At a time when the consumer and market are both turning towards SUVs, Czech carmaker Škoda in a bold move has revealed that its next bet in India will be a sedan. The Slavia has been unveiled recently to the world and will be launched in the market in early 2022. Built on Volkswagen’s heavily localised MQB-A0-IN platform, the Slavia will replace the now discontinued Rapid sedan in the market. It is the second car from the brand to be made on this platform after the Kushaq which was launched earlier this year.

Vertical black slats are upright and extend to the sides of the slim headlights.

Headlamps and taillights come with LEDs and crystalline details.

Skoda Slavia Interior.

DESIGN

According to Škoda, the Slavia comes with the widest body in the segment. It is 1,752 mm wide and 1,487 mm tall while the wheelbase stands at 2,651 mm. Both the headlamps and taillights come with LEDs and crystalline details. The wide, hexagonal grille with a chrome surround and vertical black slats is upright and extends to the sides of the slim headlights. The tailgate bears ‘ŠKODA’ in block lettering in the centre which looks premium. The car gets two-tone alloy wheels and the new metallic crystal blue, and the tornado red paintwork is both exclusives for the Indian market. In all, there is a choice of five body colours for the brand-new sedan. There are three trim levels – Active, Ambition and Style – for the new sedan. The top-end variant Style also comes with an electric sliding glass roof. Overall, the coupé-like design of the car impresses.

INTERIOR

The new Slavia’s interior is based on the latest design concept of brands’ European models. A free-standing infotainment screen measuring up to 25.4 centimetres takes centre stage while the car also gets circular air vents. You also get climate control, ventilated front seats and leather upholstery. Then there’s a digital instrument cluster, ambient lighting and the two-spoke multifunction steering wheel made popular by the Kushaq. The cabin features SmartLink technology enabling the integration of smartphones while the higher trim levels provide access to MyŠKODA Connect mobile online services with ŠKODA Play Apps, which can be used to download a navigation function for the top-end infotainment system. For connecting and charging mobile devices via cable, there are two USB-C sockets in the centre console and another two in the rear while the car also comes with a wireless charging phone box in the front. According to Skoda, the car has a generous boot capacity of 521 litres.

ENGINE

Škoda will offer a choice of two petrol engines for the new Slavia. Both get a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. For the 1.0 TSI with an output of 115 PS and 175 Nm, a 6-speed automatic transmission is optional, while the top-of-the-range 1.5 TSI delivering 150 PS and 250 Nm can also be fitted with a seven-speed DSG. The Stop/Start system is a standard feature on the car and Škoda says it contributes to low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The 1.5 TSI is equipped with active cylinder technology (ACT). When the engine load is low, this system automatically shuts down two cylinders, further reducing fuel consumption on the car. Automatic transmission or DSG variants also boast paddle shifts on the steering wheel.

SAFETY

The Slavia comes with many active and passive safety features. Occupants are protected by up to six airbags. These include airbags for the driver and front passenger as standard, as well as the optional front side airbags and curtain airbags. The sedan comes with ISOFIX anchors and top tether anchor points on the rear seats. The car also gets ESC along with Multi-Collision Brakes. Features such as Hill-Hold Control, rain and light sensors, and cruise control also find a place here so does tyre pressure monitoring system. The Slavia is also equipped with XDS and XDS+. This assistance system is part of the Electronic Differential System (EDS), which improves front-wheel traction. It reacts when the load on the inner wheels is reduced when cornering, and slows down the wheels under the reduced load, preventing them from spinning. Rear parking sensors are fitted as standard while the higher-trim variants come with a rear-view camera.

The writer is Senior Editor at carandbike.com