Skoda Rapid Onyx Edition launched: To challenge Maruti Ciaz & Honda City

Skoda has just launched the Rapid Onyx Edition. The launch comes right in the middle of India’s festive season, and  is meant to make the Rapid more attractive to buyers whose other options include the Maruti Ciaz and the Honda City, in the C-Segment sedan space. The Skoda Rapid Onyx Edition gets 8 feature additions.

The car is available with petrol and diesel engines with prices starting from Rs 9.75 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. The Onyx  Edition of the Rapid is based on the Style trim. Mechanically, the new car remains unchanged. However, there are many visual updates and feature additions to differentiate the new sedan from existing variants.

The Skoda Rapid Onyx Edition gets features, such as SuperSport Flat Bottom steering wheel  with black stitching, scuff Plates with RAPID inscription, black waste bin, rear windscreen sunblind, and 12 V power socket in front and rear console, the ‘Drive’ 6.5-inch Colour Touchscreen Central Infotainment System with SmartLink™ technology that is compatible with MirrorLink®, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

As for visual changes, the car is available in a Lapiz Blue shade. The alloy wheels get a Clubber design with a  gloss black finish, and identically finished lug nuts. Glossy black ORVMs as well as black body side molding and trunk lip garnish are the other visual changes on the outside. On the inside, Skoda has given the Onyx Edition of the Rapid dual-tone Ebony-Sand interior detailing and art leather seats in premium perforated beige with wood design.

As for the engines on offer, the diesel is the 1.5 litre TDI turbocharged unit that produces 105 PS and 250 Nm. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard while a 7-speed twin clutch automatic is offered as an option. The petrol is a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated motor with 105 PS and 153 Nm with a 5-speed  manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic gearboxes. Twin airbags and ABS are standard on all variants while the petrol automatic trims get ESP and hill hold control as additional safety  features.

ŠKODA RAPID ONYX ex-showroom Delhi price summary:

• 1.6 MPI Petrol Engine, Manual Transmission: Rs. 975,000
• 1.6 MPI Petrol Engine, Automatic Transmission: Rs. 1,099,000
• 1.5 TDI CR Diesel Engine, Manual Transmission: Rs. 1,158,000
• 1.5 TDI CR Diesel Engine, Automatic Transmission: Rs. 1,273,000

A solidly built well-rounded car, the Skoda Rapid is more engaging to drive than vehicles, such as the Honda City and Maruti Ciaz. However, it’s less spacious than the Honda City and Maruti Ciaz, both of which feel a size larger than the Skoda sedan.