Skoda Rapid Onyx Roadtest Review – Premium fun
Skoda launched the Rapid as their very 1st sub-compact sedan for the Indian market in 2011. The Rapid has sold in good numbers over the years and also has been highly acclaimed for its top class build quality and safety standards right since its introduction. The Rapid shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Vento. Skoda gave the Rapid a major facelift a few years back and now recently the car gets a Limited Edition as the Onyx. We drive the Skoda Rapid Onyx to get you this extensive road test review.
Exteriors
The Skoda Rapid Onyx looks exactly like the regular Rapid and also shares its dimensions. The Rapid Onyx stands at 4413mm in length, 1699mm wide and 1466mm tall. Ground clearance stands at 163mm. The car we tested was in nice bright blue shade, very much like the Octavia VRS blue and its called Lapiz Blue on the Rapid. The Rapid Onyx retains the body styling as on the Rapid, the family Skoda butterfly grille with chrome lines defining it and glossy black vertical slats looks classy. The projector headlights come with day time running lights neatly placed in them. The bumper comes with neat looking fog lamps and honeycomb grill as the air dam.
The bonnet still retains the classy Skoda character lines that run from the grill towards the windshield. We found the Skoda logo looking extra premium plonked on this sporty blue body color. The side styling retains the pronounced crease lines that run across the waistline. The wing mirrors come in glossy black housing and sport LED turn lights on them. The door frames come with blacked out masking on them and the door handles are in body color. The Rapid Onyx drives on Goodyear Assurance of 195/55 R16spec mounted on 5-star shaped R16 alloys in glossy black finish. The rear profile looks clean as ever with the sharp body lines besides the license plate and neat C style tail lamps. The roof comes with stick type radio antenna.
Interiors
Step inside and you are welcomed by the familiar Skoda styled cabin area, the build and feel is tough as ever. The dash comes in dual shade with the top in black and the bottom in beige. The updates on the dash include the latest generation 6.5 inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink connectivity along with the usual FM Radio, Bluetooth, USB and AUX etc. The Rapid Onyx gets the sporty flat bottom 3-spoke steering with neat leather wrapping and multifunction control buttons placed on it, you get manual adjust for height and reach. The instrument cluster remains the same with its clear readability and the MFD in the center reading out all the tell tales.
The Rapid Onyx comes with single zone climate control with AC vents also placed for the rear passengers between the front seats. The seats come with fabric upholstery in beige and black chequered lining on the corners. Seating is very comfortable in the front and at the rear too. Adjustable center armrest between the front seats with storage is in place and helps a lot in enhancing comfort levels for the driver. The rear seats come with adjustable headrests and center arm rest. You also get seat belt height adjust on the Rapid.
Engine – Transmission-Drive
The Skoda Rapid Onyx we drove came with the 1.5L TDi Diesel engine with 110PS of power and 250Nm of torque under its belt. The 7-speed DSG Automatic does the transmission duties. This is one of the best automatic transmissions out there, the dual clutch unit shifts between gears flawlessly and effortlessly. Power delivery is good and the cabin feel very well insulated from any engine noise.
You also have the option of using the Sport mode if needed or shifting via the tip-tronic mode if desired. Ride quality is excellent and the steering feels very lively at all speeds. Press down the throttle and the Rapid accelerates like an arrow, thanks to the super smart and quick DSG gearbox. The fun factor is enhanced if driven in the Sport mode. The car feels rock solid at high speeds and is a bliss to take around in traffic situations.
Safety
It’s a Skoda and comes loaded with safety features; here are a few features on the Rapid Onyx. You get front two airbags, ABS, ECS, Hill hold, one touch up/down on, fuel cutoff in crash, one touch all windows up/down, opening/closing windows via key remote, reverse parking sensors (camera is missed) to name a few.
Skoda Package
Skoda has introduced a special package for customers which include 4 year warranty, 4 year road side assistance, 4 year maintenance package at Rs. 30,000 only. This works out to around Rs. 7500 per year on the service of the car which itself is at 15,000kms interval. This includes all oil changes and consumables making it a sweeter deal.
Verdict
The Skoda Rapid Onyx is for those who find the regular Rapid dull and boring. We loved the build quality and excellent fit and finish. You get the tried and trusted TDi engine supported by the blissful DSG transmission and a long list of safety features in a car built like a tank making this a good choice in its segment if you know what you are buying.
