Your choice: Skoda Rapid vs Compact Sedans?

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Skoda has truly set the cat among the pigeons with the Rapid 1.0's launch. The base variant is cheaper than even some hatchbacks!

The refreshed Rapid with a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine and manual gearbox is priced at Rs. 7.49 lakhs (ex-showroom, base variant).

The top variants of the Hyundai Aura MT are priced from Rs. 7.30 to 8.55 lakhs depending upon the engine, while the top-selling Maruti Dzire has its top manual variants priced from Rs. 7.48 to 8.28 lakhs. It’s a similar story with the Honda Amaze and Ford Figo. Even the Tata Tigor’s top manual variant retails at Rs. 6.99 lakhs – just Rs. 50,000 shy of the Rapid.

Here's a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a Rapid Rider over the top-end variants of sub-4 m sedans.

Pros:

• Solid European build & handsome styling (despite its age)
• High safety rating – The VW Polo achieved a 4-star rating in the Global NCAP crash test. The Skoda Rapid is nothing but a Volkswagen Vento – the sedan version of the Polo. We can expect it to perform similar to the Polo in crash tests.
• Proper sedan looks – Say anything, but a sub-4 m sedan looks like a compromise. It seems like the manufacturer was forced to add an excuse of a boot onto a hatchback. No such problem with the Rapid. It is a proper sedan.
• The Skoda badge – At least in India, the Skoda badge has higher snob value than Asian brands. Many people aspire to own a "Skoda".
• Cabin has more space & better quality than many compact sedans which are built to strict costs.
• More power & torque – With 108 BHP and 175 Nm on tap, the Rapid is more powerful than any petrol sub-4 m sedan in India, including the turbocharged Aura.
• Better driving dynamics & high speed behaviour than the compact sedans.
• Larger boot – Since the Rapid is not restricted to under 4 metres in length, it gets more space to play with and as a result, a larger 460 litre boot than compact sedans.

Cons:

• Infamous Skoda after sales service! Skoda has a poor reputation when it comes to after-sales service, and many of its dealers are thieves. Its Asian rivals are way better on this front. Not only that, the company does not have as strong a presence in the country as say, Maruti or Hyundai.
• Long-term reviews of the Vento / Rapid show inconsistent reliability. Expect bigger maintenance bills, especially after the car crosses 60,000 - 70,000 km. Whatever happens, make sure you take the 6-year extended warranty offered by Skoda.
• Outdated looks – The Rapid dates back to 2011. While the car received updates to its exterior and interior with time, there is no denying that it is long in the tooth.
• Poverty spec feature list – Alloy wheels, foglamps, auto-dimming IRVM, leather wrapped steering wheel, MID, electrically foldable ORVMs, touchscreen head-unit, reversing camera and many more features are missing.
• Poorer resale value – The Rapid's base variant is unlikely to hold its value like a Maruti Dzire or Honda Amaze.
• No choice of automatic gearbox - The Rapid is available only with a manual gearbox. Most sub-4 m sedans are available with an automatic transmission.
• No diesel engine. VW & Skoda didn't do their homework for the BS6 emission norms.
• Limited colour choice – The Rapid Rider is available in 4 colours only. These include Brilliant Silver, Candy White, Carbon Steel and Toffee Brown. 

So, would you buy the Rapid 1.0 (base variant) over equivalently priced compact sedans (top variants)?