2022 Skoda Slavia review, road test

Based on the Volkswagen group’s MQB A0 IN platform, the Slavia shares its underpinnings with the Kushaq SUV, as well as the Volkswagen Taigun and the upcoming Virtus, thus, benefitting from economies of scale. The ‘IN’ in the platform name represents its nearly 95 percent localised content, which helps to keep a check on costs and enables Skoda to keep prices competitive. Like its SUV sibling, the Slavia boasts of the longest wheelbase, at 2,651mm, in the segment. It is also the widest and tallest amongst its rivals, and is significantly larger in dimension than the outgoing Rapid it replaces. Speaking of which, the Slavia’s structure is nearly 30 percent stiffer than the outgoing Rapid’s PQ25 platform, and that also reflects in its fantastic driving dynamics (more on that later).

Visually though, the Slavia sports traditional Skoda design cues such as its chrome-rimmed butterfly front grille, and the sharply cut LED headlamps featuring a very attractive crystalline effect. Even the sculpted bonnet is reminiscent of modern Skodas, and its clean-cut side profile, with tasteful use of chrome on the door handles and window, lends it a classy appeal.

The 16-inch alloys sport a two-tone effect, although they look a bit small, and the raised ride height makes the large gap in the wheel arches appear ungainly. It features slim LED tail-lamps with an attractive crystalline effect, and the neatly sculpted boot lid and the smartly spaced-out Skoda lettering add a nice touch to the rear styling.

We’re sore that Skoda hasn’t opted for any visual differentiation between the Style variants of the 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI, not even a badge. We’ve learnt that Skoda will offer a red ‘I’ in the TSI badge of the 1.5 variant at a later stage to strike a subtle differentiation, however, a sportier Monte Carlo or RS treatment would certainly make 1.5 TSI buyers, who are spending an additional Rs 2 lakh for the bigger engine, feel a bit more special and truly give them their money’s worth.