The Skoda Rapid Spaceback was launched in 2013, a year after the regular Skoda Rapid had made its debut. With the same trim levels and engines but a shorter, sportier body design it effectively filled the gap between the smaller Fabia and the regular Rapid - which itself was closing up a gap in the market left by the Skoda Octavia, which was growing larger and more upmarket.
It’s not the most exciting hatchback you can buy but fulfils the role that Skoda does best: Simple, unpretentious transportation that won’t cost a fortune to run and doesn’t look too bad on the driveway. For its price and size, it’s also one of the more spacious hatchbacks out there - and the longer non-Spaceback Rapid is even bigger.
If you’re shopping towards the upper end of Spaceback pricing then the Skoda Scala that replaced it may be worth a look, while the bigger boot of the conventional Rapid makes it a natural alternative if you need more practicality. Other practical, affordable rivals from the time include the Kia Soul and Citroen C4 Cactus.
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback is a pragmatic purchase. It’s no thriller to drive and not the most interesting car to look at, but if you’re turned off by fancier, more complex or simply more expensive hatchbacks, then it may be the car for you - and it makes just as much sense as a used by.
We’ll start by reminding you that the Rapid Spaceback had an even more sensible sibling that debuted a year earlier, in the shape of the regular Skoda Rapid. This had a longer roofline and a larger boot and effectively filled the role left by the Octavia as it moved upmarket. The Rapid though looks and feels just a little sportier, and is still more than practical enough for most.
Practicality is a good place to start in fact, as the Spaceback’s 415-litre boot is larger than you get in a much more expensive Volkswagen Golf. It’s a shame the rear seats don’t lie flat when you fold them forward, but with them in place there’s actually enough space for adults back there. Clever touches include a boot floor that can be flipped between a carpet and a plastic covering, depending on how messy it’s likely to get.
The Spaceback rides and corners a little better than the conventional Rapid, and generates less noise through its slightly more compact body - just a few reasons you may wish to get the smaller car. It drives well too, without really engaging the driver. The small petrol engines are the most pleasant to use, but Skoda did offer diesels for those seeking maximum fuel efficiency.
As well as the larger Skoda Rapid, other Skoda models like the Fabia and Octavia might be on your shopping list if you’re looking at a Spaceback, as well as the newer Skoda Scala. Take your pick based on size requirements and budget. From other brands, the Kia Soul and Citroen C4 Cactus offer good value and practicality and are a little more interesting to behold and drive, while the average-to-drive but spacious Nissan Pulsar is another no-nonsense value choice.
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The 1.2-litre TSI petrol that kicked off the range at launch was a gem of an engine, being both punchy and smooth. Smoother in fact than the three-cylinder 1-litre TSI that replaced it, though both offer similar performance and don’t use much fuel, so there’s not much to choose between them - just bear in mind that thanks to changing tax structures, the earlier cars actually cost less to tax. The diesels are a bit noisier though may be worth a look if you do long distances, thanks to impressive frugality.
Trim-wise we’d start from SE models and upwards. The S is a bit basic by modern standards, lacking air conditioning, parking sensors, and alloy wheels. If you find an SE Sport at a decent price we’d not shy away from it either, as it does look more upmarket than the others. It’s worth remembering too that the regular Skoda Rapid offers many of the benefits of the Spaceback but with a much larger boot - 550 litres to the Spaceback’s 415 litres.
Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.0 TSI 95: The entry-level 1-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine of later models made 95PS and with a standard manual gearbox could cover 0-62mph in 11.1 seconds. WLTP-rated combined economy was up to 51.4mpg.
Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.0 TSI 110: The more powerful 1.0 TSI made 110PS and came in manual and DSG auto forms. The manual covered 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds, with the DSG three tenths of a second slower. Economy was 50.4mpg for the manual, and 47.1mpg for the auto, both according to WLTP standards.
Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.2 TSI 90: Later replaced by the 1.0 TSI 95, the 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the Rapid made 90PS and was offered in manual and DSG auto forms. 0-62mph came up in 11.2 seconds for the manual (11.3 for the DSG), with 60.1mpg economy for both, on the older NEDC test.
Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.2 TSI 110: Like the 90PS variant the 110PS 1.2 TSI was replaced by the 1-litre with the same output. It was manual only, had a 9.7-second 0-62mph time, and had 57.7mpg combined fuel consumption.
Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.4 TDI 90: The three-cylinder diesel was dropped before the model went off sale. Available in both manual and DSG forms, it developed 90PS. The manual got from 0-62mph in 11.6 seconds with the DSG a tenth behind, and combined mpg was 78.5mpg for the manual and 74.3 for the DSG, albeit by NEDC standards.
Skoda Rapid Spaceback 1.6 TDI 115: Another engine dropped before the car went off sale, the manual-only four-cylinder 115PS TDI had a 9.9-second 0-62mph time and 74.3mpg NEDC economy.
With subtle equipment changes over time we’re focusing on later Rapid Spaceback models here, from the car’s final year in 2019. Actual trim lines remained fairly consistent over the years but Skoda did introduce extra equipment and upgrades to keep up with the competition - you can generally expect later models to offer more kit than the earliest cars as a result.
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback S got 15-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights with daytime running lights, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, electric and heated door mirrors, and front electric windows.
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback SE Tech traded up to 16-inch alloy wheels, and included tinted glass, fog lights, rear parking sensors, navigation for the 6.5-inch touchscreen, climate control, cruise control, a three-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel, and rear electric windows.
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback SE Sport went up another inch again on the alloy wheels, and received a panoramic glass sunroof, an extended glass panel for the tailgate, got privacy glass, a spoiler, cornering fog lights, and sports seats.
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback’s dimensions are:
Length: 4304mm
Width: 1706mm (without mirrors), 1940mm (with mirrors)
Height: 1459mm
The Skoda Rapid Spaceback’s boot size is:
415 litres
1481 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)
Skoda Rapid Spacebacks registered before April 2017 will have VED rates based on their CO2 emissions, which makes the diesel variants particularly attractive, as all have CO2 below 100g/km - meaning zero-rate tax. Even the petrol versions will only cost up to £30 per year. After this date, tax rates switch to a fixed sum, which is currently £180 a year.
Insuring a Skoda Rapid Spaceback shouldn’t cost you the earth. The old lineup of 1.2 TSI to 1.6 TDI models fits between groups 14 to 17, while later cars start just a little lower, with a Spaceback S in 95PS TSI form beginning in group 13. The Skoda Scala that replaced the Spaceback sits in groups 11 to 20, for comparison.