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      Shootout between Renault Scala and Skoda Rapid

      Roger Dsouza

      Roger Dsouza

      The Indian auto market has been has been witnessing a slump for prolonged time, which has made things worse for several car companies. If the cut-throat competition among themselves was not enough, firms now have to combat the economic crisis and the low demand. This has resulted in the stiffening of competition between the rivals of a particular segment, who are trying to outdo each other. The mid-sized sedan segment has a lot of competitors who are vying for the top spot. Two of the most prominent mid-sized sedans in the Indian car market are Skoda Rapid and Renault Scala. Interestingly, both these cars are badge engineering saloons, which makes their rivalry more competitive.

      Shootout between Renault Scala and Skoda Rapid
      Shootout between Renault Scala and Skoda Rapid
       

      Both, Skoda Rapid and Renault Scala come in diesel and petrol variants. There are a lot of similarities in these mid-sized sedans, such as transmission (5-speed manual), monocoque construction, rack and pinion steering, brakes and installation. The Skoda Rapid is fitted with a 4-cylinder common rail turbo engine that has a displacement of 1598 cc. On the other hand, Renault Scala comes equipped with a 4-cylinder diesel engine that has a displacement of 1461 cc. The Rapid trumps Scala in terms of the generated output with the former producing 105 bhp at 4400 rpm as compared to the latter's 84.8 bhp at 3750.

      When it comes to interiors, Renault Scala has almost the same dashboard as the one used in the Nissan Sunny. The Scala has a spacious cabin, thin pillars and big windows, which the plastic on the inside being a bit fragile. On the other hand, the Rapid from Skoda has identical interiors with the Volkswagen Vento, which are comparatively better than the Renault Scala. The ergonomic design of the interiors of the Rapid ensure comfortable driving with the adjustable steering and seat.

      Shootout between Renault Scala and Skoda Rapid
      Shootout between Renault Scala and Skoda Rapid
       

      The Renault Scala has a light steering, which makes it ideal for city conditions where one is not required to drive at high speeds. During initial stages, the ride of the Scala is slightly stiff but eventually improves and becomes stable as the speed increases. Skoda Rapid has a firm grip and also has a light steering. However, the Rapid has a soft front-suspension that leads to a little wobbliness on irregular surfaces.

      There are two trim levels and five trim levels for the diesel versions of the Renault Scala and the Skoda Rapid, respectively. Scala's lower RxL trim features power windows, steering mounted audio controls, alloy wheels and climate control. All the trims of the Scala have two airbags and ABS. These attributes combine to make the Renault Scala a vehicle that is value-for-money. On the other hand, the top model of the Skoda Rapid, called the Elegance, comes with alloy wheels, climate control, trip computer and front seat adjust lever.

      In a nutshell, both the Scala and Rapid have their pros and cons but the latter trumps the former by a slight margin. While the Renault Scala is spacious, comfortable to drive and ideal for road conditions, it lacks in terms of power, has low seats and a mediocre performance. Skoda Rapid, also with a few drawbacks, renders a powerful performance, has solid interiors and ensures complete comfort, which makes it a winner between the two.