Skoda Rapid diesel auto vs Hyundai Verna diesel auto comparison

What’s new?

There is nothing more convenient than using an automatic gearbox equipped car in day-to-day driving. Traditionally, the mid-size sedan segment in India has been dominated by petrol automatics which also meant buyers shied away because of the higher running costs. Automatics are not as fuel efficient as manuals but if you have a diesel engine under the hood, you won’t go bankrupt. The point here is that automatics are better suited to diesels than petrol motors and it makes you wonder why the Hyundai Verna diesel automatic was the only option for buyers till date. Now, Skoda and VW have seen the potential in this segment and launched the diesel Rapid and the Vento with automatic transmissions. Between the Vento and Rapid, we decided to include only one car in this test as both of them are mechanically identical with similar cabins. The Rapid diesel automatic has a lot going for it. Its strong 103bhp diesel engine is coupled with a modern seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, which should ensure great performance without hampering fuel economy.  Other strong Rapid credentials remain, like the solid build, spacious cabin and sorted driving dynamics. The Verna, on the other hand, is already an accomplished product. It may have an old school four-speed torque converter automatic gearbox but the engine makes much more power. Like all Hyundais, it’s packed with features and looks great too. But while the Verna is better equipped, it is Rs 80,000 more expensive than the Rapid. So which one should you go for?  

What are they like inside?

Step into the Rapid and quality-wise, it is hard to fault. Everything from the well contoured seats, the switchgear and the upholstery is well made. In terms of the quality of materials in the cabin, the Rapid is the better of the two and the attention to detail is also very good. But all this is somewhat negated by the rather plain-jane dashboard. It comes finished in dull grey and simply looks boring. The front seats are well contoured, and the long seat travel and the steering that adjusts for reach and rake makes finding an ideal driving position very easy. The rear seat of the Rapid is also a good place to be in. There’s plenty of legroom, the seat is wide and you get a nice airy feel. And the seat is reasonably comfortable too. But on the downside, you sit quite low and the huge tunnel in the centre of the cabin makes it difficult to get in and out if you are the third passenger. The Verna is pretty attractive on the inside. It was recently refreshed, but the changes to the inside are very subtle. It isn’t as easy to use as the Rapid’s dash, but the fit and finish and overall quality are impressive. Also, the front seats have good bolstering and the Verna’s dash is quite low, unlike the Rapid, making it easy to see out of. The big seats also really give you a feeling of space. Like the Rapid, passengers will also have to contend with the Verna’s low stance – getting in and out could be an issue for some. The generous width and flat floor offer enough space for a fifth passenger but the seat contours make the rear bench best suited for two. Legroom, though less than the Rapid, is more than adequate and the backrest is at a good angle.

What are they like to drive?

The Rapid DSG is powered by the same albeit slightly downsized 103bhp 1.5-litre motor which now comes mated to a high-tech seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. This engine produces 25.6 kgm of pulling power from as low as 1500rpm. As a result, just a dab on the accelerator results in a good amount of response from the engine from the get-go. As the power comes from a very low engine speed, the Rapid has a very wide powerband, which makes performance effortless. Thanks to the quick witted auto ’box, overtaking is easy too, and the effortless flow of power makes it feel relaxed in most situations. Thanks to this, the Rapid covers ground quite rapidly and feels comfortable, even at high speeds. It’ll hit 100kph in 12.18 seconds. The Verna CRDI, on the other hand, uses an old-school four-speed automatic transmission. But what comes to the Hyundai’s rescue is the very powerful 1.6-litre diesel motor. The Verna’s engine makes a massive 23bhp more than the Rapid and it produces more pulling power too. Since it’s a four-speed, the gear ratios are tall and widely spaced, which is why the Verna doesn’t feel all that quick and accelerates in an extremely linear and relaxed manner. In traffic, it is extremely stress-free to drive thanks to the auto-box which eliminates some of the throttle lag present in the manual version. On the highway, the Verna cruises nicely and there’s more than adequate power for overtaking. But where the Rapid’s gearbox downshifts to make quick progress, the Verna’s transmission calls upon the engine’s torque reserves rather than kick-down. The Verna is much quicker than it feels. Thanks to the horsepower advantage, the Verna is actually quicker than the Rapid in every department. It goes from 0-100kph in just 11.19sec, which makes it a second quicker than the Skoda. The Verna is pretty good in terms of driveability too. It takes 6.48sec to go from 20-80kph and 9.20sec for 40-100kph, which is much faster than the Rapid.

Another strong point of the Verna is its fantastic engine refinement. Except for some vibrations at idle, the engine is extremely quiet and it maintains its composure even when worked hard. The Rapid’s engine, however, is  not exactly refined. At idle, there is a distant clatter from the motor, and the engine gets quite vocal beyond 3,000rpm, and, unlike the Hyundai, it doesn’t rev as freely either.

Ride & handling

The Rapid’s good high-speed manners and the unfazed style in which it does away with bumps gives you great confidence at high speeds. It’s got good body control and grip. The steering is quite accurate, but a bit too light for the highway. The trade-off for the Rapid’s high speed poise is a slightly stiff low-speed ride. It crashes through potholes, the suspension is a lot more audible than in the Verna, and it transfers a lot more of the road surface to your backside. But the light steering and compact dimensions make it easy to pilot through traffic. Over a set of corners, the Verna won’t be able to keep up with the Rapid. It doesn’t feel as composed and surefooted as the Skoda and there’s a lot more body roll. The steering is vague and doesn’t weigh up consistently. On the highway, it drives with confidence but wanders a bit over uneven road surfaces. Hard braking also tends to unsettle the rear. Low-speed ride though, is absorbent and comfortable, and clearly, the better of the two. 

Buying and owning

The Rapid DSG TDI comes only in the top Elegance variant and is priced at Rs 10.97 lakh. According to ARAI figures, the Rapid DSG is marginally less efficient than the Verna CRDI automatic. Skoda offers a standard warranty of  two years/ unlimited km. Like the Rapid, the Verna CRDI auto is only available in the top SX and SX (O) variant. Priced at Rs 11.72 lakh, the Verna is much more expensive than the Skoda. Hyundai offers a standard warranty of two years/unlimited km. Where the Hyundai has a decisive edge over the Skoda is the after-sales network.

Equipment & safety

The Rapid DSG TDI is only available in the top Elegance trim and it comes standard with features like projector headlamps, fog lamps, automatic climate control, CD/MP3 player with USB and aux-in ports, rear air-con vents, trip computer, rear parking sensors, cruise control and alloy wheels. The Rapid also comes with the option of a Black package that costs around Rs 15,000. This includes blackened projector headlamps and foglamps. The grille too is finished in black, which looks classy in today’s age of excessive chrome use. What also stands out on this car are the black mirrors and alloy wheels. You can also opt for a blackened roof and black side foils directly at the dealer. Like all Hyundais, the Verna is very well equipped. You get keyless entry, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, an iPod-ready music system and steering-mounted audio controls. It also comes with goodies like electrically foldable external rear view mirrors, auto dimming internal rear view mirror, rear-view camera, cooled glovebox and alloy wheels, ABS with EBD and leather upholstery.

Verdict

The Verna diesel automatic is a perfect city runabout. Its 1.6-litre motor mated to the four-speed gearbox is ideal for city traffic. It is smooth to drive and the motor is very refined at any given moment. It is also large and comfortable on the inside, very well equipped and has a wide  aftersales network to back this impressive package. While the Verna feels at home in the city, it doesn’t have the most sorted dynamics when the going gets faster.The Rapid has an air of quality about it and there is a feel-good factor about the car, which the Hyundai just doesn’t offer. Since these cars are both going to be owner-driven, what matters more than the looks and features is how well the car drives and performs. Here, the Rapid DSG TDI is leagues ahead and so, wins over the Hyundai.