
On the Belarusian market, the Skoda Rapid is available with two new naturally aspirated petrol engines (1.6 MPI with 90 and 110 hp) and three turbocharged 1.2 TSI (90 and 105 hp) and 1.4 TSI (122 hp). which by default is equipped with a 7-speed DSG robot. For other engines, either a 5- or 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-automatic transmission is available.
*Prices are current at the time of publication. All payments are made in Belarusian rubles.
The engines installed on the Skoda Rapid in Russia are divided into three types by volume: 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6.
All presented engines are gasoline and are already familiar from other VAG models.
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When it entered the Russian market in 2012, the basic versions of the Rapids were equipped with 1.2-liter naturally aspirated engines with a maximum power of 75 horses. Previously, these three-cylinder power plants were found on Fabias.
The engine is clearly not strong enough for a car weighing 1.2 tons, especially when there are several passengers or a heavy load in the cabin. The range in which engine operation is most efficient is in the range of 3.5-5.5 thousand revolutions. This means that when accelerating, the motor has to be turned high to keep up with the flow.
The dynamics, by the way, are not impressive: the nameplate acceleration to 100 km/h takes a monstrously long 13.9 seconds. It’s especially bad at speeds over 80. Overtaking on the highway costs nerve cells that are irretrievably lost.
The 1.2 CGPC doesn’t like going uphill at all, and “shuttle running” in the city makes the car behave jerkily. Relatively tolerable use of the Rapid with the smallest engine is possible only with a leisurely and measured drive.
With fuel consumption, everything is not so clear. The small volume is misleading, enticing you with a modest appetite. In fact, due to the fact that the engine is constantly working under heavy load, gasoline consumption increases. Therefore, you won’t be able to save money; in urban mode, the same 8-9 liters per hundred will be burned.
The 1.2 MPI has no operational advantages over the 1.6 and 1.4 turbo engines. The only thing that attracts subcompact Rapids is their lower price.
In addition to the disgusting dynamic characteristics, the disadvantages include the peculiar “three-cylinder” sound of operation, a maintenance-free timing chain drive, which can indicate itself with a knock already at 80 thousand mileage. The engine life is a level lower than that of the tested 1.6.
As a result, the 1.2 liter engine for the Skoda Rapid turned out to be unsuccessful. It is not surprising that they quickly stopped installing it under the hood of the liftback. It’s better not to even consider buying such a Rapid on the secondary market, and don’t skimp on the much more balanced 1.6.
The 1.6-liter engine installed on the Rapid had three varieties: CFNA, CWVA and CWVB. The first unit with a capacity of 105 horsepower began to be used on the Polo Sedan in 2010. This is a familiar four-cylinder engine with a sixteen-valve head.
The engine block is made of aluminum, but the cylinder liners are cast iron. The gas distribution mechanism is driven by a chain and is not serviceable. This means that over time the engine will start to knock due to the chain stretching. It will still have to be changed, like the belt, but this repair is more labor-intensive.
The 1.6 engine is the required minimum for comfortable movement both around the city and on the highway. Of course, with it the car does not become a sports car, but in the city it is not as jerky as the 1.2, and overtaking is much easier for it. This engine is more resourceful than the three-cylinder 1.2. It is not uncommon for him to cover 300 thousand km. 1.6 is ideal for everyday use.
Since 2015, the Rapid has been equipped with new 1.6 liter engines. These are 110 hp CWVA and 90 hp CWVB. They differ from each other only in firmware. The difference with its predecessor in design is quite noticeable. The block head is rotated, the inlet and outlet are swapped.
Phase shifters appeared on the intake valves. Instead of a chain, there is now a timing belt drive. Improved cooling system.
Typical 1.6 malfunctions include engine knocking when cold. This occurs due to the design features of the exhaust manifold and piston group. To solve the problem, modified pistons are installed.
It would be more correct to replace the exhaust, but this can only be done on cars whose warranty has already expired. If knocking occurs when driving over uneven surfaces, the engine mount is not working properly.
It is being replaced by an improved version. According to reviews from owners, with proper maintenance, 1.6 engines can run more than 200 thousand km without major repairs.
1.4 TSI
The top engine for Rapid is the turbocharged 1.4. This is a four-cylinder, sixteen-valve unit with a timing chain. Motors of this EA111 series have been installed on VAG cars since 2005. 
The unit is equipped with a direct injection system and hydraulic compensators. Intake valves with variable valve timing for optimal cylinder filling at low and high speeds. The supercharging system uses a small TD02 turbine.
On the Rapid, this engine is only available in tandem with a DSG gearbox. Partly thanks to her, the liftback turned out to be so dynamic. The Rapid consistently shows the rated acceleration to hundreds, which is 9.5 seconds. In some independent tests, the compact Skoda even managed to surpass this result.
In 2015, a new series of 1.4 TSI engine – EA211 – settled under the hood of Rapid. In fact, this is a completely new unit: the block, diameter and stroke of the pistons have changed.
Just like on the new generation 1.6, the cylinder head was rotated and the timing mechanism received a belt drive. A new dual-circuit cooling system has been used.
The most common problems with early versions of 1.4 include chain stretching, which can creep up after 50 thousand km. 1.4 engines take a long time to warm up to operating temperature.
When starting from a cold state, vibration and adjustment sometimes occur. After warming up, all symptoms of malfunctions disappear. Despite this, the engines cannot be called outright bad. With careful operation, they run more than 200 thousand km.
The main advantage of a turbo engine is excellent dynamics and the possibility of tuning. A regular flashing of the control unit to Stage 1 will give 140-150 horsepower.
At the same time, such an increase will have almost no effect on the engine life. However, in general, the reliability of 1.4 is lower than that of 1.6. Therefore, leaning towards buying a Rapid with TSI only makes sense if for you the car is more than just a means of transportation.