Skoda Rapid CNG – Does it make sense?
The Skoda Rapid has been a successful product from the Skoda group in overseas as well as the Indian market. The entry-level sedan from the brand attracted multiple customers due to its powerful yet balanced engine. Now, it has been confirmed that a Skoda Rapid CNG is surely in the plans for India. In this article, we will discuss the Skoda Rapid CNG and whether it makes sense in the country.
The need for a CNG product
With fuel prices touching high these days, the Czech brand has understood that bringing a product that could deliver way better fuel efficiency would help the brand cover more ground. CNG costs way less than petrol and diesel, even in cases of worst-case scenarios. Due to this factor, people might be more interested in buying a CNG product, than its other counterparts.
The need for a Rapid CNG
The Indian market, although, has many products available with CNG, however, out of them, only three are sedans that are available with CNG viz. Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Hyundai Xcent and Hyundai Aura. The Hyundai Aura is a passenger vehicle whereas the Maruti Dzire and the Hyundai Xcent are sold as commercial vehicles for cab drivers and fleet owners.
With Skoda Rapid CNG, prospective buyers will get to have a new option that offers more power and space than the Hyundai Aura, which is a compact sedan.
Benefits of the Rapid CNG
The Rapid, if comes with the CNG, will get the kit fitted from the factory, making the usage hassle-free. With the factory-fitted kit, safety will also be assured. Moreover, the prices could be kept in control making it a viable option for customers looking for a bigger sedan with better fuel efficiency.
With the CNG kit onboard, the Rapid would become an eco-friendly product, easing the pressure on the environment due to pollution.
With all that being said, the downside could be the drop in the fun-to-drive factor, as power figures would take a beating due to the CNG operation. Also, buyers will have to compromise on the boot space, as the kit takes most of the space.
Does it make sense?
The Rapid, as mentioned above, is a great product in itself. Adding a CNG to the car will help it come out as a much better value-for-money product. People will get to have a big sedan with the CNG as no other product in its segment comes with the CNG. Also, the Czech brand might get to enjoy the first-mover benefit.
Join our new WhatsApp update list by clicking here. For more such content stay subscribed to the Motoroctane Youtube, Google NEWS, Facebook and Twitter. We also have a paid car consultancy service for all your doubts – Know more before one of your largest investment.
Comments