Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI AT: Expert Review

A short while ago, it looked like people had forgotten legends like the Skoda Octavia and the Honda City-VTEC. The SUV craze had taken over the country and sedans were left in the dumpster. But at the tail end of 2021, a new contender entered the sedan segment and helped revive the brand and bring back the hype for low slung vehicles in the country. Today we are here to analyse that car, the Skoda Slavia and find out if it’s worth your money.

Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI AT: Exterior Design

From the offset, the Slavia is a good-looking car. At the front it gets strong lines that all converge towards the brand logo placed at the centre of the bonnet. Designed using the Crystalline design philosophy, the four-wheeler's front end is characterised by the signature Skoda grille finished in chrome along with the new LED headlamp clusters with L-shaped DRLs. Excluding that it’s a familiar design we have seen on larger Skoda cars like the Octavia and the Superb.

Moving towards the side we spot twin shoulder lines running right across the length of the car. We can also see the new R16 VING alloy wheels and the clearly visible coupe like silhouette from the side profile, all of which add to the character of the sedan. Towards the rear, we continue to see the Crystalline treatment around the tail lamp units that sport an inverted L-design.

While the mid-size sedan sports many Skoda design cues, the one area where the car distinguishes itself from its elder sibling is with the boot. The fixed rear glass area gives the car a distinctive saloon look, in line with the competition. The company has tastefully used chrome to accentuate the premium feeling while also maintaining a sporty hunkered down look.

Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI AT: Interior Layout and Safety

The new cabin design offers a lot of cool and quirky bits. The first thing you notice when you enter Slavia is how low you are seated. The supremely comfortable seats cocoon you in the lap of luxury offering the best under-thigh support. Despite lacking in overall length and height to its competitor, the mid-size sedan offers the widest cabin with a wheelbase of 2651mm, helping liberate room on the inside. The cabin is airy with a large glass area, while the rear bench is wide enough to seat 3 at relative ease.

Moving to the front seat, we see a new 2-spoke steering wheel along with a large 8-inch digital drivers display behind it. The screen is high resolution and offers readouts for elements like speed, rpm and gear selector. The driver’s seat and the steering wheel get a multitude of adjustments helping you achieve the best possible driving position.

Looking away from the steering wheel, one can see the new multilayer dashboard design borrowed from the Kushaq. Finished in top quality materials, the four-wheeler gets a black and beige theme for the interior. Other highlight elements of the cabin include a new bronze chrome element running across the width of the cabin and a new anti-skid patterned material surrounding the infotainment unit. Being a car from the modern generation, it comes packed with features mentioned below.

In addition to the equipment listed above, the Slavia gets clever bits like a smartphone seat back pocket, reflectors on the front doors, document holder in the front door pockets and a compartment on the driver’s side to store cards.

In terms of safety, Skoda has provided the Slavia with top-notch features including 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, Multi Collision Braking, Brake Disc Wiping, TPMS, Electronic Stability Control and Hill Hold Assist among others.

Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI AT: Powertrain and Performance

Skoda is offering the Salvia with two petrol powertrain options. The first is a 1.5-litre TSI engine mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT producing 150bhp, while the other is a 1.0-litre TSI mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque convertor automatic producing 113bhp.

While we would have loved to test drive the 1.5 TSI, Skoda provided us only with the 1.0 TSI which is the most affordable of the lot. The first impression of this engine is how refined it feels. While the NVH levels could have been better, Skoda has managed to maintain the three-cylinder clatter to a minimum at idle. Rev it hard and the car moves while also becoming noticeably noisier. But it’s not a deal breaker as the sound system manages to muffle the engine note with its strong output.

Despite getting only 113 bhp, the Slavia manages to pick up speed effortlessly. Adding to the effortless experience is the 6-speed torque convertor automatic that offers the smoothest gear shifts. Within the city, the car chugs along well shifting between gears and is always ready for an overtake. Out on the highway, it can maintain triple digit speeds with ease and still has performance left to offer. For the times when you need a quick overtake, the car also comes equipped with paddle shifts.

The drivers’ seat gets a host of adjustments that helps you achieve the best driving position while the wide glass area provides a good view of the outside. The A-pillar is slim, reducing the blind spots around the vehicle.

Rea Also: Hyundai i20 N-Line: Expert Review

Skoda has cracked the best balance between ride and handling with the Slavia. One of the best handlers in its segment, the mid-size sedan is a hoot to put through corners. On the road, the suspension is softly sprung to absorb potholes and bad roads, while not being too soft to unsettle the car on the highway. Attacking the twisty, the Slavia is ready to change direction with ease, the power assisted steering feels direct and the inputs are communicated well to the road. All these characteristics make the Slavia, one of the most fun to drive vehicles in its price bracket.

Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI AT: Verdict

So having spent almost a week with the Slavia and driving it on different road conditions for over 300 kms, we can comfortably say that the mid-size sedan has our heart. A solidly built package offers everything and some more making it unmistakably the best sedan money can buy currently. So, circling back to the initial question, are sedans practical and functional based on our road conditions? I believe so.

Read Also: Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC – Expert Review