2016 SKODA RAPID SPACEBACK Owner's Manual

Switch on/off ignitionFig. 104
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock / starter button
Read and observe
and on page 86 first.
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock » Fig. 104 -

Ignition switched off, engine switched off
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Switching on /off ignition in vehicles with starter button
›
Press the » Fig. 104 -
 button, the ignition is turned on / off.
On vehicles with manual transmission , the pedal must not be depressed to
switch on / off the ignition, otherwise the engine will start.
On vehicles with automatic transmission , the brake pedal must not be de-
pressed to switch on / off the ignition, otherwise the engine will start.
Starting / stopping the engine
Read and observe
and on page 86 first.
Before starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
For vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and » depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
123Starting the engine›On vehicles with ignition lock, turn the key to position 3 and the engine
starts » Fig. 104 on page 87 
. Then release the key, the engine will start au-
tomatically.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position 1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after 30 s.
›
On vehicles with starter button, press the button briefly » Fig. 104 on
page 87 - 
, the motor will start automatically.
For vehicles with diesel engines the glow plug warning light 
goes on during
starting. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes out.
Switching off the engine
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
On vehicles with ignition lock, turn the key to position
1
» Fig. 104 on
page 87
 .
›
On vehicles with
starter button, press the button » Fig. 104 on page 87 -
 ,
the engine and the ignition will be switched off simultaneously.
For vehicles with automatic transmission, the ignition key can only be removed
if the selector lever is in position P.
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey if the en-
gine has been working at high revs over a prolonged period, but leave it to run
at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumulation
of heat when the engine is switched off.
Emergency shutdown of the engine in vehicles with starter button
The system is equipped with a protective device against accidental switching
off, the engine can only be shut off while driving in the event of an emergency.
›
Keep the knob pressed » Fig. 104 on page 87 -
 or press it twice within 1
second.
After the emergency stop of the engine, the steering lock will remain un-
locked.
CAUTION
When the outdoor temperature is below -10 ° C, the selector lever when start-
ing must always be in P mode. 87Starting-off and Driving

Note■The engine running noises may be louder at first for a short time after start-
ing the cold engine.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period, otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
■
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan may (also intermittently)
continue to operate for approx. 10 minutes.
Problems with the engine start - vehicles with starter button
Fig. 105
Starting the engine - Press the
button with the key
Read and observe and on page 86 first.
If no engine start is possible and the display of the instrument cluster shows a
message that the key could not be detected by the system or there is a system
fault, then try to start the engine as follows.
›
Press the starter button with the key » Fig. 105.
If the engine does not start, the help of a specialist garage is required.
CAUTION
The key may not be detected by the system if the battery in the key is running
out of charge or the signal fails (strong electromagnetic field) or is shielded
(e.g. in an aluminium case).
START-STOPsystem
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Operation
88
Manually deactivating/activating the system
89The START STOPsystem (hereinafter referred to as the system) reduces
CO 2emissions and harmful emissions, and saves fuel.
If the system determine that the engine is not needed when the vehicle stops
(e.g. at the traffic lights), it turns off the engine and starts it again when mov-
ing off.
The system function depends on many factors. Some of them are down to the
driver, while others are systemic and can neither be influenced nor identified.
For this reason, the system may react differently in situations which seem
identical from the driver's perspective.
The system is automatically activated every time the ignition is switched on
(even when it has previously been manually deactivated with the  button).
Note
If the engine has stopped due to the system, the ignition remains switched on.
Operation
Fig. 106
Display
Vehicles with manual transmission
The engine is automatically switched off as soon as the vehicle comes to a
halt, the shift lever is moved into neutral and the clutch pedal is released.
The engine is automatically started as soon as the clutch pedal is depressed.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The engine is automatically switched off as soon as the vehicle comes to a
halt and the brake pedal is operated.
The engine is automatically started as soon as the brake pedal is released. 
88Driving

Requirements for the system to function correctly
The following conditions must be met for the system to function correctly.
The driver's door is closed.
The driver has fastened the seat belt.
The driving speed was higher than 4 km/h after the last stop.
No trailer or other accessory is connected to the trailer socket.
System status
The system status is shown in the display when the vehicle comes to a halt
» Fig. 106 .
The engine is switched off automatically; when moving off, the ignition
process will be initiated automatically.
The engine is not switched off automatically.
The engine does not shut down when the vehicle stops, if e.g. the following
applies.
▶ The engine temperature for the proper function of the system has not yet
been reached.
▶ The charge state of the vehicle battery is too low.
▶ The current consumption is too high.
▶ High air conditioning or heating output (high fan speed, big difference be-
tween the desired and actual interior temperature).
If the engine has shut down automatically but the system detects that the en- gine is required to run (e.g. if the brake pedal is pressed repeatedly) then the
system automatically starts up the engine.
More information about the current system status can be displayed on the In-
fotainment screen » Owner´s Manual - Infotainment .
If there is a system fault , the following message will appear in the display of
the instrument cluster. Seek help from a specialist garage.Note■ If the driver's seat belt is removed for more than 30 seconds or the driver's
door is opened after the engine has switched off automatically, the engine will
have to be restarted manually.■
No automatic engine shut-down takes place when a vehicle with automatic
transmission is moving at low speed (e.g. during a traffic jam) and remains sta-
tionary after pressing the brake pedal lightly. Automatic engine shut-down
takes place if you press the brake pedal down with more force.
■
For vehicles with automatic transmission there is no automatic engine shut-
down when the system detects a manoeuvring action due to a large steering
angle.
Manually deactivating/activating the system
Fig. 107
Button for the START-STOP sys-
tem
›
To deactivate/activate the system, press the 
button » Fig. 107 .
When the system is deactivated, the symbol 
in the button lights up.
If the system is deactivated, it will be reactivated automatically after the igni-
tion has been switched off and on.
Note
If the system is deactivated when the engine is turned off automatically, then
the automatic start process takes place.
Brakes and parking
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Handbrake
90
Parking
91

89Starting-off and Driving

The wear and tear on the brake pads is dependent on the operating condi-
tions and driving style. In difficult conditions (e.g. urban, sporty driving), the
condition of the brakes should be checked between services by a specialist ga-
rage.
Brake response can be slower if the brakes are covered in moisture or, in win-
ter, have a layer of ice or salt on them . The brakes should be cleaned and
dried by applying the brakes many times over »
.
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the brake pads can occur if the vehicle
has been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the
braking system. The brakes are cleaned by applying the brakes several times
over »
.
Before negotiating a long or steep gradient , reduce speed and shift down a
gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be used, reducing the
load on the brakes. If, nevertheless, there is a need for additional braking, it
should be carried out at intervals.
Emergency braking warning - if it is necessary to brake hard, the system may
cause the brake lights to automatically flash, to alert the traffic behind.
New brake pads must first be “run in” because these do not initially have the
best possible braking effect. Drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or
so.
If the brake fluid level is too low, it can cause faults in the braking system ;
the warning light  will light up in the instrument cluster
» page 30,
 Braking
system . If the warning light does not light up, yet the stopping distance is per-
ceived to be longer than before, the driving style should be adapted in view of
the unknown cause of the problem, and braking kept to a minimum - seek the
help of a specialist garage without delay.
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.
WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
The clutch pedal must be actuated when braking on a vehicle with man-
ual transmission, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. Otherwise,
the functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of accident!
WARNING (Continued)■ Do not depress the brake pedal if there is no requirement to slow down.
This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking
distance and excessive wear - risk of accident!■
Only brake for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the
traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
■
Recommendations for new brake pads should be followed.
■
When stopping and parking, the parking brake should always be applied
firmly, otherwise the vehicle could move off - risk of accident!
■
If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must
be ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced.
Otherwise, the front brakes could be in danger of overheating – risk of acci-
dent!
Handbrake
Fig. 108
Handbrake
Read and observe on page 90 first.
The handbrake secures the vehicle against unwanted movement when stop-
ping and parking.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Releasing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 108 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on. 
90Driving

A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied. The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven
at a speed of over 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds.WARNINGDisengage the handbrake completely. A handbrake which is only partially
disengaged can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can have a nega-
tive effect on the operation of the brake system – risk of accident!
Parking
Read and observe
on page 90 first.
When stopping and parking, look for a place with a suitable surface » .
Only carry out the activities while parking in the specified order.
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in the P
position.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , select gear 1 or reverse gear R .
›
Release the brake pedal.
WARNING■
The parts of the exhaust system can become very hot. Therefore, never
stop the vehicle in places where the underside of your vehicle could come
into contact with flammable materials (e.g. dry grass, leaves, spilled fuel or
the like). - Risk of fire and serious injury can occur!■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave people unattended in the car who
could, for example, lock the vehicle or release the brake - risk of accidents
and injury!
Manual gear changing and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
91
Pedals
91Manual gear changingFig. 109
The shift pattern
The gearshift pattern for the individual gear positions is shown on the gear
lever » Fig. 109 .
The gearshift indicator should be observed when changing gear » page 38.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear
to the clutch.
Engaging reverse gear
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
The clutch pedal must be fully depressed.
›
Switch the gear lever to N.
›
Push the shift lever downwards fully to the left and then forward into
R » Fig. 109 .
The reversing lights will come on once the reverse gear is engaged, provided
the ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gear shift
lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gear shift mech-
anism to wear excessively.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances! 
91Starting-off and Driving

Only a floor mat (ex-factory or from the ŠKODA Original Accessories range)
which can be secured to the attachment points should be used in the driver's
footwell.WARNINGThere should be no objects in the driver's footwell, otherwise the pedal op-
eration can be impeded - risk of accident!
Automatic gearbox
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Select selector lever position
92
Selector lever lock
93
Manual shifting (Tiptronic)
93
Starting-off and driving
94
The automatic transmission performs an automatic gear change irrespective of
the engine load, the operation of the accelerator, the vehicle speed and the
selected driving mode.
The modes of the automatic transmission can be adjusted by the driver by
means of the selector lever.
WARNING■ Do not accelerate when selecting drive mode prior to moving off - risk of
accident!■
Never move the selector lever to mode R or P when driving – risk of acci-
dent!
■
If the vehicle stalls, with engine running, in the D, S , R or Tiptronic mode,
the vehicle must be prevented from rolling away by means of the brake
pedal or the parking brake. Even when the engine is idling, the power
transmission is never completely interrupted – the vehicle crawls forward.
■
When leaving the vehicle, the selector lever must always be set to P. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could be set in motion - risk of accident.
CAUTION
If you want to move the selector lever from position N to position D / S whilst
driving, the engine must be running at idling speed.Select selector lever positionFig. 110
Selector lever/display
Read and observe and on page 92 first.
The selector lever can be moved by shifting to one of the following positions » Fig. 110 . In some positions you have to push the locking button » page 93.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the currently selected
gear are indicated in the display » Fig. 110.
Parking - the position can be set only when the vehicle is at a standstill.
The drive wheels are mechanically locked.
Reverse gear - the position can only be selected when the vehicle is sta-
tionary and the engine is idling.
Neutral (idle position) - power transmission to the drive wheels is inter-
rupted.
Forward mode / sports programme - the gear change takes place in the
position S at higher engine speeds than in mode D
(Sprung position) - choice between positions D and S
In mode D or S, the forward gears are shifted automatically depending on the
engine load, the operation of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed, and the
selected driving mode .
PRND/S92Driving

Selector lever lockFig. 111
Shift lock button
Read and observe and on page 92 first.
The selector lever is locked in modes P and N to prevent the forwards travel
mode from being selected accidentally and setting the vehicle in motion.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
The selector lever lock is indicated by the illumination of the warning light .
Releasing selector lever from mode P or N (selector lever lock)
›
Press the brake pedal and the lock button at the same time in the direction
of
1
» Fig. 111 .
To move the selector lever from mode N to D / S only the brake pedal is press-
ed.
The selector lever is not locked when quickly moving across the position N
(e.g. from R to D/S ). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck,
e.g. in a bank of snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in posi-
tion N for more than approx. 2 seconds without the brake pedal being de-
pressed.
If it is not possible to release the gear selector from mode P in the usual man-
ner, then this can be emergency unlocked » page 151.
Note
If you want to switch the selector lever from mode P to mode D/S or vice ver-
sa, move the selector lever quickly. This prevents modes R or N from being ac-
cidentally selected.Manual shifting (Tiptronic)Fig. 112
Selector lever
Read and observe and on page 92 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever. This mode can be selected both while stopping and while driving.
Switching to manual shifting using the selector lever
›
Push the gear selector from position D/S towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle. The current gear is maintained.
Gear changing
›
To change up , tap the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 112 .
›
To change down , tap the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 112.
The currently selected gear is indicated in the » Fig. 110 on page 92 display.
The gearshift indicator should be observed when changing gear » page 38.
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear
just before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached. If a lower gear
is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no risk of the engine
over-revving.
Note
It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual
shifting of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and
hence the wear of the brakes.93Starting-off and Driving

Starting-off and drivingRead and observe
and on page 92 first.
Moving off and pausing temporarily
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Start the engine.
›
Press the locking button and move the selector lever to the desired position
» page 92 .
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time (e.g. at a crossroads). However, the brake pedal should be de-
pressed, in order to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
Accelerating at maximum speed during the journey (kickdown function)
If the accelerator pedal is depressed while the vehicle is in forward drive mode,
the kick-down function is turned on.
The gear change is adjusted accordingly to achieve maximum acceleration.
WARNINGRapid acceleration ( e.g. on slippery roads) can lead to a loss of control over
the vehicle – risk of accident!
Running in and economical driving
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Running in the engine
94
Tips on economical driving
94
DriveGreen function
94
Running in the engine
During the first 1,500 km, the driving style is decisive for successful the run-
ning in process is.
During the first 1,000 km , the engine should not be charged with more than
3/4 of the maximum permitted engine revs and without the trailer.
From about 1,000 to 1,500 km , the engine can be pushed up to the maximum
permitted engine speed.
Tips on economical driving
Fuel consumption depends on the driving style, road and weather conditions,
and similar such factors.
For an economical driving style, the following instructions must be observed. ▶ Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
▶ Engage the recommended gear » page 38.
▶ Avoid full throttle and high speeds.
▶ Reduce idling.
▶ Avoid short distances.
▶ Ensure the correct tyre inflation pressure is maintained » page 137.
▶ Avoid unnecessary ballast.
▶ Remove the roof rack before driving if it is not needed.
▶ Only turn on electrical consumers (e.g. seat heating) for as long as necessary.
▶ Briefly ventilate before turning on the cooling system, do not use the cooling
system with the windows open.
▶ Do not leave windows open at high speeds.
DriveGreen function
Fig. 113
Shown in the infotainment dis-
play
The DriveGreen function (hereinafter referred to as DriveGreen) evaluates the
driving efficiency based on the information with regard to driving style.
DriveGreen can be displayed on the Infotainment as follows.
›
Press the  button in Infotainment and then tap on the

→
DriveGreen
function surfaces in the display.
A
driving liquid display
With the driving is fluid, the display is located in the middle (near the green
dot). When accelerating, the display moves down, and upwards when braking. 
94Driving