It was back in May this year when Skoda launched the BS6-compliant (Bharat Stage 6) Rapid. Surprisingly, the range had no automatic variants. That was weird because the Rapid’s BS6-ready step-sibling – the Volkswagen Vento – did have that option. Well, that difference will soon vanish. On September 17, 2020, the Czech marque will launch the automatic derivatives of the Rapid. For now, bookings have commenced, and the minimum token amount is Rs 25,000.

Like its step-sibling, the Volkswagen Vento, the Skoda Rapid will get a 6-speed torque converter and not a DSG. If that has put you off, here’s some good news – unlike the Vento, the Rapid will have five variants. You can choose the automatic option in five trim levels – Rider Plus, Style, Ambition, Onyx and Monte Carlo. In comparison, there are only two automatic variants of the Vento.

The firepower will come from the same 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. It pumps out 108bhp/175Nm. Skoda says that with the 6-speed AT, the Rapid can return up to 16.24kmpl. That’s a drop of 2.73kmpl when compared to the petrol-MT combination.

In terms of features, the Rapid offers stuff like 16-inch alloy wheels, LED DRLs, rain-sensing wipers and projector headlamps. Indoors, the sedan packs gizmos such as 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, cruise control, cooled glovebox and a multi-function steering wheel. On the safety front, the car offers up to four airbags, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, ABS, front and rear fog lamps, auto-dimming IRVM and rear defogger.

Compared to the competition, the Skoda Rapid feels like a bit of a lightweight in terms of creature comforts. In India, the Czech sedan locks horns with the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Toyota Yaris, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and, of course, the Volkswagen Vento. With the inclusion of automatic transmission, the Rapid will broaden its spectrum. Expect the automatic derivatives to cost around Rs 1 lakh more than their manual counterparts.