The Skoda Rapid has just had a test run and the car clearly tells us that it a blood relative of the Volkswagen Vento. However, there are some differences which are very vital as well.

The pictures of the Skoda Rapid do not quite reveal the stuff of the Rapid. The car has some serious mettle to it and looks better in the real. The Skoda has a front that is large and pronounced and gives the car a staggering build and appearance. The car also looks more balanced with a better road stance compared to the Vento. The headlamps, the grille and the fog lights are ripped off from the Skoda Fabia.

Apart from the minute exterior rip offs the other changes to find themselves in the Rapid are the new bonnet design, new fenders and the mildly altered chin. The major differences are at the rear the tail lamps. There are also some minute differences that can be seen in the boot lid and the rear bumper.

The insides is also very similar to the Vento leaving out the drive wheel which has no in built controls, the instrument panel, gearlever and audio system. The model we tested had the climate control option as well. The car has a black finish to the central console. It seems there is some disharmony among the other parts and their design in the car except for the central console which offers some console in terms of the looks. The AC vents, buttons and climate control have no prizes for guessing their source of inspiration which again comes from the VW. The music system with its large buttons and fonts is clearly Skoda.

The car will come in both the fuel variants. Both fuel engines have the same 1.6 litre capacity lifted off from the Vento and deliver a Siamese 105 bhp and 25.5kgm of torque.

The engines seem more cultured with some good refinement compared to the Vento and even the power delivery is quite good. The engine easily roars up to 5000 rpm from the 1600 range making it a good diesel buy with some robust performance.

The gasoline engine is also good and is quite reciprocative and seems ready to rip in most conditions. The midrange is also quite good and similar to the Vento cousin and makes for a nice rev as well. The car might not be a Honda City but isn’t a country side bullock cart as well.

The ride and control is smooth as butter and knife. Even on wavy terrains the car is pretty stable and is not as irritable as the Vento. On the bumps you will get some hard results, especially on the large ones. The Rapid is a total rock even at high speeds and gives the driver a considerable amount of control and feedback.

The car will come in three variants based on the trim options. They are the Active, Ambition and Elegance. The last one gets a 5-inch alloy wheels and driver and passenger airbags. The Skoda Rapid truly seems to stands testimonial to the tagline ‘Simply Clever’. Only thing that will make the Rapid dumb is the wrong pricing.

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