Skoda Rapid Space is back to the future

JUST over a year ago Skoda introduced their new Rapid to the British and Irish motoring press at Cheltenham. This year the Czech manufacturer has expanded the Rapid range with the introduction of the Spaceback, which is really a station wagon version of the Rapid.

Last month I was one of a group of motor writers’ to compete in a charity event to show that petrol power is back. Skoda divided us into four teams of four and our task was to get the best possible fuel consumption from Skoda’s Citigo, Fabia, Octavia and Rapid Spaceback.

Skoda’s marketing manager Ray Leddy said:

‘

‘The modern petrol engine is more economical and more frugal than ever before and with prices for some of our petrol engine models costing in some cases, thousands less than their diesel equivalents, it is worth noting that it can take up to 10 years of ownership to claw back the difference in price. We wanted to show that petrol engine cars are now very economical.”

The results were amazing with some great mpg figures achieved. I was a member of the winning team which resulted in Skoda donating their first prize of

?¬1,000 to the Irish Cancer Society thanks to our frugal driving around the midlands. Of the four cars tested, the small Citigo was the winner with an average of 71 mpg, next was the Fabia with 65 mpg, then the new Octavia on 61 mpg and last, but still an excellent performance, was the Rapid Spaceback on 55 mpg. Who said journalists are reckless drivers?

Now if you are driving a Skoda I don’t expect you to achieve those figures in your daily driving, but it does show what can be achieved by careful driving.

When the Rapid was introduced last year some people, including yours truly, wondered aloud if it was really necessary. The general feeling was that if you wanted a mid range Skoda, surely the Octavia would fit your requirements. But it looks like Irish drivers have taken a liking to the no frills car and now Skoda are confident that the Spaceback will also prove popular.

Strange to learn that the Spaceback is 18 centimetres shorter than the Rapid saloon, but there is still plenty of leg room and of course the boot is huge. The car looks much the same, but in the Spaceback there are changes to the dashboard with better plastics, a revised rear suspension and a new electomechanical steering wheel system, all of which will feature across the Rapid range next year. And my test model also had DAB radio.

At first glance the Spaceback is not the most attractive car in the forecourt, but it grows on you and I really liked the sunroof which certainly brightened up the interior. The sunroof option comes as part of the Style Pack which also offers 17-inch sports alloys and a sporty steering wheel all for an extra

?¬780. Prices for the Spaceback start at

?¬17,495 for the 1.2 petrol and Skoda expect that to be the big seller.

So next time somebody says to you that diesel is cheaper, you should answer that initially diesels are more expensive to buy and while diesel is cheaper than petrol at the pumps, it may take you up to a decade to claw back the difference between diesel and petrol. If you didn’t know it already, petrol is back.