The Rapid Spaceback is Skoda’s latest assault on the popular family hatchback segment, which includes the likes of the Vauxhall Astra, Ford Focus and Kia Cee’d.
While Skoda’s Octavia also sits in this sector, its proportions and space are so big, it has almost outgrown it. That leaves a gap between the Fabia and Octavia, which Skoda has filled with the Rapid, and the Rapid Spaceback.
The latter has a little less space than the standard Rapid, but is also more stylish; while it’s still an odd-looking thing – half-estate, half-hatch – Skoda expects it to be the most popular of the two.
We had the Style Pack fitted to our test car (£1,100), which includes a panoramic glass roof, extended tailgate glass, black rear spoiler, as well as black door mirrors, rear lights and cornering front fog lights, all of which help add to its allure.
Performance - /5
We tested the 1.4-litre TSI petrol with 120bhp, which is the fastest in the line-up, hitting 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds with a top speed of 126mph. But, it’s only available with a seven-speed semi-auto DSG gearbox, which seems an odd choice for this car, even though it works perfectly well.
There’s plenty of power here, with the DSG well-mated to ensure smooth, quick getaways from standing still, while motorway cruisers are a doddle, too.
An equivalent Kia Cee’d, the 1.6 GDI 188bhp unit, achieves the benchmark sprint in 9.8 seconds, although add in an auto and that climbs to 10.4 seconds.
We’d recommend the 1.2-litre TSI petrol, with either 85bhp or 104bhp. Even the lesser-powered version has enough pull for a laden Spaceback, although the 104bhp is our preference, which manages 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds (versus 11.7 seconds in the 85bhp version).
If efficiency is your bag, then the 1.6-litre TDI has the best running costs in the range.
Ride and handling - /5
The Spaceback isn’t a captivating drive, but it does have accurate and well-weighted steering, as well as offering good grip and body control.
The biggest problem is ride comfort, with the car quickly becoming unsettled on poor road surfaces, while bumps and potholes become quite jarring for driver and passengers. We had 17-inch alloy options, which only made the situation worse, but even with standard 16-inches, it’s a problem.
And at motorway speeds, there’s also a fair bit of wind and road noise to consider.
Interior - /5
The interior dash is identical to the standard Rapid, with straightforward, easy-to-use instruments in a smart design. We had the top-of-the-range Elegance trim, which has good quality plastics, and includes rear parking sensors, cruise control and Bluetooth.
There’s also a front centre armrest, which is a welcome comfort – except that it gets in the way of the handbrake – making it difficult to apply.
Space is the winning formula for this car, with plenty of leg and headroom. There’s less boot space than a regular Rapid which has 550 litres, but with 415 litres the Spaceback easily beats family hatchbacks such as the Golf, which offers 380 litres.
Running costs - /5
As the quickest car in the range, the 1.4-litre TSI also has the worst running costs, with CO2 emissions of 134g/km and official fuel consumption of 48.7mpg. The most frugal choice is the 1.6-litre TDI Greenline at 99g/km CO2 and 74.3mpg. Our favourite 1.2-litre TSI engines range from 114g to 125g/km CO2.
Our Verdict - /5
The Rapid Spaceback isn’t a bad car, ride comfort aside, but it’s a struggle to see where it fits alongside the brilliant Octavia, and other cheaper hatchbacks.
Starting at £14,340, it’s a couple of grand cheaper than the entry-level Octavia, which costs £16,310. But, when you compare the equivalent 1.2-litre TSI 104bhp models in each range, the Spaceback is only £130 cheaper, albeit with a bit more kit. Take into account how much more well-rounded the Octavia is, and its better residual values, and the Spaceback makes little sense.
It’s better looking than the standard Rapid, so for those who like its hatch-like styling, alongside lots of space for not much money, it’s worth adding to the choices. Still, we’d suggest considering the Hyundai i30 or Kia Cee’d instead.