Skoda Slavia Facelift Scheduled for October 6 Launch with New 8-Speed Automatic
Skoda Auto India has scheduled the official launch of the refreshed Slavia sedan for October 6, 2026, marking the first major update for the midsize model since its introduction four years ago. Production lines at the manufacturer facility in Chakan, Pune, are already operational, and nationwide pre-bookings have commenced with a token deposit of Rs 15,000.
According to V3Cars, skoda offers prepaid Supercare maintenance packages starting at Rs 24,499, keeping routine maintenance costs at Rs 0.46 to Rs 0.51 per kilometer over 75,000 kilometers. According to Autocar India, the Skoda Slavia achieved a 5-star Global NCAP rating under updated protocols, scoring 29.71 out of 34 points in adult occupant protection and 42 out of 49 points in child occupant protection.
The exterior styling receives targeted enhancements, featuring sharper headlight clusters, revised tail-lamps equipped with sequential turn indicators, restyled bumpers, and sportier 16-inch alloy wheels. Buyers will also gain access to new exterior paint finishes, specifically Arctic Silver and Cappuccino Beige, expanding the visual options across the midsize sedan lineup.
Powertrain Updates and Transmission Changes
The principal mechanical upgrade centers on the 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol engine, which maintains its 114 horsepower and 178 Nm output. While the 6-speed manual gearbox remains available, the previous 6-speed torque converter automatic has been retired in favor of a new 8-speed unit, identified in reports as the Aisin AQ300 system also deployed in the updated Kushaq.
According to CarUnboxing, for Aisin AQ300 transmission, The 8-speed unit smooths out low-speed urban crawl by eliminating sudden standstill surges, while taller overdrive ratios allow the engine to cruise at ~2,000 RPM at 100 km/h. According to Autocar India, sedan market share in India contracted toward 5–6% of total passenger vehicle sales by 2025–2026 as utility vehicles expanded to account for over 50% of sales.
According to Autocar India, instrumented road testing shows the Aisin AQ300 8-speed automatic achieves 0–100 km/h in 11.57 seconds, a 1.59-second reduction compared to the 13.16 seconds recorded on the older 6-speed AQ250 automatic.
Conversely, the larger 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol engine, generating 148 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, continues exclusively with the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The manual transmission option for the 1.5-litre variant, previously discontinued in 2024, does not return for this model refresh.
Cabin Enhancements and Comfort Additions
Inside the cabin, the layout remains largely familiar but incorporates upgraded digital displays and comfort features. A new 10.1-inch infotainment screen with updated graphics replaces the outgoing 10-inch unit, while the driver instrument cluster transitions to a larger 10.25-inch digital display.
Comfort equipment now extends to powered and ventilated front seats, a single-pane sunroof, wireless smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a rear-seat massage function shared with the Kushaq. Climate control performance has also been addressed through the integration of a variable-geometry AC compressor replacing the older fixed-geometry unit.
Pricing Expectations and Market Competition
Pricing for the refreshed sedan is anticipated to carry a premium over the outgoing model structure, which spans from Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 18.29 lakh, with general market estimates placing the new range between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh. All quoted valuations remain ex-showroom, India.
In the domestic midsize sedan segment, the updated model will continue its rivalry against established competitors. Current market comparators include the Honda City, priced between Rs 11.99 lakh and Rs 21.44 lakh, the Hyundai Verna ranging from Rs 10.99 lakh to Rs 18.31 lakh, and sister brand Volkswagen's Virtus, retailing from Rs 10.79 lakh to Rs 19.19 lakh.
Variant-wise feature distributions, exact pricing figures, and final delivery timelines will be officially detailed by Skoda Auto India at the launch event on October 6.