Car tested: Skoda Laura DSG AT Elegance
Test Started at – 20958 km
Test Concluded at – 22433 km
Kms Done: 1475.1
Mileage – 12.31 Kmpl
14.86 Kmpl (Best)
9.67 Kmpl (Worst)
Fuel Consumed – 121.3 ltrs
Fuel Cost – Rs 5,580/-
Major Repair – None
Service Cost – None during the test

The Laura is the best selling car in its class and despite a few known service related issues, more so in the past, its still doing good numbers even today. Its the most popular sedan in its segment and offers the best automatic gearbox in the business. We do a long term stint in the DSG Automatic Elegance variant and find out just how good it can get.

The Laura is a sober looking machine and fits for a executive sedan, it not sporty or jazzy. Exterior fit and finish is great with no abnormal panel gaps. Built quality is top notch too and the doors shut with a tank – like thud. Get inside and its a similar story. The soft touch dash feels good and the interior quality is truly premium. You feel safe inside this car, not only is the built quality reassuring but ABS, Airbags and ASR add to the safety. ASR is similar to traction control and i got a real demonstration when the car aquaplaned on some standing water, it  twitched for a split second and everything was normal again. Without this, it could have spelled danger and the car would have possibly ended sideways.

Most people end up upgrading their headlamps from the regular 55 Watt ones which usually come as standard. Not in the Laura though, the projectors throw ample light and coupled with the fog lamps, the illumination is more than sufficient.

The boot is so large that you will never be wanting for more space.

A handle is provided to pull down the boot and shut it, especially useful in the rains when the outside is too dirty to touch.

There is abundant space for odds and ends. Tons of cup holders and there is a small compartment under the front passengers seat for additional storage. The beige colour mats which came along with the car tend to get really dirty in the rains and are difficult to clean too.

You will be amazed with the sound quality of the audio unit. Seldom do you get such a good quality stock system which can put many after market units to shame. The crisp sound quality can be tweaked to your liking with a few Bass/Treble settings. Surprisingly, there are no audio controls on the steering wheel and no USB Support though AUX is provided.

Most cars have the Aux in the glove box or on audio head unit and this makes it look untidy with the wire hanging around plus there is always a chance of the wire coming in the way of the gear shifts. Skoda has thoughtfully placed it in the central armrest. Since most people carry music on their phones or ipods, the USB is not really missed too much.

What i really missed was audio controls on the steering wheel and bluetooth connectivity. For a car which costs more than 15 Lakh Rupees, these 2 things shouldn’t have been missed. Even the top of the line L&K variant is sans bluetooth.

Having the driven the car for almost 1500 km, i must admit that its difficult not to fall in love with it. The 2.0 ltr TDI engine punches out 140 bhp and is up for a challenge once you turn the ignition, the beauty however lies in the 6 Speed DSG gearbox. DSG stands for Direct Shift Gearbox which incorporates a dual clutch system, wherein one clutch controls the odd gears and the other controls the even gears. This enables quick gearshifts with minimum lag between shifts. The Laura uses a 6 speed gearbox with tiptronic, which means you can manually go through the gears by flicking the gear lever manually in tiptronic mode

On a broader scale, there are essentially two types of drivers, those who drive with the pedal to the metal and others who try and extract a good fuel economy. With the DSG, you can get best of both the worlds. Floor the accelerator and the 2.0 ltr TDI engine churns out 140 bhp with some urgency. Switch to Sports mode and you will hit the rev limiter every time before the DSG slots you in the next gear. In short, outright performance just as you want it. On the other side, feed the throttle gently and with some getting used to, you can get the DSG to shift gear as low as 1600 rpm. Nett result, brilliant fuel efficiency. Using this technique we got a whooping 14.86 kmpl (city driving predominantly), which is superb for a car of this segment.

The Laura is a pocket rocket and your driving style will influence the fuel efficiency. The worst we got was 9.67 kmpl with the best stretching upto 14.86 kmpl. Road and traffic conditions have their own role to play these values are in a mix of city and highway driving.

All the information about tyre pressures are given on the inside of the fuel filler flap. Initially we were running a lower pressure than recommended and that reflected on the mileage. The pressure will vary based on the number of people on board and the amount of luggage in the boot.

The ride quality was composed and was neither too soft nor too stiff. If it has to be described using either, i would say it hangs towards being a bit soft. Even after 22,ooo km, the Laura’s agility and road manners were as good as it was when it was just out of the factory. Handling is an area where the Laura never fails to impress. Taking it around the twisties on the Amby valley road, the Laura inspires confidence and edges to be pushed harder. The engine note is the icing on the cake. All 4 disc brakes and ASR ensured that there were no unpleasant moments.

The Laura had us impressed and turns out to be a very good buy in the segment. The only issue, if at all, likes in the service department. Spares are costly and there have been a few issues the dealers. A clutch on the manual variant can set you back by about forty thousand rupees. Having said that, what you really pay for is the awesome built quality, sporty performance and the ease of a good automatic gearbox at your disposal. Automatic variants are the way forward these days with current traffic and road conditions leading to driver fatigue in the manual guise, the Laura DSG is a viable option, which not only gives you the comfort of an automatic but also keeps the adrenaline levels in check.

Skoda has quietly changed the variant nomenclature of the Laura. The company has now four variants on offer for the Laura, which start with the base Active, followed by the Ambition, Elegance and the top of the line L&K. The reason for the change in the variant name system could have been triggered at Volkswagen’s end who did not want buyers to get confused between the new Jetta and the Laura. The Classic and Ambiente variants have been discontinued. Skoda has also done some changes to the features of the car and removed certain equipment from the base model (like Airbag) to decrease the price marginally. The Elegance variant now gets more equipment such as 16-inch wheels and rear defogger but the price has not changed of the Elegance variant.

Car tested: 2011 Skoda Laura 2.0 TDi AT

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 19,01,889/-

Skoda has been known to produce bullet proof cars in India which are reliable and can almost substitute for a tank sans the guns and bombs. The story started in November 2001 when Skoda introduced the Octavia in the Indian market. A premium sedan which delivered superior handling and fuel efficiency, needless to mention the performance of the 1.9 Turbocharged Diesel Injection Engine (TDI). The Octavia was doing so well, that when the second generation Octavia was launched in India, it was christened as the Laura, placed a segment higher and sold as a more premium car since Skoda was still selling the Octavia.

The Laura is based on the VW Group A5 (PQ35) platform which is also used in the Audi A3, VW Golf (MK5), VW Jetta (MK5) etc. Launched in 2005, it has already undergone a facelift. The next generation Octavia (as it will be called since the 1st generation Octavia has been discontinued) is slated to be launched in 2012. We drive the DSG Automatic version and find out if it really is a generation apart from the Octavia.

Exteriors –

 ★★★★☆ 

Skoda cars are built to last and the their looks do justice to the statement. Clean exteriors are a highlight of most Skoda cars and the Laura stands by the family design. The front grille catches your attention with vertical fins which look sleek and chrome surrounds look rich. Large fog lamps also house the day time running lamps which can be toggled on/off from the setup menu on the MID. Headlights just about extend into the sides and have the words LAURA carved out in chrome, a unique touch by Skoda. The bonnet has sculpted line which resemble the nose of a formula one car in the center, extending all the way to the wipers. Side indicators are integrated with the external rear view mirrors.

Nice large rear windows can be appreciated from the sides and give the rear bench an airy feel. Six spoke alloy wheels look cool. Notice all 4 disc brakes, will come to that a bit later. Rear antenna similar to most cars these days.

The rear resembles a typical executive sedan. Parking sensors are housed on the bumper and are a boon while reversing. Reflectors have been provided at either ends of the lower end of the bumper. Single reverse and fog light present on the left and right side respectively.

Interiors –

 ★★★★½ 

Pictures tell a story and if its the one above, you probably knows that the Laura has pretty impressive interiors. Two tone soft touch dashboard (matt finish) looks upmarket and a wooden panel separates it from the beige portion. A touch of wood also surrounds the ‘in car entertainment’ system, the air conditioning and the gear. Skoda has used premium plastics which have been fitted so well that there is no uneven panel gap anywhere. The beige portion of the dash, unlike the fabia, is a darker shade and does not tend to get dirty easily.

Seats come covered with premium leather with the fins snuggling you comfortably. No electric seats in the Elegance version we drove, but the top of the line L&K comes loaded with electric seats with memory function. It took me a while to get the drivers seat adjusted to my liking but once i was thru with that, i found the seats extremely comfortably with adequate back, under thigh and lumbar support. Headroom and legroom was ample too. The front seats get a heated function. This feature is usually handy in European countries, where temperatures are below zero. I slyly switched it on for my co passenger, who realized only after half his derriere was toasted.

Seated at the rear, the legroom was fairly good considering that the front seat was adjusted to a six footers driving position. Thigh support was average. The back seat gets 3 individual headrests.

Multi information display is housed on the instrument cluster and gives you information on the distance to empty, real time fuel efficiency, trip time, average speed etc.

The Laura is equipped with auto dimming mirrors which can be turned on by flicking the small button underneath the rear view mirror. The inside and the drivers side outside rear view mirror turn into anti glare mirrors and cut out the blinding effect created by headlamps of the following cars. Besides this, the Laura also features electrically retractable and adjustable rear view mirrors with heated function.

Skoda offer a dual automatic climate control unit on the Laura. Temperature can be set set for a each side individually and this is made possible due to dual compressors. The rear passengers get a vent on the centre console, between the front seats.

Music system supports aux, which stays tucked into the central armrest. USB support not provided though cd player is. Sound quality was good and got better after minor tweaks to the equalizer. The same screen plays host to the parking assist.

The doors have a red lamp on the inside and puddle lamps are situated on the lower side of the external rear view mirrors.

A big boot does not go unnoticed. Even the Octavia had class leading boot space and the Laura’s boot at 560 liters is big enough to transport a baby elephant. The boot can be accessed from the rear seat through a window in the rear armrest.

Spare wheel is mounted on a steel rim with the Laura coming with a set of four alloy wheels only. No space savers, the spare tyre is of the same configuration.

On the Move –

 ★★★★¼ 

Turn the ignition and the 2.0 liter TDI engine fires up with confidence. This particular engine is commonly used in most cars from the VW group. Audi A4, Skoda Superb & Audi Q3 to mention a few. Mated to this engine is the DSG gearbox, which also happens to be the best in the given segment and a big USP of the Laura. Automatics have not really been encouraged in India since long and are slated to dent mileage figures which are already dipping due to the bad road and traffic situation in the city. We don’t agree though, automatic cars just ease the stress on the driver and make it all the more comfortable. If you still disagree, try driving around at peak time in any of the metro cities.

Coming back to the gearbox, DSG stands for Direct Shift Gearbox which incorporates a dual clutch system, wherein one clutch controls the odd gears and the other controls the even gears. This enables quick gearshifts with minimum lag between shifts. The Laura uses a 6 speed gearbox with tiptronic, which means you can manually go through the gears by flicking the gear lever manually in tiptronic mode.

Ride, Handling and Braking –

 ★★★★☆ 

The Laura rides on 205/55/16 Good year NCT5 tyres which are mounted on alloy wheels. Ride quality is neither too soft nor too stiff. Odd irregularities on the road are kept away from the passenger compartment, however extremely large craters don’t go unnoticed. Handling comes naturally to Skoda cars and the Laura is a great handler too. Throw it into a corner and it responds like a well trained dog responding to his master. To polish things up, the DSG gearbox downshifts automatically, if required, based on the speed and steering input and gives you a good exit out of the corner. Steering feel is on the heavier side but feedback is phenomenal and with 140 bhp under the belt, there is no holding back.

With great power one needs greater brakes! All 4 discs make life easier and the Laura stops in one line without any shivers. Brake pedal feel is great and the brakes are extremely responsive. On a wet road, if you are driving flat out, the ASR light will frequently come on around corners and ensures you head in the right direction. ASR or Anti Slip Reduction in Skoda speak is the same as Traction control and coupled with ABS and EBD keeps the Laura not only well planted on the road but also ensures drama free braking. Even at triple digit speeds, the Laura felt well planted with impressive high speed handling characteristics. The underside stays clear of most speed bumps but the higher ones end up kissing the underbelly.

Performance –

 ★★★★½ 

Powered by a 2 liter, 4 Cylinder, TDi engine, the Laura produces 140 bhp @ 4000 rpm and 320 nm of torque @ 1750 – 2500 rpm. Power delivery is well spread out throughout the entire range of the rev meter. Acceleration is excellent and if you want to hit the rev limiter, use the ‘S’ mode on the gearbox. Manual shifting is enabled due to the tiptronic function of the gearbox, but its best to keep the car is ‘D’. A timed 0 – 100 runs stops the clock at 10.4 seconds. One can expect the Laura to return a healthy 12 kmpl in a mix of regular city and highway driving. Pedal to metal driving can also bring the mileage figured into single digits but current city traffic and road conditions will prevent you from doing so.

Conclusion –

 ★★★★¼ 

The Laura is almost 6 years old and still continues to impress. Its still one of the best buys in the segment and comes loaded with features such as rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, ASR, 6 airbags etc. Built quality is typical Skoda like with the doors shutting with a reassuring thud, the sound is so good that you may want to shut them again and again. The DSG gearbox is smooth and a pleasure to use. The only downside being service related issues which have been looked into Skoda off late. There aren’t many reasons why you would not want to get yourself one.

Whats Cool

* Performance
* Slick Automatic Gearbox
* Built Quality
* Handling

Whats Not So Cool

* Skoda’s service related horror stories
* Servicing Costs
* No bluetooth connectivity in the top variant

Skoda Laura Specifications : -

* Engine: 1968 cc, 4 Cylinder TDi
* Power: 140 bhp @ 4000 rpm
* Torque: 320 Nm @ 1750 – 2500 rpm
* Transmission: 6 Speed DSG Automatic with Tiptronic
* Top Speed: 205 kmph
* 0-100kmph: 10.4 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 12.5 kmpl
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: McPherson suspension with lower triangular links and torsion stabilizer (Front), Multi element axle with one longitudinal and three transverse links and torsion stabilizer (Rear)
* Tires: 205/55/16 Tubeless Radials
* Safety: ABS, EBD, ASR. 6 SRS Airbags

Skoda Laura Dimensions : -

* Overall length x width x height: 4569 mm X 1769 mm X 1485mm
* Wheelbase: 2,578 mm
* Ground clearance: 164
* Turning Radius – 5.1 m
* Boot Volume: 560 liters, 1430 liters (with rear seats folded)
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
* Kerb Weight: 1465 kgs

Official Website

Skoda has launched the Laura R S in India, priced at Rs. 15,19,906/- (ex-showroom, Maharashtra). The Laura R S features Alcantara leather seats with lateral support and an R S emblem, steel sports pedals, 3-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel, 16″ Draconis alloy wheels bolted on 205/55/16 tyres, rear spoiler, chrome dual exhaust, xenon curve projector headlights with dynamic levelling, corner function, with front fog lights and the LED position lamps. The Laura R S is available in four colours namely Sprint Yellow, Candy White, Race Blue and Magic Black.

The Skoda Laura R S is powered by a 1.8 TSI petrol engine which produces 160 BHP of power at 4500-6200 RPM and 250 Nm of torque between 1500-4500 RPM. The Laura R S does a 0 – 100 kmph in 7.8 seconds and can hit a top speed of 223 kmph. This motor delivers a fuel efficiency of 13.4 kmpl and is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Skoda claims that the suspension has been tuned with revised spring rates to make the R S sharper than other Skoda vehicles on sale. We will have to wait and see if the R S has the spirit of rally sport cars.

Skoda Auto has officially confirmed the launch of the Laura R S for the 31st of August, 2011. However the Laura RS will not be powered by the 2.0L TSI petrol engine which produces 200PS of power. Instead it will use the same engine as the Laura 1.8 TSI. The Laura R S will thus use the same direct injetion, 16-valve DOHC, turbocharged petrol motor that powers petrol Lauras in India. The 1798cc motor produces 160 bhp of power between 4500–6200 RPM and 250 Nm of torque between 1500–4500 RPM. Mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, the performance of the  Skoda Laura R S is not going to be any different from the regular petrol Laura.

However the Skoda Laura R S will feature the styling and bits from the R S versions. For starters there is the body kit, day time running lights and big wheels, while the complete black interior features a 3-spoke steering wheel and sports seats. The Laura R S has a stiffer suspension and along with bigger wheels and wider tyres is more sharp handling as well. Prices of the Laura R S will be around Rs. 80,000/- more than the regular Laura. Skoda really won’t be selling many units of the Laura R S as it is powered by a petrol engine in these incremental fuel price age. However, the Laura R S will help the company in build a brand before they launch the Rapid sedan later this year.

When Skoda launched the new Octavia in India, it did not want to discontinue the old Octavia. Just like most automakers were exploiting this opportunity, so did Skoda and position the new Octavia as a premium by naming it Laura. The old Octavia continued to sell and Skoda made all the hay it could, while the sun shone bright and strong. However soon, new competitors entered and the Octavia became history. Skoda had to discontinue the Octavia, and the upcoming Rapid sedan will take its place. Naturally the Octavia tag is no longer being used on any of the Czech car makers vehicles. Thus the company has decided to drop the Laura tag for the next iteration of the car and rename it the Octavia. The next generation Octavia is scheduled for global and Indian release in 2013. It is expected to heavily draw inspiration from the Vision D Concept.

Skoda had showcased the Laura RS at the 2010 Auto Expo and finally have decided to put it on sale in September. But hold your horses as its not going to be more than a cosmetic makeover. As you know, petrol now costs close to Rs. 70 kmpl. Thus the company has decided to keep the Laura with a 1.8 TSi engine which produces 160bhp of power and 250Nm of torque. So what is the Laura RS about if it hasn’t got the 2.0 TSi motor which produces 200 bhp of power? Well, the Laura RS is a Laura petrol with the looks of the vRS. It features bigger wheels, body kit, vRS badging, LED lights, rear spoiler, 3-spoke steering wheel, etc. In short, the upcoming Laura RS is all show with a slight go.

Skoda Auto has launched a stripped down variant of the Laura. The new base petrol, known as the Laura TSi Classic won’t feature fog lamps, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control, leather wrapped steering wheel, gear and brake lever, lumbar support adjustment, front center arm rest, rear AC vents and storage compartment under the front passenger seat. The Laura Classic now has steel wheels and a single CD player and is priced at Rs. 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Source – ACI