Skoda Rapid 1.0 TSI review, road test

Turbo-petrols have a tendency to be extremely frugal when driven at steady speeds, and this TSI motor is no different. In our tests, it delivered 16.5kpl on the highway, a 1.4kpl improvement over the older 5-speed, 1.6-litre unit. Helping its case further is its taller gearing and three overdrive gears, which make it an easy sipper while cruising; as an example, at 100kph, it spins at a lazy 2,200rpm in sixth gear, consuming less fuel. On the other hand, at low speeds and in traffic conditions with constant on-off boost driving, fuel efficiency takes a hit, resulting in a poor 8.7kpl in the city, 0.7kpl lower than the old 1.6-litre. This doesn’t come across as a surprise as it is still a 1.0-litre engine lugging 1,138kg of the Rapid; and when the turbo isn’t fully singing, you will need to accelerate harder to squeeze out every bit of performance to get moving, thus resulting in higher fuel consumption.