Fleet and frugal

The Škoda Rapid offers large space for modest money and the tax‑free GreenLine version appears to offer better value still. But, it pays to do the sums first as Richard Gooding finds out

The first Škoda to bear the Rapid name was launched in 1935. A mid-range car between the Popular and Superb, the four-door saloon, two-door coupé and cabriolet models helped Škoda achieve its aim of becoming the biggest car maker in the then Czechoslovakia. A motorsport career soon beckoned and further development of the car followed during the 1930s before the start of the Second World War put an end to the Rapid’s short but successful life. The early 1980s saw the Rapid name dusted off again, this time on a rear‑engined, rear-wheel drive coupé version of the 130 model. The latest car to wear Škoda’s famous name arrived in 2012.

Liftback styling
A sister car to the SEAT Toledo (GreenFleet issue 66), the five-door only Škoda Rapid slots in between the B-segment Fabia supermini and the C-segment Octavia mid-size hatchback. Adopting the latter car’s ‘liftback’ styling (saloon car-like appearance which conceals a hatchback), its lines are the work of Škoda chief designer Josef Kaba, and were first previewed on the ‘MissionL’ design study of 2011. Since its introduction, a more conventionally-styled hatchback version, the Spaceback, has also been available. The Rapid liftback shares styling, interior and engine technology with its Spanish sister, but the SEAT is more keenly priced. At £17,975, the Rapid GreenLine sits on the second rung of the Rapid ladder, based on the entry-level S.

Like the Golf BlueMotion, being based on the most basic model in the range, the Rapid GreenLine is as eco-optimised as it can be. But, there are some strange omissions. While the GreenLine shares the ‘Swing’ radio with the entry‑level S, it loses that car’s rear wash-wipe system. An multifunction device interface is also absent from both the standard spec and option lists, even though it is an option on the S. However, as befits its more upmarket status, it gains front fog lights, darkened glass from the B-pillars back, 15-inch ‘Carme’ alloy wheels with low rolling resistance tyres, a trip computer and manual air‑conditioniong, all of which the S model lacks. The interior, as with the Toledo and other Škodas, is sensibly-styled. Build is good, and Škoda has been particularly skillful in choosing the materials – they look as plush as a Volkswagen’s but are harder to the touch. It’s not a big issue, though, as the cabin is a comfortable and pleasant place to spend time in. A gloss white plastic strip dissects the dashboard and adds a welcome dash of colour to brighten up proceedings. Like the Toledo, room is plentiful and rear legroom shames some cars from the class above. Open the boot and there is 550 litres of space, while Škoda states that the seat-folded down capacity of 1,490 litres beats that of some C-segment estate cars.

Common-rail technology
Being the most environmentally-friendly car in the Rapid range, the GreenLine emits only 99g/km of CO2. Powered by the same 1,598cc four‑cylinder diesel engine as the Toledo Ecomotive, the unit uses common‑rail technology to give an official combined cycle fuel return of 74.3mpg. We ran the car for 530 miles and found our ‘real-world’ average of 65.5mpg to be 88 per cent of its claimed value. Low rolling resistance tyres, stop-start and brake energy recuperation systems, and aerodynamic tweaks all play their parsimonious part.

Noisy and gruff when idling, the engine quietens when on the move. At 1,188kg, the GreenLine is the lightest of all the Rapid diesel models, the 89bhp power output making for a 0-62mph time of 12 seconds. Torque of 169b ft (230Nm) is available between 1,500-2,500rpm. The Rapid GreenLine errs on the mostly comfortable side of things when it comes to the driving experience. Handling is solid and surefooted, while the relatively soft suspension absorbs almost all road imperfections well. The steering is well-weighted though, and gives enough accuracy to enable the car to be placed accurately.

Tax-free variant
The Škoda Rapid GreenLine, like the Nissan Pulsar, certainly takes the fleet market into account with its on-paper figures. In terms of size, it appears to offer a lot of car for a modest asking price. A no-nonsense, likeable car, and more handsome than its Toledo cousin, the Rapid GreenLine should appeal to those drivers who can’t quite stretch to the larger Octavia but find the smaller Fabia just that little bit lacking in room. It’s a more appealing, tax‑free variant for fleet buyers, but it may pay to compare costs before signing on the dotted line.

A comparable-specification Rapid SE fitted with a slightly less-clean 104g/km version of the same 1.6 TDI engine costs £17,215 (a non-GreenTech version is £16,965), which offers more equipment than the GreenLine. The GreenLine still edges it on tax costs and mpg (74.3 against the GreenTech’s 74.2), but it’s a close-run thing. It’s a similar story when comparisons are made with the SEAT Toledo Ecomotive. Not as green as the eco-Škoda, the Toledo S Ecomotive is cheaper, but doesn’t offer the same kit as the Rapid, while the Toledo SE Ecomotive is £395 more expensive, will cost more to tax, but is better-equipped. If you are asking the environmentally-friendly compact hatchback question, only the minutiae of the specification and price lists may provide the true answer.

Further information
www.skoda.co.uk