When Skoda Auto India announced plans to bring out a sedan, especially after the success of the Kushak, the SUV becoming a force to be reckoned with, we had to stop and understand this strategy. But this is a simple one. The Rapid saw a big jump in sales when new variants of the car were launched at an affordable price point, but we know for a fact that the replacement won’t be that affordable.
Then there was a huge gap that needed to be filled… Octavia is now leaning towards the premium side, and the baton has been handed over to Slavia.
Slavia is now what Octavia was in India more than two decades ago, and it looks part too.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
Skoda Slavia Design
slavia is now, what Octavia That was more than two decades ago in India, and it looks the part too. We called it Baby Octi and that’s a lot. From the crystalline elements to every aspect you see on the headlamps, the butterfly grille and the face itself all make the Octavia’s comparison even more evident. But then you have the L-shaped DRLs that give the Slavia a unique look and these 16-inch wheels are available in various variants which give it a good stance. The sloping roof also adds to the overall look of the sedan and once you love the rear you will see C-shaped LED tail lamps and of course, there is Skoda badging on the boot lid. And I must say it looks really sleek and sexy wearing this tornado red color outfit. There is a lot more to be said on the dimensions front as well.
The Skoda Slavia has a wider, longer and longer wheelbase than its rivals.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
| Skoda Slavia | honda city | Hyundai Verna | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4541 mm | 4549 mm | 4440 mm |
| Width | 1752 mm | 1748 mm | 1729 mm |
| Height | 1507 mm | 1489 mm | 1475 mm |
| wheelbase | 2651 mm | 2600 mm | 2600 mm |
| surface | 179 mm | 165 mm | 165 mm |
So as you can see, on paper, the Slavia is wider, longer, and also has a longer wheelbase than its rivals.
But does that translate into more room in the cabin?
Skoda Slavia Cabin
It does and has a good amount of head and shoulder room in the front and ergonomically speaking, everything is on hand, the seat is also comfortable, offers good lumbar support, and is snug too. And these are definitely airies too which we love. Now at its center is this 10-inch touchscreen system, which really provides all the info you need, and gets wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity but that’s only in the top trim. The lower variant will get a 7-inch touchscreen system. There is also a digital instrument cluster which you get which is an eight-inch unit and you also have layout options including, of course, the sunroof and connected car technology too, so Skoda has covered all the bases.
There’s a sunroof and connected car technology, so Skoda has covered all bases with the Slavia.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
Due to the long wheelbase, there is ample space at the rear as well. I was very comfortable in the back thanks to the 2651mm wheelbase and the knee and headroom was quite good. There is a rear AC vent and 2 Ctype chargers for the convenience of the customers. Now, there is good shoulder and headroom and the large glass area also adds to the aesthetics of the cabin. The cool thing here is that the middle seat has a three-point seatbelt and it gives Slavia a big thumbs up.
There is more than enough room in the boot.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
There is more than enough room in the boot; Its 521 liters and if you slide down the rear seats, there are 1050 liters on offer and that’s huge.
Due to the long wheelbase, there is ample space at the rear as well.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
Skoda Slavia Engine
The 1-litre turbocharged engine produces 114 Bhp and that’s enough power for a car of this size. It’s fun to drive and it doesn’t hesitate once you point it in the direction you want it to go, the gearbox is a torque converter unit that’s 6-speed and it’s actually very responsive , but it posts a loud 2,300 rpm, although you feel the improvement in the way you drive it, there is a lot of engine noise that seeps into the cabin and this is such a premium car that is not good.
The gearbox is a torque converter unit which is 6-speed and is really very responsive.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
Initial acceleration is lacking and that’s what we encountered with the Kushak, but it has a strong mid-range and that’s good. I even managed to get my hands on the manual version.
The manual is a 6-speed unit and is very attractive. The clutch is a light long travel though, and it can prove to be a bit irritating in traffic conditions. However, the throws are short and that’s good. In fact, the gear shift is nice and fast and easy to do too because you can easily shift it with minimal effort using just one finger and that’s great!
The starting speed is lacking and the same is what we did with the Kushak.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
Now Skoda is known for its ride and handling capabilities and hence there are high expectations from Slavia too
Skoda Slavia Ride & Handling
As far as ride and handling is concerned, the Slavia is a mix of sporty and comfort and Skoda has really found the best position here, as it has managed to get the combination right. Now, if I go through this deep pit, Slavia takes it in stride and that is great because being comfortable in the car this premium is definitely an expectation from the consumers. The steering is also well weighted and doesn’t feel lifeless at all. Cross the three-digit mark and there’s a sense of heaviness to it that’s really appealing to drive and of course to the person behind the wheel!
Cross the three-digit mark and there’s a sense of heaviness to it that’s really appealing to drive and of course to the person behind the wheel!
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
Skoda Slavia Safety Features
On the security front, the Slavia gets a whole bunch of them as standard. You get ESC, vehicle stability control, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brakes, traction control, and more and of course, it gets 6 airbags in the top-spec model. So yes, a lot was done in that department!
You get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard features.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
Skoda Slavia Price
But there is one department we know nothing about and that is the price. Now its competitors and Skoda say that it is going after Verna and 5th generation Honda City, so I will only compare petrol prices here. City price starts from ₹ 11.23 Lakh and goes up to ₹ 14.98 Lakh, Verna is more competitive as it starts from ₹ 9.32 Lakh and goes up to ₹ 14.27 Lakh.
The steering is also well weighted and doesn’t feel lifeless at all.
photo credit: Pawan Dagiya
0 notes
Considering that Skoda will attack both these cars, we expect the top-end of the 1-litre manual to cost ₹ 11.86 lakh while the automatic will cost ₹ 1 lakh more and yes, I mean the on-road price! There is no doubt that Skoda is serious about India and with a car like the Slavia, it will try to eliminate the competition in one big blow!
for the latest auto news And WaitFollow carandbike.com Twitter, Facebookand subscribe to our youtube Channel.
,