Skoda has launched the Slavia Monte Carlo and Sportline variants of the Slavia and Kushaq. Both get a host of changes to the exterior while the Sportsline, based on the mid-variants also adds new features. Priced from Rs. 15.79 Lakhs(Ex-showroom), they are available with both the 1.0L and 1.5L turbo-petrol engines.
Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo: What’s new
Like the Kushaq Monte Carlo which has now been around for some time, the Slavia’s Monte Carlo variants also get similar treatment. On the outside, it gets a blacked-out grille, wing mirrors, foglamp garnish, window garnish along with black side spoilers, a lip spoiler and a faux diffuser. Skoda has also blacked out the badges and the door handles get a dark chrome finish. To give it a sporty appearance, the Slavia Monte Carlo also gets a black roof with an electric sunroof and black R16 alloy wheels, smoked taillamps along with a Monte Carlo badge on the front fender. It can be had with Candy White or Tornado Red paint options.
Inside as well, the story is similar with an all-black theme. Additionally, the dashboard also gets a red coloured insert. The door trims and handles now come finished in dark chrome while the front door armrest also gets red stitching. The digital cockpit has also been updated and now features a red and black theme to drive home the sporty nature. You also get aluminum pedals as standard fitment.
Under the hood, the Slavia Monte Carlo remains unchanged and gets powered by either a 1.5L TSI EVO turbo-petrol engine making 150HP and 250NM of torque paired to a 7 speed dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission or a 1.0L TSI turbo-petrol making 115HP and 178NM which can be had with either a 6 speed manual or 6 speed torque converter automatic transmission.
The Slavia Monte Carlo is the range topper and is priced at Rs. 15.79 Lakhs (Ex-showroom) for the 1.0 MT variant while the 1.0 AT can be had for Rs. 16.89 Lakhs (Ex-showroom) with the 1.5 DSG being priced at Rs. 18.49 Lakhs (Ex-showroom).
Skoda Slavia & Kushaq Sportline Range
The Sportline range is available in both the Slavia and Kushaq and adds blacked-out touches just like the Monte Carlo versions, however it also gets some unique touches like a Sportline badge on the front fender, 17 inch blacked out alloy wheels and a beige and black interior theme with striped fabric seats along with aluminium pedals. In terms of equipment compared to the mid-variants of the standard cars, the Sportline adds LED headlamps, Auto wipers, electric sunroof, 6 airbags and the larger 10 inch touchscreen.
Just like the Monte Carlo, it also gets an option of a 1.0L TSI turbo-petrol mated to a 6 speed manual or 6 speed torque converter automatic transmissions as well as a 1.5L TSI EVO turbo-petrol engine which comes mated to a 7 speed DSG automatic. In terms of pricing, the Slavia Sportline sits between the Prestige and Signature variants being priced at Rs. 14.05 Lakhs, 15.15 Lakhs and Rs. 16.75 Lakhs (All prices Ex-showroom) for the 1.0MT, 1.0AT and 1.5 DSG variants respectively.
The Kushaq Sportline on the other hands can be yours for Rs. 14.70 Lakhs, Rs. 15.80 Lakhs and Rs. 17.40 Lakhs (All prices Ex-showroom) respectively for the 1.0 MT, 1.0 AT and 1.5 DSG variants.
Skoda Slavia Monte Carlo: Track Drive
To showcase the car’s capabilties, Skoda had organised a drive on the Buddh International Circuit. Driving the Slavia on the track gave us a good perspective into the capabilities of the MQB-A0-IN platform as well as the punchy 1.5L TSI EVO engine.
Straight off as you launch, the Slavia is able to mask speeds very effectively making sure that one doesn’t feel the speeds at all until you look down on the sporty digital cluster. What is more, the 1.5L turbo-petrol unleashes all the 150 horses under the bonnet in a drama-free and quick fashion which when paired with the 7 speed dual-clutch DSG offers brisk progress through the gears. Besides the race track, Skoda had also curated a small circuit involving obstacles such as the moose test, the slalom test and an autocross course which aimed to demonstrate the handling and quick directional changes with the car. It was here as well that the Skoda again showed us the engineering depth of the platform.
However, there are surely some things that could have been better like the tyres which lost grip well before the car’s limits. Along with it, we felt a slightly stiffer suspension tune would also improve the confidence while taking sharp corners. That said, for a family sedan, the Slavia performed very well and could surely prove its mettle for Skoda.
The Skoda Slavia goes up against other mid-size sedans such as the Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Virtus and Honda City among other rivals while the Skoda Kushaq goes up against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Honda Elevate among others.
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