Skoda Slavia 1.5L TSI Road Test Review – Larger Hearted Performer
Just when you thought that the mid sized sedan segment was just at its all time low and all the sales happening was from the SUV segment Skoda has decided to strike a blow with their all new sedan the Slavia. The Rapid would be replaced by the Slavia. You read our Slavia review of the 1.0L TSI engine now we get you all the dope on the bigger hearted Slavia 1.5L TSI which will surely appeal to the enthusiast and performance seekers.
The exteriors, interiors remain the same on both the Slavia’s so If you missed reading our review of the Slavia 1.0L TSI we get you a rerun on the finer details on how the Slavia is inside out.
Food for Thought
First things first, the Slavia is the third model to have been built using the India specific MQB-A0-IN modular platform from the Volkswagen Group after the Skoda Kushaq and the Volkswagen Taigun. So rightly so lot of underpinnings from the Kushaq would trickle down to the Slavia naturally. The Slavia is the largest sedan in its segment in terms length, width, height and wheelbase. It also has the most ground clearance that of 179mm putting it into the SUV class. The SLavia 1.5L TSI also becomes the most powerful sedan in its class with 150PS of power output and 250Nm of torque.
Exteriors
In terms of looks the Slavia 1.5L TSI looks identical to the 1.0L version which comes like a very handsome looking sedan with loads of road presence. The car is large in dimension and infact is bigger in size if compared to the 1st generation Skoda Octavia. It measures 4,541 mm in length, 1,752 mm in width, and 1,487 mm in height. This makes it the largest car in its class. Compared to the Skoda Rapid that it replaces, the Slavia is 128 mm longer, 53 mm wider, and 21 mm taller. Skoda Slavia also has a 99 mm longer wheelbase than the Rapid. We loved the Frozen Blue shade that you see here in our review. Quality, fit and finish are all top class and easily the segment best which surely will become a benchmark for a long time.
Speaking about the design and exterior styling, the Slavia follows typical styling cues from brand Skoda. It gets trademark Skoda butterfly grille with chrome embellished vertical slats, sculpted bonnet, sleek L shaped LED projector headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights and razor-sharp crystalline character lines across body is what we loved the most on its side profile. It runs on dark tone 16 inch alloy wheels.
The window glass area is vast and runs a premium looking beltline defining it while there also is a chrome kink that glorifies the C-pillar. Smart looking SKODA badging on the fenders like seen on the Kushaq make the sides look more rich while the roof comes with a electric sun roof and a shark fin radio antenna finished in glossy black.
The rear profile is highlighted with sharp styled LED tail lamps that extend into the bootlid along with SKODA badging on the lid. Rear bumper gets a chrome garnish with stop reflectors that run across the width defining it and making it look wider. Overall the styling on the Slavias exterior looks classy, premium and very catchy. The sedan appears to have taken inspiration from coupes, visible in its silhouette. It is claimed to have taken inspiration from Bohemian crystals and Skoda’s DNA. And yes the Slavia reminds a lot of the Audi A4 especially from the rear profile. There is no special badging for the 1.5L Slavia differentiating it from the 1.0L version which could be good for some buyers while some would want to flaunt their larger capacity sedan over the smaller hearted one.
Interiors
Inside the cabin too the 1.5L Slavia gets the identical interiors like the 1.0L version, the sedan gets a triple layered dash board that looks and feels premium finished in black, faux gold anodized and beige color with glossy black inserts. The key highlight is the 10-inch touch-screen infotainment system with all the connectivity features on it, this is the same AVN unit also seen on the Kushaq but is placed in floating style on the dash. The steering is a dual-spoke wheel, identical to the one Skoda Kushaq gets with glossy black inserts, MFD buttons and height/reach adjust.
The Slavia 1.5L TSI comes with an 8 inch all digital instrument cluster that looks premium and up market. The housing for the digital cockpit gets Skoda badging on both sides. The climate control again is a single zone unit as seen on the Kushaq which retains the touch and slide control. You also get ambient lighting on the interior package of the SlaviaThe cabin gets a dual-tone premium looking theme. The features include rear AC vents, wireless charging, digital cockpit etc. In terms of seating the Slavia gets ventilated front seats. Driver’s seat gets height adjust while the seats get dual tone faux leather upholstery on the top end trim.
Seat comfort feels very good and the spacious cabin reminds you a lot of the elder bother the Octavia in terms of comfort, premium quality, space and styling. You get two USB C ports in the front and two at the rear along with wireless mobile charging upfront on the Slavia. At the rear you get three adjustable head rests, folding arm rear and rear AC vents along with two USB C type charge ports. Due to its large dimension the Slavia’s rear seat comfort is extra ordinary where the passenger can stretch his feet with ease. Seats offer excellent support and comfort with good under thigh and back padding. Best in class knee room, head room, shoulder room and leg room are it’s key hallmark for the rear seating.
The Skoda Slavia comes with a best in class largest boot capacity that of 521 litres which can take in 4 suit cases with ease. And yes this already large boot space can be further extended to 1050 litres by folding down the rear seats.
Engine – Transmission – Drive
This the chart topper Skoda Slavia comes powered with the 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine that generates 150 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque. Transmission options are the 6-speed manual and also a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. We drove the Skoda Slavia 1.5L TSI Manual Transmission for our review.
To start off this larger engine model feels highly refined at idle and also has a meaty roar to it. Rev the engine and you notice the turbo spooling in style. Shift to drive mode and the Slavia glides ahead in style. The sedan drives in a very mature way mainly due to its sheer size and the way its suspension and chassis is fine tuned. The Slavia 1.5L drives extremely well under all conditions delivering a very plush drive to its occupants. The key highlight is the way this sedan hugs the corners at high speeds without much body roll to the rear passengers. The larger engine hits out more power and that is evident from the word go with the Slavia pouncing ahead in robust style, ease and grace.
The steering has a very positive feedback to it and feels lively at all speeds giving a connected feel to the driver. The 6-speed manual transmission shifts without any lag or juddering with precise action. The gear ratios are tuned for performance and the Slavia 1.5L has loads of it. This version of the Slavia is meant for performance and the drive pleasure is loaded till the brim on it. The Slavia 1.5L TSI delivers unmatched drivability with finesse across all power bands and conditions.
Safety
Safety-wise, the Skoda Slavia 1.5L comes with six airbags, ESC, an electronic differential system (EDS), a tyre pressure monitor, hill-hold control (optional), a rear parking camera, multi-collision brake and ISOFIX child seat mounts, self cleaning disc brake.
The Skoda Slavia is offered in three trims – Active, Ambition and Style. Color options include – Tornado Red, Crystal Blue, Candy White, Reflex Silver and Carbon Steel.
Competition Check
The Skoda Slavia competes against the likes of the Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna and the it’s cousin the Volkswagen Virtus that’s upcoming. Noteworthy here is that Volkswagen will unveil their Vento replacement the Virtus soon too that will also share a lot of underpinnings of the Slavia. Bottom-line here being that the Slavia 1.5L TSI is the most powerful sedan in the class overpowering its competition and also the only car in its class to come with Dual Clutch Automatic transmission option.
Verdict
The Skoda Slavia 1.0L is the one to go for if you want an efficient yet fun to drive spacious sedan but if you are still power hungry and want best in class sedan that will bring a smile to your face each and every time you get behind the wheels of this sedan. Do we recommend the Skoda Slavia to you? Yes we surely do and if you think it’s expensive to run and maintain a Skoda well think again as Skoda is offering you an unmatched Cashless Service package at ₹24,499 for 4 years which can be also extended to 2 more years if you desire to give you a peaceful stress free cashless ownership experience. Well if you are the one who wants unmatched performance, safety, drive pleasure and European looks the Slavia 1.5L TSI is just the perfect sedan that you can get out there.
