Skoda Rapid 1.2 tsi review

[Jake02]

The Melbourne Sun today claimed it would have the 103 TDI as an option in Australia. Considering that powers way heavier vehicles if true power will not be a problem.

I've read the rumours of the 103/118 too and I hope they turn out to be true as I agree, it would do very well in powering the Rapid. Driving a friend's MkV Golf 2.0TDI (same engine) was very memorable for me as to how well it went.

[Lucas_R]

Not a bad looking car - although im not sure the name "Rapid" is the best for something with 77kw. As mentioned above, i think this would be more likely aimed at the Honda City / Mazda 2 sedan / Hyundai i20 type sized car.

Don't forget that the Mazda3 (i own a 2011 model), the Toyota Corolla etc sized car are all making 100-115kw these days, so i dont see how a car with only 77kw will fit into this range.

[Frufru]

Not a bad looking car - although im not sure the name "Rapid" is the best for something with 77kw. As mentioned above, i think this would be more likely aimed at the Honda City / Mazda 2 sedan / Hyundai i20 type sized car.

Don't forget that the Mazda3 (i own a 2011 model), the Toyota Corolla etc sized car are all making 100-115kw these days, so i dont see how a car with only 77kw will fit into this range.

I am just little bit puzzled why engine power is questioned for Australian roads and conditions. We all know what traffic is here like - generally pathologically slow with maximum speed of 110 km/h on a long straight stretches of highways. I suspect that 99% of drivers did not get even close to 60kW of power in their cars. 110kW at 6000rpm in those cars is giving you around 180-190km/h. Have you driven in that speed ever? Or longer than a minute? Or even close to that speed altogether? I was laughing the other day listening to radio about a police pursuit 'exceeding speeds of 120 km/h' !!

Coming back to Rapid, even that little 1.2TSI in Rapid has better acceleration than 2.0 DOHC in Neo. And thats what city driving is all about really. You will not notice much difference driving with 77kW engine or 100kW engine (given torque is comparable) until you hit about 140km/h. I am not saying that Rapid is as good as Mazda3, but that engine power in context of local conditions is unimportant and misleading indicator when comparing the cars.

[pologti18t]

I am just little bit puzzled why engine power is questioned for Australian roads and conditions. We all know what traffic is here like - generally pathologically slow with maximum speed of 110 km/h on a long straight stretches of highways.

So, you would find it quite ok trying overtake on a country road in a Corolla sized car with 60kW compared to one with 110kw?

Coming back to Rapid, even that little 1.2TSI in Rapid has better acceleration than 2.0 DOHC in Neo. And thats what city driving is all about really. You will not notice much difference driving with 77kW engine or 100kW engine (given torque is comparable) until you hit about 140km/h. I am not saying that Rapid is as good as Mazda3, but that engine power in context of local conditions is unimportant and misleading indicator when comparing the cars.

The fastest 0-100km/h performance figure for the Rapid is the 122hp 1.4TSI (turbo) at 9.5s. Therefore the 77kw 1.2TSI will be slower than this and therefore slower than a 2L Mazda NEO

[Frufru]

So, you would find it quite ok trying overtake on a country road in a Corolla sized car with 60kW compared to one with 110kw?

OK, lets take Mazda 3 example mentioned. If you sit on 110km/h on country road in Mazda 3 Neo, you sit at about 2500 rpm and engine outputs 40 kW. OK, of course everyone will suddenly claim how they go 120+ km/h on country road ... sorry, they dont. And dont get me started about clogging up overtaking lane. Therefore where is this need for 100kW? 1.2 TSI (or any 77 kW engine with comparable torque) will happily overtake unless pushed too much over 5000rpm.

You are trying to overtake that road train fast, right? OK, again in speeds around 110 km/h, you are trying to accelerate to about 130-140 as fast as possible without changing the gear. Your level acceleration depends primarily on torque of the engine between say 3000-4500 rpm (or whatever you get with your foot) and weight of your vehicle, not on maximum power output of the engine. Speeds encountered in Australia do not require engines above 100kW for normal sized cars (thats a sad reality). I prefer torque in most encountered driving condition and better fuel economy as more relevant indicators.

The fastest 0-100km/h performance figure for the Rapid is the 122hp 1.4TSI (turbo) at 9.5s. Therefore the 77kw 1.2TSI will be slower than this and therefore slower than a 2L Mazda NEO

I mentioned local conditions. I dont consider drag racing off lights and redlining the car something people really do with their car in the city. Also most of the time you get stuck behind someone who fell asleep at the lights anyhow. Another point, 0-100 numbers you mentioned are primarily due to the fact that torque on 1.2 TSi falls quickly after 4500rpm, while 2.0 old Neo engine maintains its torque better, until about 6000 rpms. Acceleration hasnt got that much to do with engine maximum power output.

[pologti18t]

Acceleration hasnt got that much to do with engine maximum power output.

How much does it have to do with it then?

kW and Nm are linked (go look up the formula).
The issue you miss is that you compared a turbocharged engine with a normally aspirated engine. The power delivery is different.

I am also unsure which Mazda 3 will cruise along at 110km/h at 2500 rpm. That's close to 45km/h per 1000rpm in top.

[DoggieHowser]

I used to have a 1.6 Focus and to be honest, the 1.2T Golf I have now is a lot more perky. It may not look impressive on paper but the torque arrives virtually instantaneously. On the highway I do find that I have to maintain a bit of gentle pressure on the gas pedal to maintain 100-110 km/h. It is really more comfortable cruising at about 80-90 though. When I do need to accelerate, the DSG downshifts are fast and it gets into a good rev range.

Will it be better with more power? Definitely. But it's ample for my wife's driving style to and from suburban Brisbane and the CBD and the odd trips down to the Golf Coast.

[PassatB6]

Looks like the engines will be 77 TSI manual only and 90TSI DSG and 66TDI manual and auto. Prices estimated to start around $20,990.

Skoda Rapid: Launch Review