Skoda Rapid Spaceback (2013 – 2019) Review
Skoda Rapid Spaceback (2013 – 2019) At A Glance
With a name like Spaceback you might think the newest variant of the Skoda Rapid is supposed to be an estate, but it’s actually just a fancy name for a for more conventional family hatchback model. However it still majors on practicality – there’s a spacious cabin and a well-proportioned boot, making the Rapid Spaceback a sensible family car.
Indeed rear leg and head room are particularly impressive and while the 415 litre boot capacity is slightly less on paper than the regular Rapid, in practice it’s a more usable shape and will be more practical. Couple the useful dimensions with a range of frugal engines, decent equipment levels and competitive prices and the Rapid Spaceback makes sense as an honest, if somewhat unexciting family workhorse.
Skoda offers a range of five engines – three petrol and two diesel. Power outputs range from 86PS to 122PS but the pick of the range is a versatile, sprightly 1.2 TSI 105PS petrol. For those who prefer an automatic gearbox Skoda offers a 1.4 TSI or the 1.6 TDI with a DSG double-clutch gearbox.
Low running costs are at the core of the Rapid Spaceback’s appeal – even the thirstiest engine has official economy of 48.7mpg and all of the manual models have emissions below 125g/km. A diesel engine shouldn’t necessarily be top of the shopping list if you’re looking for low fuel bills – the petrol engines are all frugal and can return very respectable fuel economy in real world conditions.
Practical and sensible though the Spaceback is, it isn’t without its flaws. The cabin, while neat, isn’t as plush or as polished as you might expect and the driving experience is a little dull. But as a family hatchback it’s pretty hard to fault – it’s reasonable value for money, economical and well screwed together.
Real MPG average for a Skoda Rapid Spaceback (2013 – 2019)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
85%
Real MPG
36–80 mpg
MPGs submitted
125
Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.
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