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In-depth reviews

Skoda Rapid hatchback (2012-2019) - Reliability & safety

The Rapid has excellent reliability and safety ratings

Carbuyer Rating

3.1 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Reliability & safety Rating

3.0 out of 5

As a brand, Skoda continues to impress. This is the verdict of drivers who took part in our annual Driver Power survey, where Skoda finished third out of 32 manufacturers in 2016 – an excellent result. The Rapid itself didn’t fare quite so well, coming 88th overall out of 150 cars surveyed. Running costs and practicality were very highly rated, but owners did criticise ride quality and seat comfort.

Skoda Rapid reliability

The Rapid is built with all the expertise that comes from Skoda being part of the Volkswagen Group and a lot of its components and underpinnings are shared with other cars from the VW family. Judging by that eternal barometer of build quality, the noise you hear when you shut the doors, the reassuring ‘thunk’ indicates the Rapid is a well-assembled car, and the Rapid placed 69th for reliability, a solid, mid-table performance.

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All the interior controls feel well put together, and operate with a solid click. The switchgear feels like it’ll stand the test of time, even if some of the actual materials aren’t exactly from the top drawer.

Safety

The Skoda Rapid gives you the reassurance of a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP testing in 2012. All cars come equipped with airbags for the driver and passenger, as well as head and side airbags. There’s also an electronic stability control system and anti-lock brakes. Child seats are securely anchored thanks to ISOFIX mounting points. 

We recommend the £50 driver fatigue assistant, which will warn if you're getting tired, while brighter Xenon headlights cost £405.

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Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

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