Skoda India To Soon Cease Production Of Rapid Ahead Of Slavia Debut

Production of the Skoda Rapid will cease once the limited-run Matte Edition has been sold out, says Zac Hollis, Skoda India’s top boss. The compact sedan has been on sale for almost over a decade, racking up over 1 lakh units sales during its tenure. It will be replaced by the Slavia, which is slated for a global premiere on November 18. 

The Skoda Rapid has gracefully aged since the time it came into existence. The Czech carmaker constantly updated the sedan to keep it fresh, including cosmetic revisions, the switch from the 1.6-litre TDI to a smaller 1.5-litre TDI, introduction of the DSG with the diesel model, and recently, the switch to the petrol-only 110PS 1-litre TSI due to BS6 emission standards. 

The Rider and Rider Plus trims were also priced competitively, giving sub-4 metre sedans a run for their money. 

That said, it’s not all rosy for Skoda’s compact sedan as it has its own share of negatives. For instance, the back seat can accommodate only two people (in comfort) thanks to the large central tunnel. Then there’s the fact that Skoda’s maintenance wasn’t cheap before the India 2.0 strategy. But its fun-to-drive character and solid exterior build appealed to the enthusiasts.

The Rapid comes with a decent features list, which includes a touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, cruise control, auto up-down function for all four power windows, keyless entry, and a multi-info display. Passenger safety is taken care of by four airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and electronic stability control (AT only). 

Currently, the Rapid is priced between Rs 7.79 lakh and Rs 13.29 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India). The last few examples are sold with a good deal and we suggest you to be quick in your purchase if you’re considering one. 

As a Volkswagen Vento owner, which will be axed soon as well, this author would personally miss the Rapid. But this is a sign of better things to come as Skoda is gearing to unveil the Slavia very soon. Can it give a tough time to the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz? Only time will tell.