1991 User Manual

We pit this pair of badge-engineered saloons against each other to find out which mid-sizer comes out on top. RENAULT SCALA SKODA RAPID Performance and refinement The Renault Scala employs a 1.5-litre diesel engine similar to the one in the Nissan Sunny. The motor churns out 84.8bhp and has plenty of pulling power. And while it is quite silent at idle, it sounds a bit gruff as you rev it. The mid-range has plenty of power available, which makes overtaking a simple task, but it is best to shift up a gear early once you get to higher engine speeds. In the Rapid however, the 1.6-litre diesel motor feels much stronger, and it always feels like it has power in reserve when you use lots of throttle. The engine itself is slightly bigger than the Scala’s, though it doesn’t feel as refined as the Renault’s. The clutch is also heavier, and there is a sudden spike in power initially, which causes it to get a bit jerky in traffic sometimes. Ride and handling The Scala’s low-speed ride is a bit stiff, but things improve at higher speeds where the ride smoothens out. Rutted surfaces tend to unsettle it a bit, though. Its light steering is a boon in the city and it weighs up sufficiently at highway speeds. Stability is impressive as well and it feels composed at cruising speeds. It’s well poised around corners, but is not happy being driven fast, and works better at a relaxed pace. The Rapid on the other hand is more involving to drive, and there is lots of grip on offer. Low-speed ride is pliant and keeps sharp-edged irregularities at bay, but as speeds increase, the Rapid’s soft front suspension tends to bob a bit, and you sometimes get a loud ‘whack’ over big holes. Straight-line stability is good and this makes it a good highway cruiser. While the light steering is perfect for city use, it doesn’t weigh up enough as you go faster. Interiors The Scala uses exactly the same dashboard as the Sunny, the only difference being the badge and the leather upholstery on this RxZ trim. The cabin is very spacious and the big windows and thin pillars aid good all-round visibility. Overall quality is good too but the interior plastics don’t feel as solidly built as the Rapid’s. The seats, though comfortable, are placed a bit low, which means thigh support is not that great. The Rapid’s two-tone interiors are almost identical to the Volkswagen Vento’s and the quality level is more consistent and slightly better than the Scala’s. But compared to other Skodas, the Rapid feels built to a price. The ergonomics are good; a comfortable driving position is easy to attain thanks to a height-adjustable seat and a steering which adjusts for reach and rake. The large front seat is high on comfort and is very spacious too. Space and practicality The Renault’s cabin feels very airy and spacious and the beige interiors further enhance this feeling. The back seat has more knee room than the Rapid but, like the front seats, it is slightly short on thigh support, and the sloping roofline also eats into headroom at the rear. The boot, at 490 litres, is quite generous, and the seats fold down to further increase the available luggage-carrying space. While the Rapid loses out in this aspect, with only 460 litres of boot space on offer, it is still quite useful.

The cabin itself is fairly spacious though; there is good legroom for the rear seat passengers and the clever lever on the bottom of the front passenger seat helps slide it forward with ease (Elegance trim only). Importantly, the wide dimensions make sitting three-abreast quite easy. Also, the back seat is supportive and comfortable, despite the slightly upright backrest. Equipment The Scala comes in two trim levels. The lower RxL trim gets keyless entry, power windows, steering-mounted audio controls, alloy wheels and climate control. Safety kit like two airbags and ABS is standard across the range, which is commendable and makes it a value-for-money proposition. The top-end RxZ adds push-button ignition, leather upholstery and electrically folding wing mirrors.

The diesel Rapid comes in five trims. The base Active gets adjustable steering, while the Active Plus gets keyless entry and electric adjust for the wing mirrors. The Ambition gets ABS, a driver airbag, rear defogger and fog lamps. The Ambition Plus gets a two-DIN music system and electric wing mirrors. And the top Elegance variant gets alloy wheels, two airbags, climate control, a trip computer and the front seat adjust lever. Verdict The Renault Scala, then, comes across as an easy to drive saloon that is spacious, practical and better looking than its cousin, the Sunny. And while it does have enough power in its mid-range, its outright performance isn’t great and the low seats and poor rear headroom count against it too. The Skoda Rapid too has its shortcomings, like having certain essential equipment missing on the lower variants and its soft front suspension that makes the saloon bob a bit at higher speeds. However, with strong performance on offer and a comfortable cabin that has solidly built interior plastics, the advantage swings back in favour of the Skoda. And since the Rapid pips the Scala as the mid-size saloon that gets almost everything right, it gets our pick as the winner here.

Ahead of an official unveiling expected in the next few days, the Czech manufacturer has released teaser images of the new 2013 Octavia. Skoda has released a number of images of its new Octavia ahead of an official unveil expected over the coming days. The shots give little away as to the design of Skoda’s C-segment challenger, but it will carry the same front grille treatment as the Rapid, as well as similar taillights with an exaggerated C-shaped graphic. It will also feature a kick-up line in the side window line for the first time. Built on the Volkswagen Group’s flexible MQB platform, the 2013 Octavia will be slightly larger than before, to further distance itself from the recently-introduced Rapid. The most revealing image is of the dashboard, which features a range of familiar VW Group components. Skoda has previously said it will introduce more upmarket versions with more luxurious cabins.

The Octavia’s international engine line-up will likely be a 138bhp 1.4 TSI petrol and a 104bhp 1.6 TDI diesel. A 220bhp vRS version is scheduled for a reveal globally next summer. India is likely to get the 2.0-litre diesel and a 1.8-litre turbo petrol motor which are likley to be carried forward from Skoda's current Indian lineup. The biggest question is how Skoda will position the new Octavia in our market, especially considering the Laura continues to be a strong seller even after all these years.

Here are the first official pictures of the updated Skoda Yeti. As you can see, the Yeti gets a much-required minor styling update. The front styling now follows the design language seen in newer Skoda models such as the international-market Rapid, the new Octavia and the updated Superb. The front is now more angular, featuring a new-style signature Skoda grille with the logo that recently made its debut in India with the unveiling of the new Octavia. Also new are the square-ish headlamps, and gone are those chunky, round fog lamps.

These have been replaced by conventional-looking units shaped like those on the new Octavia. The hood is also all-new, as are the front bumper and chin, which are now re-profiled with straighter lines that go well with the new signature Skoda grille and headlamp combo. Skoda will sell the updated Yeti in two variants, namely the the Yeti City and the Yeti Outdoor. In the City version, Skoda has got rid of the rugged-looking black plastic bits on the Yeti in favour of body-coloured elements – this gives the updated Yeti a softer and more upmarket look. The Outdoor variant will be offered with black plastic bits on the exterior for a more rugged look. Moving on to the sides, the overall profile remains the same, but gets a smoother appearance. The alloy wheels also get new designs. Rear styling sees updates in the form of the trunk-lid getting the new triangular kinks which are also seen on the Indian-market Skoda Rapid. The tail-lights are re-profiled and now come with familiar C-shape inserts which could house LED units. Additional styling update on the rear includes a smoothened bumper with re-styled reflectors. Interior updates include a new steering wheel, and minor revisions to the seat fabric and shades. There is no news on any mechanical update and the Yeti is expected to continue with the same engine lineup as earlier. Skoda will showcase the updated Yeti at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

Updates include revisions to the exterior and interior; expect it to be launched here by the end of 2013. Skoda has revealed its updated Superb saloon, which features revisions on the inside and out. On the outside, the new Superb gets a new grille, logo, head- and fog-lights, bumpers, front fenders and bonnet. Skoda has also added bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, and the rear lights have also been redesigned.

The changes in the cabin include a new four-spoke steering wheel, a new gear lever, new colour schemes and the front passenger seat can also be moved from the rear electronically. There’s also an automatic reverse parking system. The facelifted Superb will continue to be offered with the same engine choices when it is launched here. This includes a 1.8-litre TSI petrol engine, a 2.0-litre TDI and a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine. The TSI motor comes with the option of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG auto ‘box, while the 2-litre diesel and the 3.6-litre V6 is available with a six-speed DSG only. "The Skoda Superb is the pinnacle of our model line-up and proves its capability as a manufacturer. The present comprehensive facelift has made our top model even more attractive,” says Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland. “The Skoda Superb offers comfort beyond the middle-class standard. This means lots of room, excellent functionality, high comfort, top safety, great value for money and timeless elegance. We are always intent on offering our customers a little bit extra car.” An official launch date hasn’t been announced yet, but the facelifted Superb is expected to hit showrooms here by end-2013.

These are the first images of the forthcoming Skoda Octavia vRS, which have appeared online prior to the car’s official debut. The pictures of the range-topping Octavia appear to be screenshots from an online car configurator and show the styling details that will differentiate the vRS from the rest of the range. As with the current Octavia vRS, the visual upgrades are subtle. More prominent bumpers front and rear give the car a more sporting stance and there are new twin trapezoidal tail pipes. Propeller-style alloy wheels, as seen on the new VW Golf GTI are also fitted, covering brake calipers that are finished in red. A small spoiler on the boot lid completes the makeover. The Ocatavia vRS is expected to use the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as found in the new Golf GTI. Developing 217bhp, power is up 20bhp over the outgoing model. It is likely to be offered with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearboxes. The vRS is due to arrive in the some global markets by July after the regular Octavia, which will be available from March.