Top Rating: Five Stars For Safety For The Skoda Rapid

MLADA BOLESLAV, CZECH REPUBLIC – Nov 29, 2012: Five stars for safety for the Škoda Rapid: Škoda’s new compact hatch earned good marks in the Euro NCAP crash test for its high level of safety. Euro NCAP recognised the Škoda Rapid’s excellent test results in the areas of occupant protection for adults and children, pedestrian protection and safety assistance systems.

“The Škoda Rapid is one of the safest cars in its segment,” says Frank Welsch, Škoda Board Member for Technical Development. “These Euro NCAP results are confirmation from an independent party. Our compact hatch is an ideal family car offering lots of space for five occupants and their baggage. It is functional, high quality and conforms to top-level safety standards,” says Welsch.

The Škoda Rapid impresses with an expressive design, an outstanding price-value ratio and efficient engines. It sets new standards in the A-segment as a roomy, elegant and at the same time affordable family car. This compact hatch offers its customers clever solutions, excellent economy and comprehensive safety equipment. The Škoda Rapid complements Škoda model line-up between the smaller Škoda Fabia and the larger Škoda Octavia.

The Euro NCAP results confirm these facts, with occupant protection for adults and children rated as 5 stars across the board. “ Škoda makes cars for people. Technology is not an end in itself, but serves to increase safety and comfort for driver and passengers. We are happy that Euro NCAP paid special attention to this aspect,” says Welsch.

Initial awards for the Škoda Rapid reflect the car’s good qualities. More than 110,000 readers of German specialist magazine AUTO ZEITUNG made Škoda’s new compact hatch the winner in the “most affordable car” category. This earned the Rapid the coveted “Auto Trophy 2012.” At the awards ceremony for AUTO BILD’s “Golden steering wheel,” the jury voted the Rapid the best car in the middle/upper class.

Euro NCAP awarded the Škoda Rapid top marks for its comprehensive occupant protection for adults, achieving 94%, with full marks for front-seat passengers both in frontal and side impact tests. Crash dummies also remained almost unscathed in the demanding pole test.

The Škoda Rapid scored very well in child safety, achieving maximum points in the dynamic tests for protection of three-year-old children. Neither front nor side crashes harmed test dummies fastened in their rear-mounted Isofix child seats from ŠKODA Original Accessories. Overall, the Rapid achieved an 80% score in the area of child safety.

Euro NCAP awarded favourable marks for pedestrian protection to the ŠKODA Rapid, with the bumper’s crash behaviour scoring 100%. The bumper is designed to reduce the impact on a pedestrian’s legs in a collision as far as possible. The bonnet scored especially high in areas liable to receive an impact from a child’s head.

The Škoda Rapid’s five-star score was also down to its safety assistance systems, with special mention going to the ESC electronic stability control (standard in EU countries) and belt fastening reminders for driver and front-seat passenger.

The Euro NCAP top score is independent confirmation of the high safety level in the Škoda Rapid. In the area of passive safety, a comprehensive safety package protects occupants in an accident. This includes front, side and head airbags, height-adjustable three-point safety belts with belt tighteners and headrests. The car’s strong structure makes for excellent deformation behaviour in a collision.

ESC including ABS is standard on the Škoda Rapid in EU countries. A long wheelbase and precise suspension make up the basis for stable driving dynamics. Functions such as a tyre pressure monitor, fog lamps with a so-called “corner function” and Hill-Hold Control for starting up steep slopes enhance the Škoda Rapid’s excellent safety level.

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent consortium of European transport ministries, automobile clubs, insurers and consumer protection bodies. The organisation carries out crash tests involving new automobile types and assesses their safety.