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It's a range of small and efficient family car models sold in several automotive markets in the world, but not in the U.S.

Skoda's fortunes has since changed, as it now makes very capable automobiles. Not to be mistaken for the now-standalone engineering company Škoda Transportation or the former parent (state-owned) company Škoda Works. Founded in 1925, Skoda Auto is a Czech automaker that was gradually privatized to the VW Group from 1991 till it became a fully owned subsidiary in 2000.

With its headquarters in Mladá Boleslav, the Czech Republic, Skoda's products are not available in the North American market despite being sold in over 100 countries and a total global sales exceeding 1.25 million automobiles in 2018 alone. As of 2017, Škoda's profit margin was the second highest of all VW brands after Porsche. So, why are Skoda automobiles not sold in the USA? Some say it’s due to the U.S. market being heavily saturated.

We also know that the marquee had a somewhat soiled reputation to repair before attempting a return to the highly competitive North American market. Remember the disastrous Slavic-made Yugo subcompact hatchback? However, Skoda products' quality and design have vastly improved as the cars are now based on German designs, thanks to the VW takeover. Although there is a more compelling reason behind Skoda’s absence in North America, the Skoda Rapid lineup indicates the time is ripe for the brand to win America's hearts. Let’s check it out.

Related: Here Are Skoda's 10 Best Cars Ever, Ranked

The modern Skoda Rapid began life in 2012, but the model has existed since as far back as 1935. The first generation Rapid was a mid-size 4-door saloon propelled by a 1,195 cc Popular Type 920 engine. It also got a sister model, the Skoda Rapid Six, with a 6-cylinder 1,196 cc engine the same year. So, Rapid has really come a long way after staying in production for eight decades and still counting.

Currently, the Rapid nameplate applies to a range of small family car models produced in three body variations, including a 5-door liftback, a 5-door hatchback marketed as "Spaceback," and a 4-door sedan available in China. The Indian market got the VW Polo sedan rebadged as Skoda Rapid in 2011. While all three versions are well-rounded cars, the 4-door sedan is particularly great for American roads and pockets.

Skoda based the Rapid model on the B-segment-focused PQ25 platform. The B-Segment is to Europe what the Subcompact is to America or the A0-class in China. So, the Skoda Rapid falls in the second smallest in the European segments for passenger cars, slotting between the A-segment and C-segment. They’re commonly referred to as small cars, which might sound confusing considering the size of the Rapid.

However, the European segments are not measured by size or weight criteria. They typically fall between 145.7 inches and 165.4 inches in length. It’s Europe’s largest segment, accounting for 20% of total sales in 2020, according to JATO Dynamics.

As for the 2012 Skoda Rapid, the liftback measured 176.5 inches long, 67.2 inches wide, and 57.5 inches tall, while the hatchback measured 169.4 inches long, 67.2 inches wide, and 57.4 inches tall. The sedan version is the largest, measuring 177.6 inches in length, 67.2 inches in width, and 57.8 inches in height. Their curb weights range from 2,425 to 2,848 lb.

Barring the China 4-door sedan, the liftback and hatchback were 5-door front-engine, front-wheel-drive. The Rapid liftback (Typ NH3) pioneered the brand's new design direction, with trim levels including Active, Ambition, and Elegance in most markets, or S, SE, and Elegance in the UK. While its overall dimensions mirrored the Octavia Tour, Rapid offered more rear cabin space, thanks to its longer wheelbase of 2,602 mm vs Octavia’s 2,578 mm. However, both had the same 535 kg (including driver) payload capacity.

The Rapid lineup features three petrol engines and one diesel with various power outputs, all compliant with Euro 5 standards, although Skoda no longer offers the diesel option. Several of the petrol motors have also been Euro 6 compliant since 2015.

Related: 10 European Cars Only True Gearheads Appreciate

The hatchback/Spaceback featured optional low power, 2000 lumens dipped beam xenon headlights to meet state laws and avoid dazzling other motorists, eliminating the need to install a headlight washer system or dynamic range adjustment. It came with a lockable fuel cap included in the central locking system. It was powered by available four petrol and two diesel engines producing up to 121 mechanical horsepower. Other features include an optional false boot floor.

As for the Sedan, the Indian and Chinese markets got two distinct models bearing the Rapid badge. Both are 4-door, 3-box sedans. The India-focused Rapid is based on the VW Vento/Polo while the China version borrows several principal elements of the 2012 VW Santana but retained the Euro-focused Skoda Rapid liftback. They boasted what the marquee called "Simply Clever" features such as a double-sided mat in the trunk (rubber/textile), warning vest holder under the driver's seat, removable waste bin in the door paneling, and ice scraper on the fuel tank flap.

The Rapid nameplate was eventually replaced by the Skoda Scala for the Central and Western European markets in 2019. However, the brand's enduring popularity led to a facelift for the Russian market in 2020.

The next-gen Skoda Rapid arrived in 2020 with a facelift for the Russian market. The 2020 Skoda Rapid sedan and Spaceback are available in China, although only the Sedan is sold in Russia. Also, both markets got different facelifts.

The China 2020 Rapid featured new headlights and taillights gleaned from the European counterpart Skoda Scala. Other updates include restyled grille and bumpers. Both versions are powered by a smooth 1.5L inline-4 producing 109 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque. The engines come paired with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed auto transmission. Such China VI B emission standard-compliant powertrain is ideal for American roads.

Inside, the new Rapid features an 8-inch infotainment system with over-the-air updates capability and support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Summarily, the more logical explanation for Skoda's absence in the US is both VW and Skoda models are substantially the same; won't make financial sense to sell both here, especially considering Skoda products' low price advantage.

Plus, safety standards differ substantially between Europe and North America. One might even see Skoda models as VW’s fighter brands for those markets. Ultimately, the Skoda Rapid is a very competent compact sedan for shoppers prioritizing driving pleasure.

Philip Uwaoma, this bearded black male from Nigeria, is fast approaching two million words in articles published on various websites, including toylist.com, rehabaid.com, and autoquarterly.com. After not getting credit for his work on Auto Quarterly, Philip is now convinced that ghostwriting sucks. He has no dog, no wife- yet- and he loves Rolls Royce a little too much.