Lada Vesta vs Skoda Rapid and Peugeot 301: who will win?

Machine dimensions

Car interiors and engines

Recently, the place of its “relative” Skoda Octavia has been taken by the Skoda Rapid. The first one ceased to be considered by potential buyers as a product that provides a huge list of advantages and moved into the elite segment of the automotive industry. Skoda Rapid immediately filled this empty niche and won a large number of fans. Today we will try to find out which is better Lada Vesta or Skoda Rapid.

The release of the Russian new product on the market stirred up the public; now all those cars that previously did not know a worthy Russian rival intend to compete with this model. Experts consider the Lada Vesta to be the main contender for the title of bestseller. Vehicles should be compared based on tactical and technological characteristics, dimensions, engine dynamics, chassis, transmission, interior and exterior.

Comparison of Lada Vesta and Skoda Rapid in the appearance category

Lada Vesta and Skoda Rapid The Czech competitor has always been on top, and even more so after German developers encroached on production rights. The quality of the car is at the level of Volkswagen, but the price is slightly lower, which gives a huge advantage. In Russia, this Czech brand has always been recognized and had many fans. Status and prestige are now clearly on the side of the opponent from the Czech Republic.

• In the exterior of the front part of the Lada Vesta, you can see chrome stripes in symbiosis with aggressive headlights and a radiator grille, which dynamically turns into a colorful air intake.
• The profile is designed in the famous “X-style”, presenting a huge scope of sportiness. Large wheel arches, the same ground clearance, masculine lines and fashionable wheels are impressive and pleasing.
• The back part does not spoil the picture with its color and harmony. The bumper and trunk roof noticeably present the appearance of the required scope. The Skoda Rapid is made in a completely different way, originating from the configurations of German brands. There is clearly a special attention to detail here that adds up to a picture of reliability and professionalism.
• The front is distinguished by the evenness of the outlines of the optics and colossal fog lights, which are successfully built into the sides of the air intake. The vertical lines of the radiator grille resemble shutters.
• The profile is rational and executed with great attention and love. They are distinguished by rims and smooth doors. The exterior is presented simply and tastefully.
• A large bumper, square-shaped headlights, a sharp transition from the roof to the trunk itself - these elements precisely and efficiently fill out the rear.

On a note!

There is currently no clear leader in the body category. Lada Vesta has only a sedan vs the liftback of the Skoda Rapid. AvtoVAZ reassures Russian fans with the appearance of a coupe and hatchback, and Cross modifications will also soon go on sale.

Whose appearance is better?

Vesta looks more aggressive in appearance (look at the front - you will notice the massive radiator grille), with emphasized “muscles” due to the presence of side X-stampings. The design of the rear lights goes well with the glitter on the trunk lid and the large bumper.

Skoda Rapid is trying to imitate its “big sister” - the Octavia, so much so that an ignorant person would confuse it (the A7 body is in pre-Restyle, which caused the Octavia-vods to “burn” rather sourly). Correct shapes, classic outlines in the Volkswagen style, calm design give a certain solidity in appearance. The type of car instantly becomes noticeable - beauty lies in simplicity. The almost square lights at the stern of the rapid only confirm these arguments.

Dimensions comparison

Dimensions of cars The cars are, in principle, equal; neither side has a clear advantage.

• the length of the Russian sedan is 4m 41 cm versus 4m 48 cm for the Rapid;
• the width of the Lada Vesta is 1,765 mm, for the Czech brand it is 1,706 mm;
• the domestic sedan has an advantage in height (1 m 50 cm versus 1 m 47 cm);
• the ground clearance of the Lada Vesta is a significant 178 mm, the Skoda Rapid meets a sufficient 170 mm;
• in trunk volume, the competitor from the Czech Republic has a significant advantage (530 liters versus 480 liters);
• The wheelbase of the Lada Vesta is 2 m 63 cm, that of the Skoda Rapid is 2 m 60 cm.

Body

Probably the first thing many car enthusiasts look at is the body design. A modern car is not only a means of transportation, but also a symbol of the owner’s status. Therefore, many people often begin choosing a car with a visual assessment.

Externally, Lada Vesta resembles a sports car. The design is dominated by chopped lines, which give the car a predatory, aggressive look.

This is especially popular with young drivers who are prone to aggressive behavior on the road. Unlike the Russian car, the Skoda Rapid has clear lines that are characteristic of the prim European car industry. This model looks like a great car for the whole family.

If we compare the paintwork of the models, then Vesta will definitely win. On a Russian car, the paint is applied in a fairly thick layer, which reliably protects the body from problems. In practice, minor damage to the coating practically never occurs. Rapid's paintwork is of very poor quality. Scratches and chips are not uncommon here. Therefore, the owners of this car are familiar firsthand with methods for quickly removing scratches. The difference in the quality of the coating largely affects the overall corrosion resistance. In this regard, despite the low quality of iron, the Lada Vesta looks more advantageous.

The interior of both cars is quite spacious. In the first row, in any case, the driver and passenger are comfortable. There are a large number of different seat settings available. By adjusting the seats, you can travel any distance without any problems. But in the back row, the passenger of the Lada Vesta will have a more difficult time, especially if the person is tall. Therefore, in terms of comfort, the Skoda Rapid will still look more advantageous.

For many people, trunk volume

. Here it should be remembered that the Lada Vesta is currently only available as a sedan, and the Skoda Rapid has only a liftback. Accordingly, the sizes of their trunks are slightly different. The Czech car has the ability to fold out the seats, which allows you to increase the trunk volume to 1400 liters. Therefore, if you need a car into which you can load a lot of things, then the best option would still be the Skoda Rapid.

Another important factor that affects comfort is body sound insulation

. In this regard, the Lada Vesta looks more profitable. Felt insulation of the fender liners is used here, which provides excellent noise protection, especially on dirt roads. The Skoda Rapid uses plastic fender liners. Not only do they have a lower level of sound insulation, but they themselves are an additional source of noise. Pebbles hitting the fender liners knock quite loudly.

We are considering internal combustion engines

It is necessary to compare the Lada Vesta and Skoda Rapid in this most important aspect. The liftback from the Czech Republic has three engines, the domestic novelty has only two.

• The sixteen-valve Czech engine has a power of 90 horsepower with a volume of 1.6 liters. It accelerates to hundreds in 11.5 seconds, and the maximum speed is 185 km/h. Maximum torque – 155 Nm. The Skoda Rapid does not consume much gasoline: 7.8 in the city and 5.8 on the highway.
• The second engine of the Czech car is somewhat more dynamic, but consumption remains at the same level.
• The opposed Lada Vesta internal combustion engine has a power of 106 hp and a volume of 1.6 liters. Torque at the maximum point is 148 Nm. To accelerate to 100, the car needs to spend 11.8 seconds. The maximum speed of the car is 178 km/h, and fuel consumption is quite high: 9 liters in the city and almost 7 on the highway.
• The best engines of competitors are almost compatible in terms of performance. A comparative analysis determined that the Skoda engine is more dynamic and very rare in class B (1.4 l/125 hp). It produces a maximum speed of 200 km/h.

On a note!

AvtoVAZ designers are successfully working with the Renault-Nissan alliance. The French were developing a new H4M engine, which will be installed on future Vesta configurations. This unit will stand out for its particular reliability and unpretentiousness.

Car interiors and engines

Guarantee of AvtoVAZ and a competitor in the form of Rapid

For detailed information, see the websites or car dealerships of AvtoVAZ and Skoda. Let me highlight the main points:

Both concerns provide a warranty period of 3 years or 100 thousand km, subject to timely maintenance at the dealer. Skoda promises to preserve the body from through holes appearing for a couple of years longer and provides a replacement vehicle for 5 days or less if prompt repair of yours is impossible.

If we compare gearboxes and chassis

The quality of the 5-speed manual transmission is not satisfactory in both models, which was proven during testing (test drive). AMT on Lada Vesta is created on the basis of a manual transmission. Many note that the development was not entirely successful. The Skoda Rapid automatic transmission works smoothly, without failures and has five ranges.

Interesting!

For the 1.4-horsepower engine of the Czech brand, the designers have developed a preselective gearbox, which is the standard for efficiency and shift clarity.

The suspension of the cars is no different from each other: MacPherson struts at the front, torsion beams at the rear. The controls of the models are quite pleasant and convenient. Even despite the high ground clearance, the cars handle turns well.

Body comparison

This time, Skoda has updated the Rapid with the best comprehensive facelift. This is the second update since its launch, but the previous one was very minor. The C-segment sedan gets a new front profile, a longer list of features and a more powerful diesel engine, which was recently introduced in the Volkswagen Ameo.

The Skoda Rapid Black Edition looks exactly like the old car. The only difference in the comparison is that the headlights are darkened and the alloy wheels are now black. Rapid now receives projector lamps. This gives it a very sporty look. The Skoda Rapid is now aimed at the younger buyer. The front end as well as the rear end remain unchanged and there are no changes on either side.

Skoda has definitely chosen the best balance of body paint and metal thickness when it comes to suspension tuning. With the exception of the Laura vRS, all Skoda models have a great balance between ride and handling, and the Rapid is no different. The ride quality never becomes intrusive unless you're off-roading. The steering is well weighted and provides a reasonable amount of feel even at high speeds. Despite the different body styles, the Skoda has a more spacious cargo compartment. The car's trunk is 550 liters. compared to 480 l. in Lada.

If we compare the appearance of the salons

Reviews 2020 make it clear that the approach to the interior is similar to the attitude to the exterior.

The interior of the Lada Vesta is impressive with a dashboard with three “wells”. The three-spoke multifunction steering wheel is incomparably easy to use. The center console keys work quickly and flawlessly. The car seats have solid lateral support built into them. The visibility from the car has large angles, which allows you to be alert in any situation. The rear sofa of Vesta pleases with space and three headrests.

The interior of the Skoda Rapid is filled with rationality and pedantry. They highlight the comfort in the front seats, the speed of reading electronic segments, and the steering. Here everything is successfully and tastefully placed in its place and there is nothing superfluous. In numerous videos you can observe all these undoubted advantages.

LADA VESTA SW / SKODA RAPID

Specifications

Salon and trunk

The interior of both cars is quite spacious for their class. High-quality fabric, plastic and leather are used for its finishing. If the Russian sedan is dominated by dark shades, then to decorate the interior of its rival, the manufacturer uses a combination of dark and light tones, which gives the interior freshness.

The Skoda dashboard has a rather strict design. All buttons and keys for controlling the car are located under the multimedia system, as well as on the steering wheel, which is small in size and has excellent responsiveness. The button layout is approximately the same in the domestic sedan. The multimedia of the first car sounds good, but does not have such a huge touch screen as that of its rival. By the way, the sound of its device is very pleasing to many drivers. The cars have good noise insulation, which is at approximately the same level.

The seats of both cars have comfortable lateral support and many settings and adjustments. They can be equipped with heating depending on the configuration. The cars are quite comfortable, both front and rear, even when traveling over relatively long distances.

The trunk of the liftback is more spacious than that of the sedan. The Rapid has a volume of 550 liters, while the West has only 480 liters. But in both cases, such dimensions should be enough to accommodate not only the most necessary things, but also quite large cargo. In addition, the luggage compartment space can be increased by folding down the rear bench.

Comparison of technical characteristics

Skoda Rapid and Lada Vesta have fairly similar dimensions. The liftback of the Czech concern has a length/width/height of 4500/1700/1500 mm, while the dimensions of its rival are 4410/1764/1497 mm. Thus, the domestic car is slightly shorter and lower than its opponent, but at the same time somewhat wider. True, these differences are practically invisible to the eye and are not noticeable during operation. The first car has ground clearance of 150 mm, and the second – 178 mm. Therefore, we can say that the Russian has significantly better cross-country ability and feels more confident on a bad road.

The cars are distinguished by excellent technical equipment. In them you can find many modern safety and comfort systems, which are usually installed on more expensive vehicles. At the same time, their work is distinguished by accuracy and consistency, even in the Russian sedan, the quality of the equipment of which most of the first owners doubted. But their fears were in vain. In the minimum configurations, the range of useful functions in both cases will be small. But they are quite enough to ensure sufficient safety and to move around comfortably.