The Skoda Slavia has received its first facelift in India since its launch in 2021. With it come slightly revamped exterior and interior designs, a new automatic gearbox and some added comfort and convenience features. Here are all the improvements the new Skoda Slavia facelift offers.
New automatic transmission
The 1.0L TSI engine is offered with a new 8-speed AT
The Skoda Slavia facelift continues with the 115hp 1.0-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol and the 150hp 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine options. However, the smaller mill is now offered with a new 8-speed torque-converter automatic transmission (AT) instead of a 6-speed unit. The 1.0L TSI is also offered with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the larger 1.5L TSI engine comes mated solely to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
Rear-seat massager
Top-spec Slavia facelift gets a massager on the rear outboard seats
A massage function has been added to the rear outboard seats of the Slavia facelift, making it the only sedan in its segment to offer this feature. It borrows this rear-seat massager from the Skoda Kushaq, which is also the only midsize SUV in India to offer this function. However, only the top-spec Prestige and Monte Carlo trims of the Slavia facelift will be equipped with it.
Larger digital driver’s display
Now offers a 10.25-inch unit on top trims and turn-by-turn navigation
With the facelift, Skoda has replaced the predecessor’s 8-inch digital driver’s display, which featured massive bezels around it, with a newer 10.25-inch unit. This screen, in addition to showing the digital feed of the speedometer and tachometer, will offer turn-by-turn navigation. However, the 10.25-inch driver’s display will be offered only on the Prestige and Monte Carlo trims. The mid-spec Signature and Sportline will continue with the smaller 8-inch display, whereas the entry-spec Classic and Classic+ will have analogue dials with a multi-information display (MID).
New 360-degree camera and front parking sensors
Skoda has yet to reveal which variants will be equipped with these new features
The Skoda Slavia facelift also gets a 360-degree camera setup and new front parking sensors in addition to the rear parking sensors, which are definitely expected to make navigating tight lanes and parking in tight spaces easier. However, Skoda has yet to reveal which variants these features will be offered in.
Improved AC performance
Gets a variable-geometry compressor instead of a fixed-geometry unit
One of the major criticisms of the Slavia was the climate control performance, which the manufacturer claims to have fixed with the facelifted model. What Skoda has done is replace the previous model’s fixed-geometry AC compressor with a variable-geometry unit, thereby making the climate control more powerful.
Introduces a Google Cloud-based AI assistant
The AI assistant provides real-time information and enables hands-free controls
While the 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system is the same as before, it gets a more modern user interface and an AI companion powered by Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent. Skoda says the AI assistant is “developed to recognise Indian English accents”, provides “real-time access to information via voice commands” and enables “hands-free control of music, calls, climate settings and other functions”.
New exterior lighting elements
Lighting elements in the DRLs, fog lamps and tail-lights have been revamped
With the facelift, Skoda has made some design changes to the Slavia, including fresh lighting elements. At the front, the headlight housing is the same but now gets segmented LED daytime running lamps (DRLs). The front fog lamps have also been redesigned to have a pixel-like shape. Like the headlights, the tail-light housing is the same as the older model, but it has new LED elements that make it look sharper and more modern.
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
