Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI 8-Speed AT Review: Better Than 6-Speed AT?

Skoda Auto India has given its best-selling sedan, the Slavia, a major facelift, which isn't limited to cosmetic changes but includes mechanical changes too. The biggest one is that the 1.0L TSI engine has received a new 8-speed torque converter gearbox, which replaces the 6-speed torque converter gearbox. We at 91Wheels got the opportunity to drive the car before the official launch, and hence this drive review, covering the design update, the new features, and how it drives. At the end, I will rate it out of 10 and list its pros and cons. So, let's start the review of the Skoda Slavia facelift. 

Skoda Slavia 1.0L 8-speed AT 

Design Changes - 8/10

The Skoda Slavia facelift has received several small changes to its exterior, all adding up to a big impact. The car now looks richer and more aspirational. It gets a redesigned grille with a lot of chrome inserts, a new, sharper-looking bumper that now comes with four parking sensors, and LED headlights with the same design as before, but everything inside them is new and now has a smoke effect. The LED DRLs with sequential indicators are also a new trait.

They end at the same place where the grille with horizontal chrome inserts begins, which results in one continuous light effect. One feels like the car has connected LED DRLs, but that’s just clever design, or in Skoda style, simply clever. It feels like whoever was brainstorming the design changes was very clear that they didn’t want to make the face look overdone or radically changed, but to enhance it, and yes, they have succeeded in their mission.

Now, with the facelift, the Monte Carlo edition will be launched simultaneously. It is the sporty-looking one, and boy oh boy, this is a proper headturner. With an all-black treatment and two red stripes on the grille denoting its sporty nature, it stands out and gives you the impression that it is a total powerhouse.

On to the side profile, the changes are minimal: new 16-inch alloy wheels, but with the same tyre profile of 205/55 R16. Plus, the windows are now finished in UV-cut glass, and the green tint is clearly visible. There is also a Monte Carlo badge on the fender, and that’s it. The rear profile is where Skoda has made the fewest changes, with the tail-lights receiving sequential LED indicators. Plus, there is a new matte-finish element between the lights that becomes the base for the Skoda lettering. 

All these changes are a handful, but the car in person looks refreshing and inspiring, something people want to buy someday. The core reason for all of this is the new colour options, which are just fantastic. There are 10 colours in total, a huge number, and two new colours in the line: Arctic Silver and Cappuccino Beige. That said, the car in the pictures is in Steel Grey with a dual-tone setting. I personally think this is a really strong point for the Slavia, as looks matter a lot in India and become a huge contributing factor in purchasing decisions. So, on the design front, this is a 10/10 sedan.

Driving Experience - 9/10 

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the 8-speed torque converter, a gearbox with the highest number of gear ratios in this particular mid-size sedan segment. It is paired only with the 1.0L TSI engine, which makes 115 PS and 178 Nm of torque. The codename for this gearbox is AQ300.

In my total run of around 40 km in the Skoda Slavia with the 8-speed torque converter, I found that the overall driving experience has become smoother and enhanced than the outgoing 6-speed TC. This gearbox turned out to be a very intelligent and fast gearbox that shifts early and doesn’t let the driver know which gear is taking the load. Plus, Skoda mentioned at the briefing that the overall acceleration has gone up because of the gear shifts, and I felt that completely.

It picks up swiftly, and the engine note is fantastic, like what one expects from a performance-oriented car, even though it’s just a 1.0L engine. I didn’t conduct an acceleration test, but as per several other automobile journalists, this car now does 0 to 100 km/h in less than 11 seconds, which makes it one of the fastest sedans in its segment.

Skoda claims the new gearbox has improved fuel efficiency by 4%. During my drive, though, I wasn’t trying to get good mileage. The aim was to push the car to its limits and see how much of a difference the new gearbox makes, so the fuel-efficiency numbers I got were not worth reporting here. But just to put it here, the brochure says that the Skoda Slavia 1.0L with the 8-speed AT delivers a claimed fuel efficiency of 19.50 kmpl, which is fantastic.

Compared with the outgoing 6-speed torque converter, the new 8-speed unit has a few clear advantages:

• Gear shifts are smoother.
• It is faster when accelerated hard.
• It makes quick transitions, even at low speeds.

Other than that, the overall drive experience is the same. It continues to offer a perfectly tuned suspension that provides comfort at moderate speeds and easy driving, but becomes stiffer and more agile when you push it. This is the magic of the MQB-A0-IN platform. As you drive it hard, the car gives you more confidence as it remains stable, consistent and sharp, even if you take sharp turns at 85 km/h. I have previously driven the Slavia extensively, and even after driving it again, I found this to be the same as before. There is no change in the suspension.

However, the overall cabin experience has been upgraded because of two changes: the windows now get UV-cut tinted glass, and Skoda has replaced the fixed geometry compressor with a variable geometry compressor. So, the cabin feels cool, and because of the green tint, direct sunlight doesn’t irritate. It all works together to provide the chilled feeling we never received in the outgoing model.

Interior - 8/10

The second one is the 10.25-inch driver display with multiple drive modes and turn-by-turn navigation. So, it does look cooler, and it is available in the new Kushaq and the Octavia RS. Compared with the outgoing model, it has better graphics and overall design, plus its size is also bigger. As for the rest, we have the same two-spoke steering wheel, the best looking in its segment.

Other features inside are touch-based climate control, a wireless charging pad, an extendable armrest, a cooled glovebox, both front seats get ventilation plus 6-way adjustment, and an electric sunroof.

The biggest change has been made to the rear seats, which get a massage function at the back. Now, this feature was introduced in the Kushaq, and it has now come to Slavia, but here it makes more sense, as people who buy sedans love a chauffeur-driven experience. So, yes, this is a great feature if you want to relax and de-stress after a long day at work.

At last, the cabin feels more comfortable, mainly thanks to the new AC compressor. The red digital dials are another welcome addition and suit the sporty character of the Monte Carlo edition.

Sound insulation is very good, with barely any outside noise entering the cabin. The engine sporty note is clearly audible when you push the car hard, but otherwise, the cabin remains quiet. The car also feels reassuring on the road. The 8-speaker audio system delivers good sound quality, which is a plus when you're spending long hours behind the wheel.

Verdict - 8.5/10 

So, after spending a good 2 to 3 hours with the Skoda Slavia facelift with the 8-speed torque converter, it feels like an upgrade over the outgoing model that basically addresses several customer feedbacks received over the years. The biggest improvement is with AC performance, and the UV-cut glass also plays its part in dropping the temperature of the cabin. Also, the design changes are tastefully done, and now the car has become hotter.

Talking about the 8-speed torque converter, I would describe it as enhancing an already great transmission. It just makes the ride smoother, but in terms of overall driving experience, it doesn’t change the whole game the way anyone would think.

So, yes, the Slavia wears a new mask, and there are new colours and exterior changes, but it still has the same task: providing a dynamically sorted car that does everything alright.

I feel Skoda should have provided rear disc brakes with the 1.0L TSI as well, not just on the 1.5L TSI variants of the car. It should also have added some more features inside, like one-touch up/down on all four windows, as only the driver gets it, and a rear sunshade. The rear seats could also have been made a little more upright, as they feel too inside and hinders the under-thigh support. Apart from these points, it still does everything alright and can perfectly be termed a jack of all trades.

For its money, which is Rs 17.29 lakh (ex-showroom), you are paying for top-notch engineering, superior driving dynamics, top-notch safety and killer looks, and for that, the Skoda Slavia facelift is worth your money.