Watch: We Max Out The Skoda Slavia And Kodiaq At NATRAX High Speed Bowl
- by Ujjawal Agarwal
- May 24, 2023
- | Views: 2599
Both vehicles felt like they had a lot more to offer, and that their engine and chassis could easily withstand even higher speeds
Considering we don’t have an Autobahn-like expressway in India and that we can’t have access to one unless we get on a flight to Germany, it isn’t everyday that we get to stretch the legs of a four wheeler to its absolute zenith. But what we do have is Asia’s longest high speed test track, right here in Indore; and thanks to Skoda, we made full use of it by putting the Slavia and Kodiaq on a high-speed test that revealed their electronically limited top speeds.
First up was the Slavia. Picking up the pace with the sedan’s 150PS, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit underneath the bonnet was never an issue and it continued to stretch its leg past the 200kmph mark. It felt so stable and there was no hint of any uneasiness or steering wobble, even on the progressively curved bank of the NATRAX (National Automotive Test Tracks) straight.
The latter is also probably down to the fact that we had miles of pristinely paved tarmac with two lanes to spare on either side. So the speed you are actually doing can be deceptive compared to the speed you’re tricked into thinking you’re doing in such instances.
Then it was the Kodiaq’s turn. The SUV immediately felt like it had more grunt to it, thanks to its larger and more powerful 2-litre turbo-petrol engine making 190PS and 320Nm. The higher output figures directly translated into a higher top speed as the Kodiaq even goes past the 210kmph mark. In comparison to the Slavia, a bit of rearward movement was felt, especially on the curved section. This was likely because of the SUV's higher ground clearance and weight, which became apparent while taking that banked corner.
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All in all, the high speed stability and manners of these new-gen Skodas are really commendable. You feel safe at all times and pushing them to their top speeds doesn’t phase the vehicles in the slightest. Of course, our test was carried out in ideal conditions under experts' guidance, and we plead with you not to try this out on public roads.