Skoda India unveiled its much-anticipated Slavia premium sedan last week. Skoda Slavia was previously rumoured to be a replacement for the Skoda Rapid. However, the automaker has stated that it will not be a replacement for the Skoda Rapid, but rather a standalone premium mid-size sedan in the segment.
The Skoda Slavia is clearly larger, wider, and taller than the Rapid. It also has a longer wheelbase. The Skoda Slavia will compete against the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Honda City, and Hyundai Verna. It would, however, compete with its own sibling, the Skoda Rapid.
The price of the Skoda Slavia has yet to be announced by the Czech automaker. According to the Volkswagen AG-owned car brand, this will be a key model in the brand’s India 2.0 strategy. Potential buyers who were considering purchasing a Skoda Rapid would now have to wait for the Skoda Slavia pricing to be announced. Furthermore, they may simply book the Skoda Slavia, as it offers a few notches more premium-ness than its sibling Rapid.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the Skoda Slavia and Skoda Rapid.
Skoda Slavia vs Skoda Rapid: Price
Skoda Rapid is currently available in India for between 7.79 lakh and 13.49 lakh (ex-showroom). The Skoda Slavia would also be competitively priced in comparison to its rivals. Expect it to be slightly more expensive than Rapid. The Slavia could be priced between 10 and 15 lakh rupees.
Skoda Slavia vs Skoda Rapid: Dimension
Skoda Slavia measures 4,541 mm in length, 1,752 mm in width, and 1,487 mm in height. Compared to the Skoda Rapid, all-new Slavia comes 128 mm longer, 53 mm wider, and 21 mm taller. Skoda Slavia also has a 99 mm longer wheelbase than Rapid. Clearly, the Slavia offers more space and comfort inside the cabin. It is also bigger than the first-generation Octavia.
Skoda Slavia vs Skoda Rapid: Design
Skoda Slavia is inspired by Bohemian crystals and is designed in accordance with the automaker’s contemporary styling philosophy. Because of the OEM’s Crystalline design philosophy, the car appears sharp, stylish, and edgy. It has a vertically slated chrome front grille with a signature butterfly pattern. Slavia gets LED projector headlamps, L-shaped integrated LED daytime running lights, sporty alloy wheels, crisp character lines, and sharp C-shaped LED taillights.
On the road, the current generation Skoda Rapid looks like a mini Octavia. It gets LED projector headlamps with integrated DRLs and fog lights with cornering assist. Vertical slats are used in place of the signature butterfly grille. However, the sharpness of the Skoda Rapid is noticeably lower than that of the Slavia sedan.
Skoda Slavia vs Skoda Rapid: Cabin and features
The Skoda Slavia has a premium interior. The dashboard layout, twin-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a digital cockpit with a fully digital instrument cluster, and 10-inch central touchscreen infotainment system all add to the premium feel. It also has rear AC vents, wireless charging, and other features. The cabin clearly takes a lot of design cues from the Kushaq SUV, and some of the components are shared.
The interior of the Skoda Rapid has a two-tone theme. It has a multifunction steering wheel, an analog-digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system, and other features. Among the features are a Climatronic automatic air conditioning system, a handrest with a storage compartment, and so on.
The interior of the current Skoda Rapid is stylish and premium, but the Slavia appears more appealing.
Skoda Slavia vs Skoda Rapid: Engine and transmission
Skoda Slavia gets a 1.0-litre TSI petrol and a 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine based on MQB A0 IN architecture. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine produces 113 bhp and 175 Nm of torque. It is available with both a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic transmission. The larger 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 150 horsepower and 250 Newton-meters of torque. It comes with a six-speed manual and a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.
The Skoda Rapid, on the other hand, is powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine that produces 109 bhp and 175 Nm of torque. It is available with both a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic transmission.