Skip advert
Advertisement

Skoda Rapid: first pics

First official pictures of the new Skoda Rapid have been released, and the Focus rival is set to start from £13k

The wraps are off the new Skoda Rapid. These are the first official pictures of the small family car that will sit between the Fabia and the Octavia to offer a spacious, value alternative to similarly sized cars such as the Ford Focus and VW Golf.

On sale in the UK in November, the range is expected to start at less than £13,000 – undercutting the Focus by around £1,000 and the Golf by as much as £3,500.

Advertisement - Article continues below

As you can see from these pictures, the Rapid looks just like the MissionL concept car that previewed it at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. It retains the saloon profile and Skoda’s new family face, with the badge mounted on the nose of the bonnet rather than the grille.

The grille itself is more angled and is flanked by flush-fitting headlights. At the rear are C-shaped tail-lights, while the Rapid eschews glitzy chrome for more subtle black trim.

Although the Rapid looks like a saloon, it’s really a hatchback, and Skoda promises well over 500 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place – a Golf has 350 litres and a Focus only 316 litres.

Under the skin, the front-wheel-drive Rapid sits on a stretched VW Polo platform. Although a full engine range hasn’t been announced, expect the line-up to include a 103bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and a highly economical GreenLine model powered by a 74bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel.

The latter should be road tax-free, with CO2 emissions of less than 90g/km and fuel economy of around 80mpg. Five-speed manual and seven-speed DSG automatic transmissions will be available.

Fellow VW Group brand SEAT will launch its own version of the Rapid – previewed by the Toledo concept at March’s Geneva Motor Show – early next year.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Skoda Epiq electric SUV spotted testing for the first time
Skoda Epiq - spyshot 1

New Skoda Epiq electric SUV spotted testing for the first time

The new Skoda Epiq is due in 2026, and will sit below the Elroq and Enyaq in the brand’s ever-expanding SUV range
News
17 Jun 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
New cars coming soon header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
13 Jun 2025
New Skoda 'Eviatiq' seven-seat SUV ready to bring Vision 7S design to showrooms
Skoda Vision 7S seven-seat EV - dynamic front 3/4

New Skoda 'Eviatiq' seven-seat SUV ready to bring Vision 7S design to showrooms

The Vision 7S will follow the upcoming Epiq - taking Skoda’s EV model line up to four
News
3 Jun 2025
Skoda Favorit reimagined for 21st Century with electric power
Skoda Favorit reimagined - front

Skoda Favorit reimagined for 21st Century with electric power

Sadly the Skoda Favorit EV is just a pipe dream, because this is merely a design study
News
28 May 2025

Most Popular

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo EM90 - front

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer

Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it’s for China only
Road tests
16 Jun 2025
Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival
Smart Roadster exclusive image

Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival

The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
16 Jun 2025
New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there’s a whole lot more too
Audi Q3 - front

New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there’s a whole lot more too

Audi’s not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
News
16 Jun 2025