So we had another Skoda Rapid in the Throttle Blips garage. We had driven the 2020 Rapid TSI recently and if you haven’t read that review yet, you can find it here. Skoda recently launched the automatic variant of the Rapid TSI and that is what this review is going to be about.

The Skoda Rapid TSI is available across a number of variants from the Rider Plus to the Monte Carlo Edition. While the Rapid TSI manual that we tested was the Monte Carlo, the one in these pictures is the Style variant.

2020 Skoda Rapid TSI Automatic Performance

The 1.0 TSI motor in the Skoda Rapid that makes 110 horsepower and 175 Nm of torque now comes mated to a 6 speed torque convertor gearbox. Skoda has bid goodbye to the 7 speed DSG. The new gearbox is different from the one that was paired with the 1.6 litre MPI petrol engine in the earlier Rapid models. What is immediately apparent when you start driving is how seamless the gearshifts are. Most of the time, the shifts happen at just over 2000 rpm and the initial turbo lag that was felt in the manual isnt noticeable this time around. The gear ratios are nicely calibrated and you never come to know when a shift takes place. A light tap to the accelerator when you are at cruising speeds will drop down a gear or two to help pick up momentum.  The gearbox works extremely well In the mid-range. And there’s the Sport mode that makes things even better. Each gear is held for longer before there is an upshift and you get max performance. And there is a manual mode too, in case you want to take control of the gearbox.

So what do I don’t like? For one, the Rapid Automatic just shoots forward from a stand still instead of creeping when you let go of the brakes. This can be quite risky in bumper to bumper traffic if you are caught unaware. One needs to be careful even while reversing too. The other grouse is that while letting go of the throttle to slow down to a complete halt, the gearbox jerks when downshifting from third to second, something that Im used to in my daily driven DSG but didn’t quite expect this from a torque converter automatic gearbox.

2020 Skoda Rapid TSI Automatic Exterior, Interior & Features

The Style variant is not significantly different from the top end Monte Carlo. While the latter is more sporty, the Style is more executive and formal. The new Toffee Brown paint shade you see on the test car is new and looks quite classy and the 16 inch alloy wheels are finished in silver. Even after all these years, the Rapid is still a handsome looking car.  The interior remains unchanged and comes in dual tone black with beige. While the build quality feels solid and fit and finish is nice, the cabin does look dated now when compared to the competition. The features list includes an 8.0 inch touchscreen infotainment system (6.5 inch on lower variants), climate control, cruise control, auto headlamps, auto wipers and four airbags. It does miss out on a sunroof, engine start stop button and connected car tech, something that’s has become a norm in today’s times.

2020 Skoda Rapid TSI Automatic Verdict

There is no two ways that the Skoda rapid has aged, but it has aged rather well. The 1.0 TSI engine really spiced up things for the sedan and the automatic gearbox just made it better. It is by far one of the nicest cars to drive in its segment. It is however down on features and the Rs. 1.5 lakh premium over the manual is substantial. That said, the Rider Plus variant at Rs. 9.69 lakh feels a lot of value for money. You get a full size sedan which is a delight to drive and comes with reasonable equipment. The higher variants do feel expensive for what they offer. So if features don’t mean much and you are looking a fun to drive mid-size sedan with the convenience of a slush box, the Rapid TSI automatic is worth a look. Our pick is the Rapid Plus variant. It ticks all the right boxes.

2020 Skoda Rapid TSI Automatic photo gallery: