Skoda Slavia: In a field littered with SUVs, the Skoda Slavia boldly draws attention back to the good old sedan, packages European flair with peppy performance and everyday convenience.
Positioned as a successor to the now defunct Rapid, the Slavia takes the locally-made MQB A0-IN platform adopted specially for India as part of Skoda’s “India 2.0” plan.
It is based on the same underpinnings as the Kushaq SUV but infuses the design with a more planted, engaging and spacious character in a sedan’s form.
Whether you have a taste for edgy design or zoomy performance — or just want a roomy rear seat — the Slavia offers a more sophisticated and premium choice in the mid-size sedan segment.
Sleek and Formulaic Esthetics
The design language in the Skoda Slavia is inspired by the brand’s European DNA. The car looks great from all angles and has very nice proportions.
Up front, it gets a wide grille with vertical slats, tapered smoked LED headlamps combination and a sculpted bonnet, that lends it a sharp yet an elegant front face. >
The clean shoulder line, subtle creases and 16-inch dual tone alloy wheels, give the car a premium looking stance.
The rear is led by those C-shaped LED tail lamps, the Skoda badging that’s spread out toward the boot along with the chrome insertions are much like what we’ve seen on models like the Octavia and the Superb.
Contrasting the brash design of some competitors, Slavia offers a subtle, stylish line, suitable for professionals and families alike.
And of course, there’s its size, which matches its serious nature – at 4541 mm long, with a 2651 mm wheelbase and a 1792 mm width, it’s among the most generously proportioned cars in a show-me-how-you-do-your-car thing class.
169 mm of ground clearance makes it battle uneven Indian roads with aplomb as well.
Luxurious and Intelligent Interior
Enter inside and the Slavia instantly wows with its premium dash design.
The dual-tone dashboard is minimalist and has a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that stands out, along with chrome trims and honeycomb-textured inserts.
The other modern part on the inside is the two-spoke steering wheel shared with other recent modern Skoda models.
The front seats are well bolstered and ventilated, providing excellent long-distance comfort. Space at the back isn’t much of an issue and the bench and rear AC vents make for a comfortable setting.
Slavia is also one of the rare sedans that get a 521-litre boot, sufficient enough for all the luggage that you may want to carry during those road trips.
There is a good solid European feel to its build. Although soft-touch materials are limited, all the finish, fit and ergonomics works well.
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Tech and Features
Skoda offers the Slavia with quite the feature list, especially on the higher Style trim:
10-inch touch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Wireless charging pad
Ventilated front seats
5.3-inch digital instrument cluster (in some trims)
Automatic climate control
Rear AC vents
Electric sunroof
Cruise control
Automatic headlamps and rain-sensing wipers
Rear Pack-up Camera with Parking Sensors
Connected car tech is one area where Skoda still falls short, with it either limited or not available, depending on what model you opt for.
Some buyers also might be disappointed by the deletion of the subwoofer in certain later editions as well as the smaller touchscreen found in base trims.
Powertrains and Performance
The Slavia is offered by Skoda with two petrol engines, both from the familiar TSI (turbocharged stratified injection) family:
1.0L TSI – Every day an efficient all-rounder
Power: 115 PS
Torque: 178 Nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter auto
And this narrow, 3-cylinder mill is smooth and, perhaps unexpectedly, quite swift. It’s great for city commuting and for leisurely highway cruising.
The torque arrives in good time as well making overtakes a breeze and the engine feels smooth out on the road sailing at mid-range RPMs. Mileage varies from 17-19 km/l, depending on the driving pattern and the gearbox.
1.5L TSI – The Enthusiast’s Choice
Power: 150 PS
Torque: 250 Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG
And, it’s with the 1.5 TSI that the Slavia really spends it power. You get powerful acceleration as well, because it can exceed 0-100 km/hr in under 9 seconds.
The engine is highly polished and rev-happy, and it comes with Active Cylinder Technology, which deactivates two cylinders under light load to save some gas. For real world, 1.5L TSI drive 14-16 km/l.
Quick and premium 7-speed DSG automatic is good, but the engaging manual gearbox is for those who demand the control!
Ride and Handling Balance
The Slavia is tuned with that perfect balance between control and comfort.
The suspension is well damped to handle broken roads, potholes and undulations without being floaty.
It maintains a tight chassis feel, keeping the car buttoned down in corners, so you get the benefits of the firm suspension without all the harshness.
The light steering coupled with the precise nature of it, the strong braking performance, and the confidence at high speeds makes the Slavia an excellent long-distance partner as well.
Whether you’re traversing city streets or cruising the highway, the car is solid, even and has good responsiveness.
The ground clearance is SUV-grade so you never have to settle for speed breakers as many sedans do.
Safety Features
Safety is a priority for Skoda with the Slavia. Standard safety equipment is as follows:
6 airbags (in top variant)
Computerized Stability Control (CSC)
Hill-hold control
ISOFIX child seat mounts
Tire-pressure monitoring system
Rear parking sensors
ABS with EBD
The car has also performed well in early safety assessments, and its solid construction strengthens the confidence its family buyers can have.
Pros of Skoda Slavia
Fabulous European style that makes a statement
Huge boot and lots of room in the cabin
Two turbocharged petrol engines, to meet different driving requirements
Well Balancers handling those tuned for indian roads
Robust safety package with 6 airbags and ESC
Cons of Skoda Slavia
Diesel engine not available; rivals still offer one.
Multiple trims lack connected car features
Base model missing some important features
Availability of spare parts and after-sales service may be an issue in smaller towns.
DSG (1.5 TSI gearbox) with known long-term reliability issues
Skoda Slavia: Final Verdict
The Skoda Slavia caters to people who love not gimmicks but refinement, space and driving pleasure.
It’s a premium sedan experience, in an SUV world, without skipping the necessities.
Opt for the frugal 1.0 TSI or the more enthusiast-friendly 1.5 TSI and the Slavia provides a mix of driveability, space and polish that’s difficult to match at this price point.
It may not offer all of the gimmicks that the Korean rivals have, but the European built car and the ride quality, as well as the turbocharged engines, more than makes up for it.
If all you want is a sedan that doesn’t eliminate to the essentials but makes you enjoy driving again in the ultimate style, especailly when you are having a glance at the prices, each one of those are worth it’s, in every single one of those miles.