• Full five-star safety rating
• Care Connect features emergency call function
• Good standard of safety equipment

As you would expect from the Czech manufacturer’s previous record in this sector, Skoda Rapid Spaceback safety levels are good.

Standard safety equipment includes front, side and head airbags, height-adjustable three-point safety belts with pre-tensioners in the front, ABS (Antilock Braking System) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) systems all fitted as standard.

The Rapid Spaceback and its regular hatch sibling also come with Care Connect, which features an emergency call function, along with service or breakdown calling from a set of buttons next to the front interior lighting switches.

Other optional safety features include tyre pressure control, fog lamps with cornering function and the hill-hold control assistant.

• Ample space front and rear
• Several cubbies and storage spaces
• Front centre console cupholder too high for bottles

Passenger space is where the Rapid Spaceback really shines; there’s an extra eight millimetres of headroom over the saloon and legroom is generous. Even six footers will have little problem in there.

There is no shortage of storage options in the Skoda Rapid Spaceback either, with cup holders, iPhone holders, a sunglasses compartment, waste bins, ticket holders, cupboards and storage nets all available. It even has the trademark Skoda ice scraper hidden neatly in the fuel filler cap.

The Skoda Rapid Spaceback is 4,304mm long, 1,459mm tall and 1,706mm wide. Those numbers are pretty much meaningless on their own, but as a reference point, the Spaceback is slightly smaller than a Vauxhall Astra and a Ford Focus, yet offers more interior and boot space than the latter.

Skoda Rapid Spaceback practicality is very good. Despite not having a boot as big as the Rapid hatchback, that doesn’t stop the Spaceback still being competitive in the sector with 415 litres available stretching to 1,381 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Also included is a double cargo floor which can be used to create an extra compartment, ideal for smaller items that you’d like to leave in there on a more permanent basis. A double-sided floor cover with one carpeted side and the other a rubber like material that is dirt and water repellent. Ideal for carrying wet or muddy dogs or any outdoor gear that may damage the carpet otherwise.

There’s also an array of hooks and nets available to help stop your shopping from rolling out during the drive home from the supermarket while the armrest in the rear lowers to allow longer items to be carried.