Skoda Laura 2.0 TDI

The Laura looks the freshest of all the Skodas, but the overall design comes across as safe and lacking in character. It is sharper looking and has a more prestige-like exterior style than the Octavia. The prominent grille, the elevated ridge at the centre of the bonnet, the kink in the rear or C-pillar and the squared-off tail give it the more grown up look. If you look closely at the Laura's nose, you also see hints of its large stable-mate, the Superb, especially around the area of the headlights. 

The range-topping 2.0-litre oil-burner for the Laura puts out a healthy 140bhp and adds to the line-up of the 1.8-litre turbo petrol and the 1.9-litre Pumpe-düse engine that the Laura always had. It’s a familiar engine – we’ve seen it in the new Superb and the Volkswagen Passat (the VW has since shifted to a common-rail unit), and it comes with a six-speed twin-clutch gearbox. It’s available only in the top-of-the line Laurin & Klement trim and costs Rs 20 lakh, a pretty substantial Rs 2.4 lakh over the 1.9.