The Perfect Sedan Does Not Exi… Wait! There’s the Skoda Slavia 1.5!
Let’s face it—the first car almost all of us drew as toddlers was a three-box sedan. Even today, I think, kids are doodling the same shape when they aren’t immersed into their parents’ mobile phones. In fact, if you ask even grown-up car enthusiasts about the quintessential shape of a car, most of them would point towards their favourite three-box sedan. It’s a pity, then, that sedans are losing ground (all puns intended) to everything from raised hatchbacks to crossovers masquerading as SUVs, and there are three main reasons for it.
The first is ground clearance, which we Indians think we can’t do without. We don’t believe in improving our driving and civic sense; we just expect our cars to drive over everything in sight, and sedans have been considered notoriously incapable of such antics.
The second is space. We might not have any sense of personal space (that’s why, despite COVID, we still haven’t learnt to keep distance in queues of all kinds), but we expect our cars to accommodate everyone including our neighbours, and their dogs, even if we hate them (the neighbours, not the dogs; you can’t hate dogs). Here too, the sedans have been scoffed at for providing just as much cabin space as a hatchback…
The third is performance. The minority that actually loves driving sedans is forced to move towards other shapes because most manufacturers have just not been providing them with powerful and dynamically sorted sedans that would put a smile on their face.
Then, does the Skoda Slavia 1.5 have what it takes to change all of the above? I drove the DSG equipped specimen (they have a manual too, and I can’t wait to drive it) for over 700 km to find out…
Design and Colours
Last year, I saw a grey-ish coloured Slavia in Gurgaon and I had instantly fallen in love with it . I couldn’t ascertain in those few seconds (it passed by on the opposite side) whether it was a custom-wrap or the factory Carbon Steel colour but it looked drop-dead gorgeous. However, I do clearly remember that it didn’t have the stock alloy wheels…
My test car came in a shade of blue that Skoda refers to as Lava Blue. There’s a Crystal Blue as well, which I think is what most buyers are running after as it’s way brighter than the blue you see here in the pictures. Then there’s Tornado Red, Candy White, Brilliant Silver, Deep Black, and the aforementioned Carbon Steel as well.
Irrespective of the colour, the fact is that it’s a handsome car. The proportions are just right and there are no unnecessary slashes, cuts, creases, lines, etc., used to create a dramatic effect. It’s a simple and elegant design which would look good even decades down the line. The first Octavia still looks good, doesn’t it?
However, I was still not expecting the Slavia to turn a single head because it has been around for almost three years now. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to see it turning way too many heads everytime I took it out. In fact, I had to check the IRVM to see if there was something wrong with my face. There wasn’t. Therefore, if, like me, you don’t like being want the center of attention, get a White Slavia. But, if you’re an attention seeker, that Crystal Blue or Tornado Red will be even more gratifying than the Lava Blue.
Interiors
The interiors are again an understated classy affair. I love them. You’d love the cabin too as it does feel properly premium, but without shouting “hey, I just got rich yesterday!” Also, no one would have any complaints whatsoever with the quality of materials used or with the fit and finish.
Ergonomically too, it’s a brilliant cabin as none of the controls—stalks, switches, buttons, knobs, dials—are hidden like they are in a few cars. However, it’s not all good. Skoda really needs to do away with touch controls for the air-conditioning, and use proper tangible dials instead. Secondly, not providing a 360-degree camera is a glaring omission at this price. Guess what, I am totally okay with adjusting the seats manually. I had tested the BMW Z4 in 2015 and even that came with manual adjustment for the seats. And, forget a surround camera, it didn’t even have a camera of any kind. So I don’t understand why all journalists and influencers cry so much about the lack of powered seats in the Slavia. But, we surely do need a 360-degree camera, Skoda, and that’s coming from someone who has been driving for almost three decades now…
The seats all around are comfortable and there’s a fantastic amount of legroom and kneeroom at the rear. The cherry on top is that the Slavia has one of the largest boots in the segment too. So, yes, your in-laws would be happy with not only the rear seat space, but with the boot space too as it will accommodate all their luggage easily, provided, of course, you’re as accomodating a son-in-law as well.
That said, it would do well for Skoda to start working on providing more powerful air-conditioning systems in Slavia and Kushaq. It’s not that the AC is ineffective right now; it’s just that in the terrible Delhi heat, you end up running it at full blast most of the time, which is not something you expect from a “premium” car. Also, the circular vents at the corners of the dashboard remained underwhelming irrespective of the air-flow setting I chose. Thankfully, the front ventilated seats do come to your rescue.
Performance
This is where you’ll pat yourself on the back for choosing this car. The performance is outstanding. And I am not talking only about the engine, but the handling too. But, first, the customary 0–100 km/h figures: my best time on GPS was 10.0 seconds, which translated to 9.5 seconds on the speedo. Yes, the speedo error is minimal. I reckon the manual to shave at least half a second off because it won’t suffer from the initial hesitation that’s typical of dual clutch transmissions. That said, in traffic-light sprints, you won’t experience that lag because you won’t have your foot on the brake while you floor the throttle. You would leave the brake, and immediately step on the gas…
Overtaking is also a quick affair, even in the normal Drive mode. But if you really want the quickest response, just push the gear lever once back to select the Sport mode and then push it towards yourself to slot it in manual. Unparalleled happiness is guaranteed. You won’t need paddle shifters, but they are there in case you want total control in the ghats…
The handling is sublime too. The steering is perhaps the most direct in the segment, but I wish it weighed up more at speeds over 80 km/h. The sure-footed chassis behaviour more than makes up for it, which ensures that high speed lane changes are a precise affair, and at no point the car feels nervous. What surprised me the most was the tyre grip. Even under extreme cornering the tyres just refused to leave grip! Of course, the ELD (Electronic Differential Lock, which is the same as BLD or Brake Lock Differential in 4x4s, and not an actual mechanical LSD) helps, but I could still feel that the tyre grip itself is second to none in the segment. The braking is phenomenal too, which in turn adds to your confidence.
The only minor complaint that I have is around the abruptness of the DSG while reversing on an undulating incline. Skoda R&D may want to look into the ECM LOGIC and reprogramme it to offer a smoother clutch engagement and fuelling in such scenarios.
Ride Quality and Ground Clearance
The Slavia’s ride quality is certainly not the best in segment, but, honestly, that’s something you’d be happily willing to compromise for the aforementioned sublime handling. In fact, I would even encourage you to upgrade to 17-inch wheels after, say, a year, to further reap the rewards of this car’s dynamic ability.
I must add here that the ride quality isn’t bad by any stretch of imagination. It’s just that if ride quality is your topmost priority, then this isn’t the car for you. This is a proper driver’s car, period.
The ground clearance is also something that will keep you happy. With this car, you can take the worst speed-breakers head on without damaging the car. This is again where the firm suspension helps as well, both in compression and rebound strokes.
Fuel Efficiency
Owning the Skoda Slavia 1.5 would be akin to having your cake and eating it too. How does over 20 km/l sound? Of course, that’s with a feather light right foot, but it’s very much possible. Drive like a devil and it will drop down to single digits, but you won’t be driving like that all the time, right? However, you can certainly choose to drive peacefully amidst traffic. Do that five days a week, and you’ll be able to extract over 700 km from one full tank of petrol. Do you still need a hybrid?
Drive it like a maniac on Sundays, and the range will drop down to 500 km. That’s still good for a car with a 45 L fuel tank. So, yes, you still won’t miss a hybrid. Also, unlike the hybrids, this would give you way more on the expressways, if you’re a law abiding citizen…
NVH Levels, Music System, and Headlights
I’ll take this opportunity to expand what NVH means. It stands for Noise, Vibration, and Harshness, and is a crucial parameter for any car that has the word “premium” attached to it. I am happy to report that the Slavia aces this one as well. At cruising speeds, the cabin can get eerily quiet, which, if you’re driving alone, might compel you to think about your ex. Therefore, you should either refrain from driving alone, or you must listen to some “happy music” because the Slavia’s music system is amongst the best in segment. Or, you may turn the music off, and increase the pace, focussing totally on driving, as, like I had mentioned above, this car has the performance and handling to elevate your mood in a jiffy. And, if you’re driving for happiness at night, the headlights, in true Skoda fashion, are bright enough to have you covered there as well.
Verdict
You may have noticed that I didn’t talk about its 5-star safety rating and other active and passive safety features, because you know all that already. Yes, it’s perhaps the safest car in the segment. But, that’s not the reason I’ll recommend this car to you. You don’t need me for that. You can read that yourself in a brochure. The only reason I’ll urge you to buy this car is for the sheer unbridled driving pleasure it offers, especially at a time when the soulless washing machines on wheels, also known as electric cars, are threatening to take over. Buy a real car while you still can. You will thank me later. And that’s not something you’ll read in a brochure.