Skoda Rapid 2018 pricing and specs confirmed

Skoda Australia has introduced drive-away pricing for the Rapid small car, which is now priced at $24,990 drive-away, a change from the old recommended retail price of $23,990.

The Rapid is only offered as one variant in Australia, the 1.4 TSI hatchback paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Up until a few years ago it was offered in Ambition and Monte Carlo grades until it was shaved back to just one.

The Rapid is offered as standard with sports seats, bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, leather multi-function sports steering wheel, sports pedals, privacy glass, floor mats, ambient lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels.

It is also offered with a 6.5-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Bluetooth, voice control, USB, auxiliary and an SD card slot, as well as a six-speaker surround sound system, digital radio (DAB+) and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In terms of safety, it has 'Front Assist', 'City Emergency Brake', six airbags, a driver fatigue warning, tyre pressure monitor, rearview camera, rear parking sensors and cruise control.

Under the bonnet, the Rapid continues on with its 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 92kW/200Nm driving the front wheels via the seven-speed DSG.

The Rapid – which is also offered in lifback sedan guise in Europe – has never been a huge seller for Skoda since its launch in Australia in mid-2014.

It had its best sales year in 2015 when Skoda sold 448 examples, and so far this year 292 Rapids have found homes in Australia. It is at the lower end of the segment that is led by the Toyota Corolla (24,770 sales YTD) and Mazda3 (22,502), but it is ahead of another European small car – the Peugeot 308 (220).

However, Skoda Australia executives have previously said they are keen for a more competitive offering with the next-generation Rapid, in a bid to take a bite out of some of the sales of the bigger players in the small passenger car segment.

Late last month Skoda released sketches of its Vision RS Paris show car concept that is expected to preview a sporty RS version of the next-generation Rapid. However, it is unclear if Skoda will use the Rapid moniker again or move to a different nameplate.

Is the Skoda Rapid a worthy competitor to the Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot 308? Tell us what you think in the comments below.