Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.4 TSI DSG (A) First Drive Review
18 Jun 2018|15,056 views
What We Like
Comfortable and reasonably spacious cabin
Perky 1.4-litre engine
Meaty steering
Fun car to chuck into corners
What We Dislike
This engine variant is not available in Singapore
In Singapore, the Skoda lineup consists of the best-selling Octavia sedan, the flagship Superb sedan, the Kodiaq sport utility vehicle, and this car - the Skoda Rapid Spaceback, a hatchback (equivalent) that rounds out the lineup.
Spaceback?
Yes, the nomenclature is unnecessarily complex-sounding, but it's basically a hatchback. At the very least, it fills that particular category for Skoda here in Singapore. Although, visually it looks slightly different from your traditional hatchback - its shorter, but longer at the back, so it falls somewhere between a hatchback and an estate. A flattened, elongated five-door hatch, if you will.
The rear is sightly more spacious than what's typical of the hatchback class
So it's just a hatchback?
Well, inside, there's actually more space than you'd expect from the hatchback class. It's more spacious at the back, too, closer to the Octavia sedan class than the hatchback class. Beyond that, the cabin is what you expect from a VW Group car - practical, comfortable, functional and easy to use.
The Rapid Spaceback offers a generous 415 litres of boot space
The Rapid Spaceback also offers 415 litres of boot space, which trumps most of the cars in the hatchback class that it competes against (at least price-wise).
How is it like to drive?
Well, the big caveat that we must include here is that this isn't the engine variant that's available in Singapore. In Singapore, the Rapid Spaceback comes powered by a 1.0-litre engine.
Spaceback?
Yes, the nomenclature is unnecessarily complex-sounding, but it's basically a hatchback. At the very least, it fills that particular category for Skoda here in Singapore. Although, visually it looks slightly different from your traditional hatchback - its shorter, but longer at the back, so it falls somewhere between a hatchback and an estate. A flattened, elongated five-door hatch, if you will.
So it's just a hatchback?
Well, inside, there's actually more space than you'd expect from the hatchback class. It's more spacious at the back, too, closer to the Octavia sedan class than the hatchback class. Beyond that, the cabin is what you expect from a VW Group car - practical, comfortable, functional and easy to use.
The Rapid Spaceback also offers 415 litres of boot space, which trumps most of the cars in the hatchback class that it competes against (at least price-wise).
How is it like to drive?
Well, the big caveat that we must include here is that this isn't the engine variant that's available in Singapore. In Singapore, the Rapid Spaceback comes powered by a 1.0-litre engine.
This car that you see here is motivated by a 1.4-litre engine, producing 123bhp and 200Nm of torque. It's a grunty engine that's willing to rev. Combined with the weighty and surprisingly meaty steering, the car feels peppy and eager. Turn into a few corners and there's good amounts of grip.
The 1.4-litre engine is a perky engine that's willing to rev
On highways, the ride is on the firmer side, but it's always forgiving and never uncomfortable.
Value for money, then?
The Rapid Spaceback combines affordable pricing with strong practicality, and for the most part offers good value for money. It offers a viable alternative to the glut of hatchback choices in Singapore, so that should in itself attract customers.
Perky yet grippy in corners, the Rapid Spaceback proves to be good fun to drive
This 1.4-litre variant was actually more fun to drive than we expected. It's too bad we aren't getting this variant in Singapore. We'll have to wait and see how the 1.0-litre variant shakes out.
On highways, the ride is on the firmer side, but it's always forgiving and never uncomfortable.
Value for money, then?
The Rapid Spaceback combines affordable pricing with strong practicality, and for the most part offers good value for money. It offers a viable alternative to the glut of hatchback choices in Singapore, so that should in itself attract customers.
This 1.4-litre variant was actually more fun to drive than we expected. It's too bad we aren't getting this variant in Singapore. We'll have to wait and see how the 1.0-litre variant shakes out.
What We Like
Comfortable and reasonably spacious cabin
Perky 1.4-litre engine
Meaty steering
Fun car to chuck into corners
What We Dislike
This engine variant is not available in Singapore
In Singapore, the Skoda lineup consists of the best-selling Octavia sedan, the flagship Superb sedan, the Kodiaq sport utility vehicle, and this car - the Skoda Rapid Spaceback, a hatchback (equivalent) that rounds out the lineup.
Spaceback?
Yes, the nomenclature is unnecessarily complex-sounding, but it's basically a hatchback. At the very least, it fills that particular category for Skoda here in Singapore. Although, visually it looks slightly different from your traditional hatchback - its shorter, but longer at the back, so it falls somewhere between a hatchback and an estate. A flattened, elongated five-door hatch, if you will.
The rear is sightly more spacious than what's typical of the hatchback class
So it's just a hatchback?
Well, inside, there's actually more space than you'd expect from the hatchback class. It's more spacious at the back, too, closer to the Octavia sedan class than the hatchback class. Beyond that, the cabin is what you expect from a VW Group car - practical, comfortable, functional and easy to use.
The Rapid Spaceback offers a generous 415 litres of boot spaceThe Rapid Spaceback also offers 415 litres of boot space, which trumps most of the cars in the hatchback class that it competes against (at least price-wise).
How is it like to drive?
Well, the big caveat that we must include here is that this isn't the engine variant that's available in Singapore. In Singapore, the Rapid Spaceback comes powered by a 1.0-litre engine.
Spaceback?
Yes, the nomenclature is unnecessarily complex-sounding, but it's basically a hatchback. At the very least, it fills that particular category for Skoda here in Singapore. Although, visually it looks slightly different from your traditional hatchback - its shorter, but longer at the back, so it falls somewhere between a hatchback and an estate. A flattened, elongated five-door hatch, if you will.
So it's just a hatchback?
Well, inside, there's actually more space than you'd expect from the hatchback class. It's more spacious at the back, too, closer to the Octavia sedan class than the hatchback class. Beyond that, the cabin is what you expect from a VW Group car - practical, comfortable, functional and easy to use.
How is it like to drive?
Well, the big caveat that we must include here is that this isn't the engine variant that's available in Singapore. In Singapore, the Rapid Spaceback comes powered by a 1.0-litre engine.
This car that you see here is motivated by a 1.4-litre engine, producing 123bhp and 200Nm of torque. It's a grunty engine that's willing to rev. Combined with the weighty and surprisingly meaty steering, the car feels peppy and eager. Turn into a few corners and there's good amounts of grip.
The 1.4-litre engine is a perky engine that's willing to revOn highways, the ride is on the firmer side, but it's always forgiving and never uncomfortable.
Value for money, then?
The Rapid Spaceback combines affordable pricing with strong practicality, and for the most part offers good value for money. It offers a viable alternative to the glut of hatchback choices in Singapore, so that should in itself attract customers.
Perky yet grippy in corners, the Rapid Spaceback proves to be good fun to driveThis 1.4-litre variant was actually more fun to drive than we expected. It's too bad we aren't getting this variant in Singapore. We'll have to wait and see how the 1.0-litre variant shakes out.
Value for money, then?
The Rapid Spaceback combines affordable pricing with strong practicality, and for the most part offers good value for money. It offers a viable alternative to the glut of hatchback choices in Singapore, so that should in itself attract customers.
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