2022 Skoda Slavia Set To Reinvigorate The Sedan Segment By Combining Class With Comfort

Ask a kid to draw a car and what do you think he’ll come up with? An exotic Italian supercar? A rugged SUV? No. He’ll draw a classic three-box shaped car. With the engine in the front, people in the second and their luggage in the third. That’s a sedan!

But when was the last time you saw a sedan on the road? With the sea of SUVs flooding the market, it's more difficult to spot one than trying to find Bigfoot! So, when Skoda announced it’ll be developing a sedan for the Indian market, the news came as a pleasant surprise, and we were wondering why…

Well, because a mid-sized sedan is exactly what Indian consumers have been asking for! A hatchback might be too small for Indian families, and an SUV usually won’t have the chauffeur-driven comfort you’re looking for. A sedan, on the other hand, combines the best of both worlds, without comprising anything.

And who better to reinvigorate the mid-sized sedan segment than Skoda? And what better offering to start things off with than the 2022 Skoda Slavia? Don’t believe us? Let’s take a closer look.

Design

With the Slavia, Skoda is not only trying to bring back the sedan segment but also trying to reinvigorate it. Take one look at the mid-sized sedan and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

At the front, you’ll notice a large hexagonal grille, flanked by LED headlights and L-shaped DRLs. But nothing looks jarring here. Skoda has made sure to add clean, subtle lines all over the Slavia’s bodywork. It has also added an ample amount of chrome, further adding to its classy appeal.

Move to the side, and you’ll notice the same clean lines contrasting with the dual-tone 16-inch alloys wheels. The rear though is unmistakable Skoda, with its distinctive LED tail lamps.

With cars like the Skoda Octavia and the Superb in their stable, it doesn’t really come as surprising that Skoda has nailed the design elements of the Slavia.

Interiors

Step inside the Slavia and the first thinking you’ll notice is the attention to detail and the high-quality materials Skoda has used. Just like its exterior, things are kept subtle with soft beige interiors. 

Once in the driver seat, you’ll be greeted by a two-spoke steering wheel, wrapped in leather, laden with all the infotainment controls at your fingertips. Then there’s the 8-inch digital instrument cluster, with three customisable modes. A 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system takes the main stage here, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.

Additionally, you also get the MySkoda Connect app, with convenient features like geofencing, which gives you the live location of your car. Along with it, the app also gives you timely information on your vehicle’s health. In addition to this, there’s also the MySkoda Connect functionality, which gives you the vehicle’s health information remotely and even reminds you where it is parked.  

Being a Skoda, the Slavia comes with a whole host of luxury-packed features. This includes ventilated front seats, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, auto-dimming ORVMs and auto climate control. The needs of the rear occupants have been addressed as well, with a central armrest, dedicated AC vents and two USB-C charging slots. Did we mention, it also comes with a sunroof?

With 521 litres of space, the Slavia’s boot capacity is way more than that of any popular SUV or sedan in the market.

Engine and transmission  

Skoda will offer the Slavia in two powertrains - a 1-litre three-cylinder TSI engine, which makes 115PS and 178Nm, paired to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. 

The other is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI engine, which makes segment-topping 150PS and 250Nm. Pair it with a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, and you get a proper driver’s car. However, if you want to opt for the manual variant, Skoda will also offer the Slavia 1.5 with a 6-speed gearbox. 

Speaking of which, enthusiasts might’ve noticed, this motor makes the similar headline figures found in the very first edition of the Skoda Octavia RS. 

For better efficiency, Skoda has included the clever cylinder deactivation technology to the 1.5-litre TSI mill. This translates to healthy fuel efficiency, without compromising on the typical Skoda performance.

Ride Quality

Get behind the wheel and you’ll see why we’re raving about the sedan. The Slavia combines the best of both worlds, by giving you the dynamics of a sedan around corners and thanks to its 179mm ground clearance, the ability of an SUV to tackle bad roads. 

And it does this by balancing solid ride comfort with the high-speed dynamics you'd expect from a well-engineered European car.

Safety and Convenience

 

In case you get a bit too adventurous, Skoda has packed the sedan with six airbags, ESC, Multi collision brake and ISOFIX anchors. For added convenience, you also get rear parking sensors, cruise control for comfortable drives and hill-hold control so your car doesn’t roll backwards down a slope.

Conclusion 

Familiar with the term have your cake and eat it too? Skoda seems to have taken that approach with the Slavia, and dialled it up to 11. With telepathic driving dynamics and peppy performance, without compromising on any kind of comfort or features, do you any longer have a reason to go for an SUV? We think not.

Of course, being a Skoda, you get plenty of service and warranty options, which come with Road Side Assistance and a 4-year cover period, which covers defects such as paintwork or body corrosion. Like what you see? Check the Slavia out in person, by heading to one of Skoda’s over 150 showrooms spread across India.