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Posted by Alex Bale
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Price as tested: €24,265+ Simplicity, quality, reliability, space, practicality, price, styling, comfort– A few rough edges showing through to go with that price tag, indifferent handling= As practical and sensible as they come but we'd save up the extra for the new OctaviaIf I were to say that the new Skoda Rapid is both and at once a return to classic form for Skoda and something of an unfortunate step backwards, would that be too confusing? Possibly, so let me explain.
Pre-1998, Skoda was to most people a joke and not an especially funny one. Decades of decrepitude under communist rule meant that Skoda had been starved of development funding and any reason to produce competitive, interesting cars. That changed, dramatically, with the launch of the original Octavia, funded and developed by Skoda's new owner, Volkswagen. At once, the yoke of communism was thrown off, and Skoda marched happily forwards into a new capitalist reality. Successive models, from the Fabia to the second generation Octavia to the Superb to the utterly brilliant Yeti underpinned that reality with success, both critical and financial. And with sophistication. In fact, sit into a Yeti or a Superb today and you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between affordable Skoda and aspirational Audi. They are that good.
But there is now an increasing trend in the motor industry towards making cheaper cars, something that the car buying public is lapping up, as the success of Dacia shows. Make something simple and affordable, and you will capture the wallets, if not the hearts, of many. So it is with the Rapid. Skoda has taken a step back from its shiny, sophisticated recent past and looked further back, to the eighties and beyond, when it made simple, affordable, useful cars. (Never mind the inept comedians of the eighties who castigated Skoda – its cars even then were better by far than their reputation would have you believe.)
The Rapid is a family-sized hatchback that occupies an unusual middle ground between the likes of the Polo and Fiesta on one side and the Golf and Focus on the other. It's narrower by far than a Focus, but also much longer, the upside of which is a cabin that, while not very broad, has lots of leg and head-room for tall passengers in both front and rear, and a massive 550-litre boot that makes the trunks of even cars like a Mondeo or Passat look underfed.
So, it pushes all the practical buttons and it's not short of sophistication either. The engine in our test car was the cutting-edge VW Group 1.6 TDI diesel, and with 105bhp and 250Nm of torque, it's both swift and economical. Skoda claims 4.4-litres per 100km fuel consumption (64mpg) and if we didn't quite manage that, we easily broke the 50mpg barrier. 114g/km Co2 emissions is a touch high though, especially when you consider that a VW Golf with essentially the same engine gets closer to 100g/km, and that means your annual tax bill will be €200. It's here that you'll find the first chink in the Rapid's armour though. The engine (or possibly its installation) is fine, but nothing more. Acceleration feels noticeably slow-witted unless you push the oddly-weighted throttle pedal all the way to its stop, and refinement isn't terrific until you settle down at a chosen cruising speed.
Inside, Skoda has made great efforts to make the cabin look and feel as sophisticated as its bigger brothers, while still costing less. It's a neat trick, and Skoda almost pulls it off. The dials are clear and look like expensive watch faces. The steering wheel feels pleasant to hold and the driving position is both comfortable and well sited. But you'll notice that there's no switches in the front to control the rear windows, the grab handles in the roof clang back into position without a nice, soft motion and the plastics on the doors and dash-top, while still of good quality, don't have that nice touchy-softy-squishy feeling.
Because of all that, the Rapid feels a distinct degree less sophisticated than its Skoda cousins. Now, that's fine in the sense that it's also much cheaper. Prices start at just €16,515 (for the 1.2 MPI petrol; an engine best avoided if you want to (a) accelerate or (b) save fuel) and the pick of the range, the 1.2 TSI turbo petrol in Ambition spec, is just €19,550, with almost identical Co2 emissions to the diesel. All well and good, and those prices include standard electronic stability control – a significant benefit.
But it just doesn't feel as good to drive as it either should or could have. The rear suspension has been done on the cheap, relatively speaking, and uses simple torsion bars instead of the more modern multi-link setup as found on most Octavias. That means the boot is massive, but the Rapid does tend to clatter over bumps, and it never feels very well sorted at the front, either. Cornering is a somewhat lazy, imprecise process with vague steering and a sense of detachment. It's a good motorway cruiser, mind, with well suppressed engine noise and only a small amount of road and tyre noise.
I guess it depends what you want from a car. The Rapid is keenly priced, practical, spacious, ruggedly built, should prove reliable and hits its marks in terms of economy and emissions. It even looks quite nice. But I reckon Skoda buyers, by and large, have moved on recently and are enjoying the sheen of quiet luxury on recent models. So, perhaps it would be best to hold off buying, save up a little more, and get your hands on the impressive new Octavia that arrives in March. The Rapid's backward glance to a simpler, more practical time is appealing in many ways, but we all want to feel a little more sophisticated these days, don't we?
Facts & Figures
Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI 105bhp Elegance
Price as tested: €24,265
Range price: €16,515 to €24,265
Capacity: 1,598cc
Power: 105bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Top speed: 190kmh
0-100kmh: 10.4sec
Economy: 4.4l-100km (64mpg)
CO2 emissions: 114g/km
VRT Band: A4. €200 road tax
Euro NCAP rating: 5-star; 94% adult, 80% child, 69% pedestrian, 71% safety assist
Posted by Alex Bale
It's not often that you hear a car company exhorting buyers not to go out and put their hands into their wallets, but that's exactly what Skoda is asking Irish car buyers to do. At least, for the moment...
You see, Skoda has this week announced specification and pricing details for their third new model in just six months with the imminent arrival of the new Octavia to Ireland. Unveiled internationally late last year the new Octavia will be available in Ireland from March with three different specification variants, both manual and automatic transmission options and five engine alternatives the new Octavia offers the Irish motorist considerable choice with prices starting from €18,995.
Originally launched in Ireland back in 1998, the Octavia has become a firm favourite with Irish motorists with more than 40,600 sold to the end of 2012. Now as Skoda enters its 20thAnniversary in Ireland, the third generation of the Octavia will see Skoda challenge not only direct competitors in the medium family segment but, thanks to its increase in size, challenge vehicles in the Mondeo-Passat-Avensis class.
The new Octavia has grown significantly in length and width, the new model is 90mm longer and 45mm wider than the outgoing Octavia. The wheelbase has grown by 108mm enabling the Octavia break the mould for spaciousness in its model segment with interior length (1,782mm), more knee room (73mm) and more headroom at the back (980mm) as well as best in class boot volume of 590 litres.
The new Octavia is powered by the latest low emission TSI petrol engines as well as common rail diesel engines with Stop Start technology for excellent fuel economy.
Speaking on the price reveal for the new Octavia in Ireland, Raymond Leddy Head of Marketing, Skoda Irelandsaid: “We have increased specification levels for all versions of the new Octavia. Additional airbags, Electronic Stability Control for increased safety and Stop Start Technology for reduced emissions and improved fuel economy are now standard features across the range. Stylish alloy wheels are now offered on all models with the exception of the entry Active model. In dimension terms the new Octavia is wider and has grown in length by 9cm allowing for increased cabin space and luggage capacity. Despite this growth the new Octavia has in fact shed up to 100kg in weight compared to its predecessor. Less weight equates to better fuel economy and the new Octavia in its 1.6 TDI version consumes only 3.8 litres for every 100km travelled.
Leddy continued, “The new Octavia will be offered with attractive finance terms from €239 per month inclusive of servicing form Skoda Finance. The new Octavia goes on sale at Skoda Authorised retailers from 16thMarch. We would encourage anyone thinking of purchasing a new car for 2013 to consider the next generation Octavia before making that all important purchase.”
Posted by Alex Bale
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monaghan & Sons, Galway’s Skoda dealership is undertaking an Eco-Drive from Wednesday, 31st January – Friday, 2nd February to assist in raising vital funds for The Sunni Mae Trust for the treatment of Lily-Mae Morrison. Monaghan & Sons are urging locals to guess how far a Skoda Fabia can travel on a tank of fuel.
Lily-Mae Morrison, a native of Claregalway, has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Neuroblastoma which affects 1 in 100,000 children in Ireland. Lily-Mae is the four year old daughter of Galway based dancers Judith Sibley and Leighton Morrison, who are best known in Galway for their work with Chrysalis Dance and Youth Ballet West.
In order to enter, competition forms will be available in local Centra stores where people can guess how far a Skoda Fabia will travel on a tank of fuel and in turn make a donation to the fund. There will be prizes for competition winners including fuel vouchers and a weekend away courtesy of Monaghan & Sons.
A member of staff from Monaghan & Sons will undertake the challenge to maximize the fuel endurance of a Skoda Fabia 1.2 diesel from a full tank while driving to Centra Stores within a 75km radius of Galway city over the course of three days. The drive will take place on Wednesday, 31st January, Thursday, 1st February and Friday, 2nd February travelling over 1500 kilometres.
To launch the Eco-Drive, Galway Bay FM will broadcast the Big Smoothie Breakfast show with Ollie Turner from Monaghan & Sons between 6.30-9am on Wednesday, 31st. During the event Galway Bay FM will link up live with the driver at different times during the day to get updates on the progress of the journey.
Commenting, Leo Monaghan, dealer principal, Monaghan & Sons, Galway said, “We are delighted to be able to help out with the fundraising appeal for Lily Mae. It is a fantastic cause and we would urge people to get their hands on a form and donate some much needed funds. Forms are available in local Centra stores and also from the Monaghan & Sons dealership.”
Posted by Alex Bale
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Crikey, we haven't even gotten in to 2013 proper yet and Skoda is already talking about launches in December...The Czech car maker, the apple of the VW Group's eye and well on its way to meeting its target of selling 1.5-million cars a year, has already launched the new Rapid hatchback in Ireland, and we've seen the first pics and details of the much-anticipated new Octavia saloon and estate which arrives in March. But what else have the Czechs got up their sleeves?Well, there's definitely an updated Superb on the way, which Skoda insiders tell us keeps the clever/useless (delete as applicable) TwinDoor boot system but which does away with the bulky, awkward styling of the current saloon model.Beyond that, there will probably be launches for the new vRS versions of the new Octavia and likely a facelift for the hugely popular Yeti.Or, are there bigger changes afoot? Has Skoda got an all-new Fabia ready to go? Or what about the replacement for the oddball Roomster? Any takers?
Posted by Alex Bale
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Škoda Auto, more commonly known as Škoda, is an
automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group. Its total global sales reached 875,000 cars in 2011.
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Skoda Logo
Skoda Logo
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Skoda Logo
Articles Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0koda_Auto
Posted by Alex Bale
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Price as tested: €36,645
+ Comfort, practicality, space, solidity, quality, refinement– A touch pricey for a Skoda?= Lovely car, but lesser Superbs are just as good
It’s doubtful that Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement established their eponymous motorcycle and bicycle company in 1895, that either of them ever imagined having their names on a car that competes with contemporary BMWs. Very doubtful in fact, because in 1895, BMW didn’t exist. Nor did The Czech Republic, modern federated Germany or much else that we today consider so familiar. What did exist was the Skoda Engineering Works, founded in 1859 by the aristocratic Count Wallenstein-Vartenberk. Skoda would buy out Laurin and Klement in 1925 and the two were joined at the hip until the creation in 1945 of Czechoslovakia and the nationalisation under Communism.
A little bit of history there, and apologies if it dragged, but it’s a necessary bit of background to understand why modern-day Skoda is launching a pricey limited edition (just 40 units coming to Ireland) of its Superb saloon, complete with calligraphic Laurin & Klement script on the wings.
€36k may seem a lot to be shelling out for a Skoda, any Skoda, but the fact is that these days, the brand seems able to bear such an expensive car with ease. We’ve all waffled on so much about how far Skoda has come since its eighties nadir, but the simple fact is that the cars now turned out by the Mladá Boleslav factory in what is now the Czech Republic are among the very best that you can buy, and stand easy comparison with rivals even from premium brands such as BMW and Mercedes.
Certainly when you crank open the Superb’s hefty door and lower yourself onto a buttery-soft dark brown leather seat, you’d be hard pressed to call the Superb L&K anything short of properly luxurious. The surfaces of the cabin are all finely graded, the seats terrifically comfortable and, as has been the Superb’s calling card since its introduction, the rear seat space practically presidential.
Out back, accessed by the oddball TwinDoor boot system that allows you to decide whether you want your Superb to act as a saloon or a hatchback, lies a massive 565-litre luggage area (which even with two demanding children aboard, we were unable to overwhelm with luggage). It’s these practicalities of space and comfort that give the Superb such an instant ‘want-one’ factor – the fact that there are few, if any, tasks you could give it which it would not be able to easily deal with.
Standard equipment includes bi-xenon headlights, 18” alloy wheels, Bluetooth phone and media player connection, full leather trim, climate control (for both front and rear passengers), heated seats (ditto), automatic wipers, cruise control, sat-nav. The list goes on and on, but it should be noted that apart from the deep brown colour of the leather seats, there is nothing here that you couldn’t already spec an existing Superb model up with.
As with all other Superbs, the L&K steers sweetly and faithfully. It never exhibits the handling alacrity that you’d get in a Ford Mondeo, but it’s never less than utterly competent in the corners and is a very relaxing, easy-going car to drive. Skoda has improved the Superb’s ride quality over the years, but it remains a touch too jiggly at times, which is a shame given the car’s overall levels of comfort and refinement.
The 170bhp 2.0 TDI diesel engine, familiar from many other Volkswagen Group applications, remains a paragon of its kind – quiet, efficient and with decently brisk performance. We averaged 6.5-litres per 100km, better than 40mpg, but bear in mind that your overall touring range will be limited by the Superb’s surprisingly small fuel tank. An on-paper 8.8secs 0-100kmh dash time makes the Superb sound quite quick, but the reality is that its performance feels more relaxed than that.
It’s a very satisfying car, the Superb L&K. One of those cars that feels instantly ‘right’ the moment you sit in, and that’s a feeling that doesn’t fade with familiarity. As a spacious, high-quality family car, it’s all but impossible to beat, and loaded up with the L&K’s extra equipment and luxury appointments, it really can take on the likes of the BWM 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It’s not as agile to drive as either, but destroys the Germans when it comes to interior space and practicality.
For all that, you could say the same of any Superb, and if you’re willing to forego the soft leather and sat-nav, there’s better value to be had further down the price list. Not that dear old Vaclav and Vaclav would have cared though; most of their original L&K cars were luxury models anyway...
Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 170 Laurin & KlementPrice as tested: €36,645Price range: €24,695 to €47,895Capacity: 1,968Power: 170bhpTorque: 350NmTop speed: 222kmh0-100kmh: 8.8secEconomy: 5.7l-100km (52.3mpg)CO2 emissions: 149g/kmRoad Tax Band: C. €330Euro NCAP rating: 5-star; 90% adult, 81% child, 50% pedestrian, 71% safety assist
Posted by Alex Bale
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Skoda has today launched its new compact saloon, the Skoda Rapid across showrooms nationwide. Available with three different specification variants, both manual and automatic transmission options and five engine alternatives the Rapid is competitively priced from €15,995 and will suit families looking for a roomy car at an affordable price, reckons Skoda.
You can see what we thought of the Rapid on our test drive HERE.
To mark the launch of the Rapid, Skoda Dealerships nationwide are holding an Open Week from Saturday 27th of October to Saturday 3rd of November where motorists can test drive the Rapid and avail of special introductory offers for new 2013 purchases.
Competing in the diesel dominated A-segment the new Skoda Rapid offers a broad range of petrol engines from the 1.2 MPI delivering 75bhp to the turbocharged units in 1.2 and 1.4 TSI ranging from 86bhp to 122bhp. A diesel unit is offered in the form of 1.6 TDI producing 105bhp.
In CO2 emission terms the 1.6 TDI, 105bhp and 1.2 TSI 86bhp both achieve Band-A status with the remaining engines falling into Band-B.
The 1.6 TDI Diesel will account for the volume of sales however Skoda recognises an opportunity by offering motorists an alternative to diesel with an aggressively priced range of petrol vehicles.
Explaining Raymond Leddy, Head of Marketing, Skoda Ireland said “The Skoda Rapid is fitted with low volume TSI Petrol engines that utilise the latest turbo charging and direct fuel injection technologies to produce surprising power with diesel rivalling fuel economy and CO2 Emissions.
Expanding, Leddy, said “The primary reason for purchasing a Diesel vehicle is to acquire annual taxation and fuel savings over a petrol vehicle. The basic premise is you pay a premium for the Diesel car but over time you will recoup the savings by reducing your operating costs. The question is how long will it take to achieve these savings? Take the Rapid 1.2 TSI, 86bhp like the Diesel it achieves Band-A emission status and consumes just 0.7l more per 100km driven. Using today’s fuel prices it would take 14-years for a Diesel version to justify and recoup the savings on fuel alone! This really brings petrol back into the equation.”
Designed as a roomy, elegant and affordable car for the whole family, the Rapid draws parallels with other models in the Skoda range with class leading passenger leg and head room and 550 litres of luggage capacity rivalling competitors from higher model segments. The Rapid also offers simple yet clever solutions such as a high visibility vest under the front driver seat and an ice scraper inside the fuel tank flap.
Safety also features prominently in the Skoda Rapid with standard safety equipment on board including ESP and ABS systems, six airbags including large capacity driver and front seat passenger airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags to prevent head injuries.
Emphasising the focus on affordability customers can drive a Skoda Rapid from €199 per month inclusive of workshop servicing and delivery through their PCP Solutions package from Skoda Finance.
