Skoda Rapid Spaceback 2014 Review

It’s called the Rapid Spaceback, and in living up to the literal aspects of its nameplate, this compact newcomer does okay.

Ironically, however, for a car coloured with Cappuccino Beige metallic paint, it doesn’t have cupholders large enough to hold a cup of coffee. Though I guess calling it the ‘reasonably brisk somewhat-narrow-back-with-beverage-holders-made-for-a-thimble’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it...

The new Rapid Spaceback is a small segment car that fits between the Fabia (Light) and Octavia (Medium) models in Skoda’s local line-up. It’s priced from $18,990 in base ‘Ambition’ form – although that model arrives only with a six-speed manual transmission and 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine. You’ll have to cough-up more than $23K to get the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and a dual-clutch automatic transmission on the road, and that’s only if you can live without any option packs.

Step-up again to the Elegance model, tick the Sports Pack and Style Pack options (as Skoda did on our test car), and that price tag nears $27K. Which is uncomfortably close to the RRP of a roomier and better handling Volkswagen Golf 90TSI Comfortline with an identical driveline ($27,740 plus ORCs).

That’s not to say the Rapid Spaceback is without appeal, however. The two packages mentioned above add a very useful set of technologies to the standard recipe. The Sports Pack introduces rear parking sensors, xenon headlights (low-beam only), foglights with static cornering lamps, tinted windows, a double-sided cargo-area mat and sports seats (front only). The Style kit includes tinted tail-lights, front foglights, tinted windows, rear spoiler, glass roof (fixed), and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Standard are tyre pressure monitoring, a full-function trip computer, single-CD tuner with Bluetooth connectivity and USB input, cruise control, 12-volt power outlet, single-zone climate control and power mirrors, locks and windows. And the Spaceback offering also features a capped-price servicing schedule that sees tune-up time cost from $337 for up to six years or 90,000km (whichever comes first).

However, the Rapid Spaceback Elegance, even in this top-shelf guise, omits rain-sensing wipers, auto headlamps, electrically-adjustable seats, seat heaters, leather upholstery, autonomous braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, reversing camera, sat nav or a driver’s knee airbag. Oh, and for the life of us we couldn’t figure out how to adjust the panel illumination... Très annoying.

Equally annoying is the poor FM radio reception and creaking doors and hatch over lumpy roads, driveways and speedhumps.

Reduced rear headroom courtesy of the optional glass roof is not a plus either. It’s a shame, really, as the backseat it otherwise pretty spacious with good entry and exit through large-ish rectangular-shaped doors. There’s good toe, knee and legroom (and adequate sculpting of the rear ‘bench’) too, provided you’re not the one squeezed in the middle.

Most of the Rapid Spaceback’s guests will be able to bring their luggage with them, too. The boot holds up to 384 litres with the cargo cover and rear seats in place. Fold them down [perhaps after removing the backseat passengers], and the space is more than trebled, which speaks volumes for the model’s flexibility.

The Spaceback’s 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine is matched well to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The couple presents only a slight ‘snatch’ at step-off under hard throttle applications but is otherwise quite polished.

It’s also reasonably brisk and on test managed to hit 60km/h in 4.1sec and 100km/h in 9.1. Fuel economy ranked equally well at just 6.7L/100km of 95 RON PULP (figures as tested) – and this in spite the lack of idle start-stop or brake energy regeneration features a la the Mazda3 and Golf.

Sport mode livens things up a little around town. Overtaking at highway speeds is what you’d call reasonable, rather than exhilarating.

The strut-front/torsion beam-rear suspension tune is likewise more reasonable than exhilarating, and though it holds its own in day-to-day scenarios, can become challenged by corrugated surfaces and off-camber corners. Throw the two together and the Rapid Spaceback can feel a little flummoxed.

It feels more at home on well-made suburban roads and freeways than it is on poorly maintained Victorian backroads.

The driving position offers a good level of adjustment from the super-supportive (but optional) sport seat and tilt/reach adjustable steering column. The fitment of a footrest on each side of the pedal box is also welcomed, though it does see the pedal offset favour the inboard side just slightly.

The Rapid Spaceback’s electrically-assisted steering is one of the better examples of its kind with ripe feedback and decent assistance.

The little hatch is quite nimble in the supermarket carpark though reversing is a touch tricky thanks to the closed-in feel on the hatch and aforementioned lack of a reversing camera. We also noted some lateral visibility issues owing to the model’s thicker A and B pillars.

Continuing that ‘mixed-bag’ approach is a folding centre front armrest than hinders the operation of the park brake when in place and a 12-volt power outlet fitted too-near the park brake. With a phone charger (or similar) in place there’s mere millimetres between the two and, owing to its position, this means cable(s) invariably gets tangled up in the park brake and/or gearshift.

Competing in an increasingly crowded and highly competitive segment, the Rapid Spaceback blends in far too readily.

When viewed against the likes of similarly-priced versions of the Golf, Mazda3, Focus, i30 or Cerato it is a model that really needs more sparkle and promise.

2014 Skoda Rapid Spaceback Elegance 90TSI performance figures (as tested):
0-60km/h: 4.1 seconds
0-100km/h: 9.1 seconds
50-70km/h: 1.9 seconds
80-100km/h: 2.8 seconds
60-0km/h: