Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.6 TDI prototype first drive review

The car is identical to the regular Rapid as far back as the B-pillar, but its restyled rear end makes it 179mm shorter at 4304mm, and slightly shorter than the Kia Cee’d.

The truncated rear end means the boot volume is reduced from the Rapid’s 550 litres to 415 litres, expanding to 1380 litres when the rear bench is folded down (although it doesn’t go completely flat). Mind you, that ranks it at the head of the class when it comes to usable space for haulage, eclipsing the 380 litres offered by the Cee’d.

The boot also has a very low lip, at 677mm above the ground, to make loading bulky items easy, as well as a floor that can be positioned at two levels. This serves two purposes: it makes it possible to hide possessions out of sight of prying eyes, but also allows heavier items to be slid straight into the boot, rather than up and over the lip.

That big boot doesn’t come at the expense of passenger space. The Rapid Spaceback provides generous rear legroom that won’t have passengers pleading to stretch their legs at every service station, and headroom is good for all but the tallest of passengers.

Up front, there’s a refreshing lack of clutter about the layout of the major controls. Switches and controls don’t convey the sense of a car that’s been ruthlessly built down to a budget.

The Rapid Spaceback features a different steering system and revised suspension to that found on the existing Rapid. This is in response to feedback on the original car from customers, who highlighted the car’s unsettled ride over rippled road surfaces. Skoda has changed the set-up of the dampers to offer better cushioning right at the top of the damper travel, a tweak that will be transferred onto the standard Rapid too.

Our test drive occurred as part of a controlled convoy on predominantly smooth roads near Munich, which made it difficult to fully assess the impact of the new suspension, although there were hints of an unobtrusive and more settled ride that could prove welcome on the UK’s gnarly roads.

A new electric power steering replaces the outgoing electro-hydraulic system. The new kit, referred to by Skoda as ‘column-electric power steering’ or ‘C-EPS’, brings a 2-3kg weight saving, but also offers the driver a more stable straight-ahead feel. The car feels light and easy to position on the road, but isn’t remotely involving.

The lower-powered diesel churns out the same amount of CO2 as the more powerful variant, but accelerates more slowly. Mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission, the front-wheel-drive takes 12.1sec to hit 62mph from a standstill compared to the 10.3sec taken by the 104bhp car.

Press the throttle pedal and there’s a noticeable lull before the power arrives, but thereafter there’s smooth acceleration and the unit isn’t found lacking in everyday driving situations. 

The engine possesses a lively thrum that filters through to the cabin and leaves you in little doubt that there’s an oilburner in the bow. By modern standards, that feels just a touch unsophisticated.