@RapidPaul, thanks for your extensive treatise on the looks of the Rapid. Everything you pointed out is true and I have noticed myself but just could not be specific on what's wrong!

Now, a narrower car also has its positive side: when parked at small streets it protrudes less (=less likely to be damaged).

 

That's very true. In some ways the Rapid is like a large city car. It's narrow enough to squeeze through gaps that would trouble other cars, it has fairly light steering and a pretty tight turning circle despite its long wheelbase. 

 

Don't laugh, but I've been noodling around with Photoshop to see what the Spaceback would look like if the C pillar were reworked along the lines of the Fabia/Golf. I still think it looks a bit lumpy, but I guess that's the consequence of having all that space in the back

 

 

One of the reasons I like my Spaceback (and wish I had one in Race Blue) is that it reminds me of my old Innocent Blue Mazda 323f. Now that wasn't a great looking car, but I really enjoyed owning it. This isn't it, but it's very similar:

 

 

Sorry about the thread hijack! 

That's cool. It hides the over stretched wheelbase nicely.

Those old Mazdas were great cars.

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Many thanks for all replies. Very informative and helpful.