2021 Skoda Rapid Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

What Are The Prices of 2021 Skoda Rapid? 

The Rapid is now available in 6 variants, and its base variant is priced at Rs 7.79 lakh. Except for the base Rider variant, the rest of the variants are all available with an automatic transmission option. The top two variants’ automatic transmission versions are Rs 1.30 lakh costlier than their manual counterparts, while the rest of the variants’ manual and automatic price difference is of Rs 1.50 lakh. 

You can take a look at the pricing details of the 2021 Skoda Rapid in the following table:

What Are The Engine Specifications of 2021 Skoda Rapid? 

The Skoda Rapid comes packed with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that can produce 110PS of maximum power and 175Nm of peak torque. This same engine also does the duty under the Volkswagen Vento’s hood, and in this segment, only these two cars come equipped with turbo-petrol engine along with manual transmission.

As a result, the Rapid’s peak torque and torque:weight ratios are better than its rivals. It comes with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter type automatic transmission option. The Rapid manual variants’ offer claimed fuel efficiency that’s better than all its rivals, except for the Maruti Ciaz. 

The following table offers a look at the engine specification details of the 2021 Skoda Rapid and comparison with its rivals:

What Are The Dimensions of 2021 Skoda Rapid?

The Rapid is a C-segment sedan, and its length is over 4m. Among all the C-segment sedans, the new Honda City is the longest as well as the widest. The Toyota Yaris is the tallest of the lot in this segment, but all the other sedans have comparable height. The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz has the longest wheelbase in this segment. The Rapid comes with 15-inch and 16-inch wheels options like the rest of the cars in this segment.

You can check the dimension details of the 2021 Skoda Rapid and comparison with its rivals in the table below:

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What Are The Features of 2021 Skoda Rapid Rider Variant?

The Rapid Rider base variant is priced at Rs 7.79 lakh and comes equipped only with manual transmission. Apart from basic safety features, this variant also offers features like day/night IRVM and rear defogger.

The Rider variant offers a basic 4-speaker audio system, and as far as functional features are concerned, its key features include -- front & rear armrest, tilt & telescopic steering wheel, auto AC w/ rear AC vents, electrically adjustable ORVMs and adjustable rear headrests. 

The Rider variant comes with body-coloured bumpers, door handles and ORVMs and 15-inch wheels with full wheel covers.

The following table lists all the features that the 2021 Skoda Rapid Rider variant offers:

The Rapid’s base variant covers almost all must-have features, except for features like steering-mounted controls, height-adjustable driver seat and rear parking camera. Whether you should settle for the base variant, or go for the next variant, we’ll discuss it after looking into the details of the latter. 

What Are The Features of 2021 Skoda Rapid Rider Plus Variant? 

The Rapid Rider Plus variant is Rs 40,000 costlier than the Rider variant. An automatic transmission option is available from this variant onwards. This variant with automatic transmission is Rs 1.5 lakh costlier than its manual counterpart. 

With the automatic transmission, the Rider variant offers some additional safety features such as ESC and hill start assist. For these additional safety features and the automatic transmission, paying an extra premium of Rs 1.5 lakh is on the higher side.

The Rider Plus variant adds-in only a couple of features like 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system along with chrome garnish around the windows. 

The following table lists all the additional features of the 2021 Skoda Rapid Rider Plus variant:

Rather than spending Rs 40,000 for the above mentioned features of the Rider Plus variant, it is better to settle for the Rider variant and retrofit a touchscreen infotainment system. 

If you wish to go for a basic automatic transmission variant of the Rapid, then you can consider the Rider Plus. 

What Are The Features of 2021 Skoda Ambition Variant?

The Ambition variant is Rs 1.80 lakh more expensive than the Rapid Rider Plus. 

On the outside, this variant adds-in features like projector headlamps, LED DRLs, fog lamps and 15-inch alloy wheels. This variant comes with leather wrapped steering wheel as well. 

The notable functional features of this variant includes electrically foldable ORVMs and height adjustable driver seat. 

You can view all the added features of the 2021 Skoda Rapid Ambition variant over the Rider Plus in the table below: 

The Rapid Ambition variant comes with a good combination of must-have and good-to-have features, and its primary missing feature is rear parking camera. 

However, the Ambition variant’s incremental cost of Rs 1.80 lakh additional is expensive for these given features. 

If you wish to buy a manual or automatic variant of the Rapid that is feature-rich as well, then should you go for the Ambition variant or a higher variant, this we’ll discuss after looking into the details of the next variant.

What Are The Features of 2021 Skoda Rapid Onyx Variant?

The Onyx is primarily a cosmetic update over the Ambition variant and costs Rs 20,000 more over the latter. 

The Onyx variant is available in only white and blue exterior colour options, with the blue colour exclusively available only in this variant. 

The Rapid Onyx comes with cosmetic updates such as black 16-inch alloy wheels, black ORVMs and black and grey dual-colour interior theme along with leather seat upholstery and flat-bottom steering wheel. 

In the Rapid range, the Onyx is the only variant that offers rear windscreen curtain. 

You can find all the added features of the 2021 Skoda Rapid Onyx variant in the following table: 

If we consider the Onyx variant in the light of only the Ambition variant, then it is worth buying this variant for its exclusivity. 

However, the Onyx variant doesn’t deliver value like the Rider and Rider Plus variants. 

What Are The Features of 2021 Skoda Rapid Style Variant?

The Rapid Style variant is Rs 1.70 lakh more expensive than the Ambition variant, in case of the manual transmission, and Rs 1.50 lakh in case of automatic.

Over the Ambition variant, the added safety features of the Style variant include - auto-dimming IRVM, rear parking camera and side airbags. 

The other noteworthy additional features of this variant include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, rain sensing wipers, auto headlamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, chrome door handles and rear spoiler. 

You can check all the additional features of the 2021 Skoda Rapid Style variant over the Ambition variant in the following table: 

The Style variant almost justifies its incremental value over the Ambition variant for its added features in case of the automatic transmission. However, in case of the manual transmission, this variant doesn’t justify its incremental cost of Rs 1.50 lakh. 

What Are The Features 2021 Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo Variant?

The Monte Carlo is the Style variant’s cosmetically-enhanced version, and is Rs 30,000 costlier than the Style.

It is important to note here that the Monte Carlo variant doesn’t get the safety feature of side airbags that is offered in the Style variant.

In terms of cosmetic updates, the Monte Carlo edition flaunts features such as - dual-tone alloy wheels, black exterior details, spoiler and flat-bottom steering wheel. 

Similar to the Rapid Onyx variant’s exclusive Blue exterior colour option, the Monte Carlo variant comes in a Red colour option that’s exclusive to this variant. 

Over the Style variant, all the additional features that are offered in the 2021 Skoda Rapid Monte Carlo variant are listed in the table below:

We think that in the case of the automatic transmission, it is not sensible to go for the Monte Carlo edition over the Style, but in case of the manual, it is okay to go for this variant. 

2021 Skoda Rapid Variants - Which One To Buy? 

Now, let’s sum up all the variant recommendations of the 2021 Skoda Rapid to make your buying decision easier. 

For the budget buyers, the Rapid Rider variant is best suitable. This is because this variant is now aggressively priced, and all the other variants over this are expensive upgrades. However, there are several basic as well as good-to-have features missing in the Rider variant, which are available in the Ambition or Onyx variant. 

If you wish to buy a feature-rich variant of the Rapid manual, then we suggest you consider the Onyx variant. Although there’s no features-wise difference between the Onyx and Ambition variants, owing to the unique exterior and interior styling features, we feel that the Onyx variant is a more attractive option.

If you are looking to buy the Rapid with the automatic transmission, then for the budget buyers we recommend the Rider Plus variant. 

Along with the automatic transmission if you wish to get a good combination of features, then we suggest the Onyx or the Style variants as per your liking and budget. These two variants have a price difference of Rs 1.30 lakh, and both deliver similar good value propositions. 

Here’s a brief look at the variant-wise recommendations on the 2021 Skoda Rapid:

What Are The Colour Options of 2021 Skoda Rapid?

The 2021 Rapid is available for sale in 6 exterior color options, namely — Silver, White, Grey, Brown, Red and Blue.