Skoda Slavia: In a world saturated with sport utility vehicles, the Slavia isn’t the one we expected from Skoda — but it’s the car the company wants to use to help make the three-box body style fashionable again, especially among entry-level drivers.
So, based on the same MQB A0-IN platform as the Kushaq and Taigun, the Slavia intends to shake things up in the sedan space with European design, good dynamics and a roomy cabin.
But is this just another sedan in a dying segment that nobody seems to care about, or does the Slavia have what it takes to be noteworthy? Let’s take a closer look.
Skoda Slavia Design and Road Presence: Subtle Elegance
The Skoda Slavia is groomed like a gentleman, not like a glamour girl. A large grille combines with smooth lines and crisp LED headlamps to provide the car a mature and upscale look.
At 4,541mm in length and 2,651mm in wheelbase, the Slavia appears long and well proportioned. There’s enough chrome highlights and 16-inch alloy wheels to raise a mild eyebrow, but nothing that dominates.
The car sits nice and square on the road and has a good presence, the kind of understated elegance you actually associate with Skoda. It’s the kind of four-door that earns everyone’s respect with a whisper.
The Inside: Roomy, Rock-Solid, and Packed with Features
Open the door of the Slavia and the view is of a two-tone dashboard and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system surround – all of it laid out in a clean, functional way. Material quality is largely good, with soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard and robust switchgear.
Space is the real star here. There’s good leg- and head-room in both the front and rear seats, while the 521-litre boot is right at the sharp end of its class, too. Rear-seat passengers particularly benefit from the almost flat floor and broad seat base.
And once you throw in amenities like ventilated front seats, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, a digital driver’s display and a modest sunroof, and the package suddenly feels very premium.
Engine and Performance: Two TSI Choices, A Single European Vibe
The Stavia is available in India with two turbo-petrol powertrain options.
1.0-litre TSI (115hp, 178Nm)
1.5-litre TSI with 150hp and 250Nm, with ACT (Active Cylinder Technology)
The 1.0 TSI is perky and smooth, mated to either a 6-speed manual or torque converter auto. It is more than sufficient for around-town use and short bouts on the open road.
But the true enthusiast’s pick is the 1.5 TSI, which has a punchy, smooth nature and an appetite to rev.
Mated to a 6-speed manual (or 7-speed DSG), it provides decent mid-range grunt but is still frugal, with cylinder deactivation helping to ensure reasonable numbers at the pump.
Ride and handling: The European DNA Remains evident
One of the Slavia’s best traits is its ride quality and handling balance. The suspension is dialed in for Indian roads – soft enough to soak in potholes but taut enough to inspire confidence at triple digit speeds.
The city steering was light, and it weighted up well on highways.
It has a planted feel at triple-digit speeds and feels composed on twisty sections of tar. In a lot of ways, the Slavia reinstates the “driver’s car” impulse that many sedans have gradually let slip over the decades.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Graceful and well balanced styling
Lots of space, feels upmarket inside
Healthier Turbo power plants
Superb combination of ride and handling
Sunroof Ventilated front seats Plus LOTS of other EXTRAS!!!!
Big boot space (521 litres)
Cons
No diesel engine option
No ADAS or 360-degree camera
1.0 TSI can sound strained under full load
AC touch controls aren’t very intuitive
DSG reliability doubts (from previous models)
Skoda Slavia Final Verdict
The Skoda Slavia is like a whiff of fresh air in a world that’s rapidly becoming SUV-defined. With its dashing Euro styling, rock solid build, enjoyable drive, and spacious interior, the Nissan Altima truly raises the bar on what a mid-size sedan can be.
It may not suit those who are interested in a diesel or fancy ADAS tech, but for people who actually enjoy driving and like style and quality, Slavia should be delicious.
If you are out to spend between ₹11 lakh and 18 lakh, looking to break the SUV mould, the Slavia is worth serious consideration.