The Slavia has a suspension that is tuned for comfort. It is soft and takes road undulations beautifully without transmitting much movement inside the cabin.
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Test drive experience: Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI MT
I test drove the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI manual today. Here are my observations.
Note: The comparisons are from my ownership experience of Rapid 1.6 TDI/ Vento 1.5 TDI/ Polo 1.6 GT TDI in the extended family & driving the Polo 1.0 TSI MT.
Good:
Looks & road presence:
The Slavia is the longest and widest in its segment and it clearly shows in its presence. The car is proportionate and elegant from the sides and rear three quarters. I personally am not a fan of that large front grill though.
Especially in white shade, it looked like a D segment car from the side view.
The Rapid still looks better (personally) from the front. The pic also shows that the Slavia is clearly one size larger than the Rapid:
Ergonomics & space:
The front seats were very comfortable, both adjustable for height. The side bolstering was supportive and nice. Cushioning was perfect too. The steering adjustable for rake and reach, adjustable front armrest make it very easy to find the ideal driving position.
Rear seats are also nicely contoured and provides enough support. Under thigh support is a bit lacking IMO. The large size definitely translates into better space than the Rapid. I don’t think even a family of 6 footers would complain in the Slavia. That being said, the smaller City & Ciaz offer better rear space.
The boot is large (largest in segment) and Skoda provides a full size steel wheel for the spare.
Engine – Power as well as NVH:
Though I was looking forward to driving the 1.5 TSI MT, it was unavailable as the demand for the car is pretty low when compared to the 1.0 TSI. Understandable as the 1.5 is the most expensive and is being provided only in the most expensive Style variant.
The 1.0 TSI is no stranger to me. I have enjoyed it thoroughly in the Polo 1.0 TSI. In the Slavia though, it feels a bit mature, or in other words, slightly less aggressive than what I found it to be in the Polo. It might be due to the additional heft of the Slavia or might be due to different engine tune by Skoda or both. I was impressed with the NVH too. It is very refined unless you are being enthusiastic. Even then, it isn’t coarse. In my experience, the 1.0 TSI is the most refined 3 cylinder petrol I have driven.
100 kmph is at approx 2200 RPM in 6th gear, which is great for calm highway cruising as well as for fuel efficiency.
1.0 TSI will be more than adequate for 90% of our population.
Ride quality:
The Slavia has a suspension that is tuned for comfort. It is soft and takes road undulations beautifully without transmitting much movement inside the cabin. It can be a perfect family car, even for elderly citizens over long distances. The car comes with 205 section 16 inch wheels. Ride quality is an area where Slavia excels over the Rapid. Mind you, the Rapid was one comfortable car in its own right, with a perfectly tuned suspension.
Bad:
Doesn’t feel like a typical Skoda:
The Slavia did not feel like the Rapid/Vento/Polo. The typical heft/solid nature of the doors were clearly missing. The doors no more feel solid, nor does it close with that famous ‘thud’. While it is no scientific indicator/measure of a car’s safety, people who owned Skoda/VW cars in the past will definitely miss that solid feel.
The difference was tangible as I had the Rapid standing besides the Slavia. Even the Kushaq doors felt more solid (still lighter than the Rapid). Even plastics at certain areas felt cheap. Plastics in polo/rapid were hard everywhere, but did not feel cheap. In the Slavia though, certain plastics on the dash as well as the central cup holders felt cheap. The height adjust lever in the drivers seat was already squeaking.
There were no rattles though. The interior layout is neat and classy too.
Steering & handling:
The steering feels light at city speeds, which is a good thing. IMO it did not weigh as much with speeds. It remains light at triple digit speeds and there is very little feedback as well. The soft suspension doesn’t help matters either. The Rapid used to be the driver’s choice C2 sedan in the past. Sadly, the Slavia doesn’t carry forward the baton as a driver’s car.
Egress:
The negative of the Rapid has been carried over here too. The door sills are tall. It takes getting used to, to get out without scraping your foot.
Where Slavia is superior to Rapid:
- Space
- Comfort
- Features
Where Rapid is superior to Slavia:
- Driving dynamics.
Conclusion:
The Slavia is a very good choice if you are among the very few people who prefer sedans today. It is spacious, comfortable, refined, fast and looks elegant. It is infact a great choice for the chauffeur driven folks.
If you ask me whether it is a good replacement for a Rapid owner who prefers driving dynamics, I would say no. The same 1.0 TSI MT made me inherently push the Polo hard, while in the Slavia, the overall dynamics of the car made me drive gentler. Slavia definitely doesn’t connect as well as a Rapid or a Vento/Polo.
The Slavia in the silver shade:
Keyword: Comparison: A Skoda Rapid owner drives the Slavia 1.0 TSI MT