This is Skoda’s latest fleet hopeful from its Rapid Spaceback range. This new Greenline model acts as a cheaper alternative to the Octavia, which has pushed upmarket, but it’s not the most sensible choice when it comes to running costs and practicality.
The Rapid sits between being a spacious hatch and an estate and that means a whole hosts of rivals open up to those pondering their choice list. The Spaceback Greenline has an adequate engine and the interior is basic but fit for purpose, and while there’s no doubt it would be a good workhorse, there are a lot of options open to fleets.
Skoda’s Octavia Greenline hatch, for instance, costs less to tax due to its 85g/km compared with the Spaceback’s 99g/km, it’s more powerful at 108hp compared with the Spaceback’s 105hp, it has a much larger boot (by 175 litres), and the difference in cost per mile is just 3p. The only thing standing in the way is the £3000 extra on the P11D price.
There are other options within the Volkswagen Group family that might make more sense too. The Ibiza ST Ecomotive estate is also more efficient at 92g/km of CO2, will do 80.7mpg, the boot is slightly bigger and its £1585 cheaper.
When you start looking at the five-door hatches that the Czech brand is keen to compete with, the Hyundai i30 Blue Drive is only 37 litres out when it comes to boot space and it’s also more efficient. The Rapid sits close to a number of key rivals, and the emissions are disappointingly high against what Skoda is achieving with other models.
