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Why I moved from a Mahindra XUV300 AMT to a Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI AT

26th March 2022, 10:12 by Dev Shah

I feel like a driving enthusiast again which I had lost after selling my Honda and bringing in the XUV300.

BHPian AKSwamy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I bought my Skoda Slavia 1.0L Style variant on 18th Mar and I was told I am the first customer from PPS Skoda Mysore road showroom Bengaluru.

I picked the silver color since that was looking as the most appealing and elegant of all the other colors available (picture attached).

Some background:

Having driven a Honda Amaze for almost 7 years from 2013-2020 and looking for an upgrade in many ways, I had bought a Mahindra XUV300 in Mar 2020 and as with most things unanticipated in my life, crisis stuck and we went into our 1st lockdown just 1 week after I bought it. With limited opportunity, I still did couple of trips to Hampi and Pondi with it. I was not at all happy with this one since the 1st day, having driven a Honda for many years, this felt like a downgrade rather than an upgrade. Mind you I had an SMT diesel and my XUV300 was an AMT diesel top end. I know many would think it is a bad decision going for an AMT, but I didn't have much option at the time and I was desperate for an upgrade to an automatic and I got an handsome discount since it was BS4 and one of the last ones available!

I have had all kinds of problems with regards to niggles and issues with the XUV300 right from the loose glove box lids, music system issues, sounds coming from seats, suspensions etc. Even if I ignore all these issues, it was a disaster to drive in the city with rubber band effect and all that you can associate with an AMT. It was a beast on the highway which should be mentioned!

Now coming to the Slavia:

I had pre-booked it at the launch and was offered one in the first batch hence and the whole buying experience was good and smooth. I love the looks and it is a head turner for sure since I have been stopped and asked about it already couple of times. Coming to the driving experience, boy-o-boy I am enjoying every bit of refinement and punch it offers. I feel like a driving enthusiast again which I had lost after selling my Honda and bringing in the XUV300. I love the way it drives through our famous Bengaluru traffic and I am not minding the traffic because of it!

I know there are fence sitters who talk about the degradation in the quality of Skoda with the new India specific platform and cost cutting parts, I am telling you for the price and driving pleasure it offers I have no regrets. The door closing thud is still great, the cabin still feels luxurious, cabin space once you are inside is ample and I have already spoken about the driving pleasure enough!

Having researched a lot of cars through Team BHP forums, innumerable You Tube reviews, I am feeling like I have made the right choice.

My bottom line is go for an Indian manufacturer like Tata/Maruti/Mahindra if your budget is below 15L, mind you my first car was a Tata Indica Xeta.

If your budget is above 15L, you should go for an European or Japanese since the refinement and driving pleasure is incomparable which is the essence of any car, and 90% of the reason why you are buying a car.

If you need only features go for Korean/Chinese.