2022 Skoda Salvia 1.0 TSI - Driven

Skoda has chosen to add yet another sedan in a crossover-frenzy market, enough to challenge the competition? Let’s find out

Under the India 2.0 program, Skoda Auto, which is heading the program plans to bring in a slew of products. After the successful arrival of the Kushaq, Skoda has shifted focus to a segment that made it popular in India – the sedans.

The all-new Slavia is essentially a Skoda Kushaq underneath with a lot of changes. It will replace the Rapid from the line-up. But the big question is if Slavia can divert the buyers from the popular crossovers in the market right now.

2022 Skoda Salvia 1.0 TSI – Driven

• Year: 2022
• Make: Skoda
• Model: Slavia
• Engine: inline-3
• Transmission: 6-Speed Torque Converter
• Horsepower @ RPM: 114
• Torque @ RPM: 127
• Displacement: 1.0 L
• car segment: midsize cars
• size: Mid-Size
• Purpose: Family Cars
• body style: sedan

Let’s talk Design

There is disc brake in the front and drum brakes in the rear

Skoda likes to spend a lot of time on the exterior and it has always been a cornerstone for the brand. The Slavia gets dripped-down design elements of the cars like Octavia. In fact, the front end is heavily inspired by the Octavia. The butterfly grille, headlamps, and the L-Shaped DRLs help it look like a mini Octavia.

This particular model was the 1.0 TSI with the six-speed torque converter auto

The headlamps get typical Skoda detailing and there are crystalline elements and chrome as well. A lot of inspiration from the Superb, I would say. Skoda is aiming for a sporty design on the Slavia. With the sharp air vents and bumper, it definitely gets the looks Skoda was aiming for.

It gets deep creases on the side (SWIPE UP FOR MORE DETAILS)

The side profile remains noise-free and there is nothing much happening around here. There are strong creases that run through the length of the car. The Slavia is tall and it gets a lot of ground clearance. Skoda, however, offers only the 16-inch alloy wheels, even with the top-end variants of the car. Skoda has preferred the ride and comfort and we are not complaining about it.

Walk to the rear and you will immediately know that the design is heavily inspired by the new 2021 Jetta. The split tail lamp with crystalline detailing is in the rear lamps as well. Slavia gets a busy rear-end design with a lot of contours. But we appreciate Skoda’s choice of using a limited amount of chrome on the car.

Skoda Slavia dimensions

The stance of the Skoda Slavia may look awkward to some because the brand wanted to add a lot of ground clearance.

Which is good, especially for the Indian market. The Slavia is much longer than the Rapid and is wider and taller as well. It gets a 99mm longer wheelbase. The Slavia is longer than the Ciaz, wider than the Maruti Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, and the Honda City!

What is the cabin of the new Slavia is like?

It gets a fully digital instrument cluster

Skoda has always been on the top when it comes to the quality of the cabin and the Slavia is no different. There is much attention to detail and the use of high-quality materials that make the cabin feel plush and rich. The fit and finish are slightly better than Kushaq but you cannot expect it to feel as good as the Octavia or the Superb.

It is a double-decker dashboard that is dissected by a gloss black trim. The premium feel comes from another horizontal brushed-gold element that goes across the dashboard as well. The steering feels good to hold and the top-end variant gets a leather wrap. It is a two-spoked steering wheel just like all other new-generation Skoda cars.

The Slavia gets big, comfortable seats with premium dual-tone upholstery. During our drive in Goa, the ventilated seats came in handy. The climate control system is touch-sensitive, which is not very practical to use while driving and the gloss-black panel attracts a lot of smudges as well.

Skoda has worked to offer as much space as possible. There are cubby holes and small bins for your knick-knacks.

The rear also gets a generous amount of space and if you planning to get a chauffeur-driven sedan, the Slavia can be on your list. Since it is a tall car with a lot of ground clearance, the rear seats are not sunken down. The passengers get good visibility. Even though the Slavia is the widest car in the segment, the third passenger will have to be squeezed in.

How is Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Automatic to drive?

Skoda offers two engine options with the Slavia. There is a 1.0-litre TSI and 1.5-litre TSI. We will tell you more about the 1.5-litre TSi on 3rd March.

The 1.0-litre TSI engine is a three-pot turbocharged unit that generates a maximum power of 115 PS and a peak torque of 172 Nm. It is available with a manual six-speed transmission as well but we only drove the torque convertor automatic so we will talk only about that.

The puny engine is very smooth. You do not feel that the engine is actually turned on during idling. It offers a strong low-end torque and a mid-range as well. With the automatic transmission, there is minimal turbo-lag. It is a perfect engine for the city. Yes, it is a good choice for occasional highway drives as well but the in-gear acceleration is not adequate to do high-speed overtakes.

It takes on the likes of Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and Hyundai Verna

However, it has enough grunt to hit the three-digit mark without any hiccup. The straight-line stability is exceptional and it darts ahead. But the Slavia needs to reduce speeds to enter the corners.

Now that can be because of its high ground clearance. Skoda offers a massive 189mm ground clearance, which is quite high for a sedan. And since it uses 16-inch alloy wheels, there is a lot of space inside the wheel well. The suspension is tuned to absorb all the potholes and it works well. The rear seats do not feel these undulations as well.

There is disc brake in the front and drum brakes in the rear

The 1.0-litre TSI handles well. The steering is not very precise but it is not very unresponsive as well. It weighs up well as the car gains speed.

Skoda Slavia Space

The Slavia gets a massive boot space of 521 litres

The Slavia offers a manganous boot space of 521 litres. It is more space than any sub-4m compact SUV that currently offers in the market. The rear seats are 60:40 split-fold. Dropping both of them down creates a boot space of 1,040 litres that can be used to move homes.

The all-new Slavia offers the longest wheelbase in the segment which translates into a lot of legroom. The swooping roof, however, restricts the headspace of rear passengers. If you are feet tall and plan to use the rear seats often, then you might get disappointed. But you sit high which means you get a good view from the windows.

A third passengers in the rear will be a tight fit

The third passenger will be a tight fit. Since the rear seats offer side bolsters, it creates a platform for the middle passenger that can be uncomfortable. However, Skoda offers adjustable headrests and a three-point seatbelt, trying to offer the most comfortable position for the passenger.

The floor is almost flat and there are rear AC vents that can be moved around but there is no controller for the flow of air. There are two C-Type USB chargers in the rear. The rear seat pockets get dedicated phone holders.

There is a lot of space on all four doors of the Slavia. The driver and co-driver get access to even more space.

Is the Slavia 1.0 TSI a good choice?

It takes on the likes of Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and Hyundai Verna

If you want a chauffeur-driven vehicle loaded with features, the Slavia can be a perfect choice. Yes, it can look raised from low angles but the design stands out in the crowd. Skoda will announce the price of the Slavia in a few hours and that will be a big factor in the success story of the all-new Skoda Slavia. What do you think of the all-new car? Do let us know in the comments below.

Keyword: 2022 Skoda Salvia 1.0 TSI - Driven