Skoda New Laura 2.0 L&K
Maxabout Review
Skoda India Is On A Roll
Sunday, February 15, 2009Overview
The Skoda Laura is a luxury sedan that comes with well-built interiors, world class technology, and a host of top-notch safety features. A lean and minimalist structure renders the vehicle a sleek look and a striking chrome grille with vertical fins in the front fascia grabs attention of car enthusiasts. Skoda India has launched all new laura (known as Octavia in rest of the world) with an extensive exterior and interior facelift, bringing the hugely successful model up to date with the brand's current range.
Design & Interiors
The new Skoda Laura has undergone a series of significant design changes which include dynamic, sweeping headlights and complimentary front fog lights, new foldable door mirrors and body coloured bumpers and side mouldings. Improvements go well beyond a traditional facelift with the new Skoda Laura benefiting from a partially re-designed interior which features a range of new steering wheels, new stereo systems and new upholstery. A beautifully crafted interior features impressive luxury features including a sunroof and front parking sensors. It offers seating which will be comfortable and spacious.
The interiors have a more upmarket feel to them. Finished in two tones, black for the dash top and beige for the rest, they incorporate some elements from the Superb. The steering wheel and gear lever are the same as on the big Skoda , and they have plenty of chrome garnish on them too. Brushed aluminium-like trim runs around the cabin and there is a new stereo as well. Skoda has altered the spring rates on the Laura and jacked it up a tad to enable it to ride better over our roads. Ride comfort is better than before, especially at low speeds. The Laura is now shod with Indian Goodyears and not imported tyres. The pliant suspension does its bit too.
Features
New Laura is loaded with comfort features like 12-Way electrically adjustable driver seat with memory function, heated front seats, Skoda entertainment system operated via a 6.5 inch TFT touchscreen with an integrated 6-CD changer and twelve speakers, Audio controls on the steering wheel, dual zone climate control system, leather upholstery, retractable rear windscreen blind and electrically foldable external mirrors.
The new model comes with convenience features such as central infotainment system, cruise control, multi function display, personal comfort settings, automatic front wiper with rain sensors, light assistant, boarding sport lamps and reading spot lamps at front and rear.
Engine Options & Variants
New Skoda Laura is available with a option of three engines:
- 1.8 TSi petrol
- 1.9 TDi PD Diesel
- 2.0 TDi PD Diesel
The 1.8 TSi is same which is powering the new superb. It develops 160 Bhp at 4500 rpm of maximum power with 250 Nm at 1500 rpm. Second in the list is the old workhorse - the 1.9 TDi PD diesel engine which develops 105 Bhp at 4000 rpm of maximum power with 250 Nm at 1900 rpm. The third one is the more powerful 2.0 TDi PD diesel engine which also powers the new Superb. It develops 140 Bhp at 4000 rpm of maximum power with 320 Nm at 1750 rpm. The petrol model comes with 6-Speed manual transmission while diesel comes with either a 5-Speed manual or the optional 6-Speed DSG with Tiptronic manual gear change.
It is available in six variants:
1.8 TSi Ambiente - 12,68,000.00
1.9 TDi Ambiente - 12,99,000.00
1.9 TDi Ambiente Auto - 13,70,000.00
1.9 TDi Elegance - 14,35,000.00
1.9 TDi Elegance Auto - 15,05,000.00
2.0 TDi PD L&K - 17,15,000.00
Above prices are ex-showroom Mumbai.
Available Shades
- Brilliant Silver
- Arctic Breeze
- Candy White
- Cappucino Beige
- Magic Black
Safety
The new Laura comes loaded with safety features like Xenon curve projector headlamps with dynamic levelling, parktronic - front and rear park distance control, tyre pressure monitoring system, six airbags. It also comes with active front head restraints, automatically dimming rear view mirrors, retractable headlamp washers, ABS + EBD, ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) / TCS (Traction Control System), EDL (Electronic Differential Lock), ESP (Electronic Stability Program), MBA (Mechanical Brake Assistant) /HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistant).