150PS/250Nm, a 0-100kmph sprint time of 8.8 seconds, and cylinder deactivation technology… Segment-leading nuggets, sure. But they come at a cost
- Skoda Slavia 1.5-litre TSI priced from Rs 16.19 lakh to Rs 17.79 lakh.
- Commands a premium of up to Rs 2.4 lakh over Style 1-litre TSI.
- This engine is limited to the top-spec Style trim only.
- Gets the option of a 6-speed manual and 7-speed DCT.
- No design-related differences over the 1-litre TSI variant.
The 1-litre Skoda Slavia isn’t satiating your power needs? No sweat, for now, you can consider the more powerful 1.5-litre TSI, which has been just launched in India at Rs 16.19 lakh (ex-showroom). Yes, it’s priced way over segment limits, but it creates a niche space for the sedan.
The Slavia 1.5-litre TSI is limited to the top-spec Style trim, and it gets both manual and automatic options.
Here’s how the prices compare to the 1-litre TSI:
| Slavia 1-litre TSI | Slavia 1.5-litre TSI | Premium | |
| Manual | Rs 13.99 lakh | Rs 16.19 lakh | Rs 2.2 lakh |
| Automatic | Rs 15.39 lakh | Rs 17.79 lakh | Rs 2.4 lakh |
Meanwhile, here’s a quick comparison of the Slavia 1.5-litre TSI’s prices with its platform sibling, the Kushaq:
| Kushaq 1.5-litre TSI | Slavia 1.5-litre TSI | Difference | |
| Manual | Rs 16.49 lakh | Rs 16.19 lakh | Rs 30,000 |
| Automatic | Rs 18.19 lakh | Rs 17.79 lakh | Rs 40,000 |
The Slavia gets the Volkswagen Group’s all-too-familiar 1.5-litre TSI four-pot engine that develops class-leading 150PS and 250Nm. Figures that are good enough to take the Slavia from 0-100kmph in 8.8 seconds, the quickest in its segment. With the mill, you get a 6-speed manual and an optional 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The sedan gets segment-first cylinder deactivation tech, which shuts down two cylinders under light load for increased fuel efficiency. Speaking of which, the Slavia 1.5-litre TSI MT returns 18.72kmpl, while the DCT gives you 18.41km to the litre (both claimed).
Take a look at the specification comparison between the 1-litre and 1.5-litre TSI:
| Slavia 1-litre TSI | Slavia 1.5-litre TSI | |
| Engine | 1-litre three-cylinder | 1.5-litre four-cylinder |
| Power (PS) | 115PS | 150PS (+35PS) |
| Torque (Nm) | 178Nm | 250Nm (+72Nm) |
| Transmission Options | 6-speed MT / 6-speed AT | 6-speed MT / 7-speed DCT |
| Fuel Efficiency (MT / AT) | 19.47kmpl / 18.07kmpl | 18.72kmpl / 18.41kmpl |
The Slavia 1.5-litre TSI doesn’t get any features or design changes over the standard 1-litre variants. A bummer, in my opinion, as there is no way one can tell this from the stock Slavia launched on Feb 28. The Verna Turbo, for example, gets a different grille and an all-black cabin with red highlights to stand out from the rest of the lineup.
The Skoda Slavia 1.5-litre TSI is a more powerful and pricier alternative to the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. That said, it will also have to compete with its badge-engineered sibling, the VW Virtus. Moreover, the Slavia 1.5 TSI also plugs the gap between the top-spec Slavia 1-litre TSI AT (Rs 15.39 lakh) and the base-spec Octavia Style (Rs 26.29 lakh).
