We head to NATRAX, Asia’s largest vehicle testing facility, for the Safer with Skoda track day to test the handling, high-speed and off-road capabilities of the Czech brand’s current line-up that includes the Kushaq, Slavia and the Kodiaq.

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Every skoda since 2005 has achieved a 5-star safety rating. India specific products Kushaq and Slavia have joined the list too. The Kodiaq holds a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating while the Kushaq and Slavia both have been awarded 5 stars by Global NCAP.

By Dhruv SaxenaEver since the India 2.0 products entered the market, Skoda has been flying high on the back of improved sales and renewed popularity. Both the Kushaq and the Slavia have sold well in their respective segments accounting for the majority of Skoda’s sales while its more premium offerings like the Octavia, Superb and Kodiaq have done decent numbers despite their respective segments not being the most popular in India.

Safer with Skoda track day Kushaq body shell — Body shell of the 5-star rated (Global NCAP) Skoda Kushaq with various grades of steel highlighted with different colours.

Skoda’s products have always been appreciated for their elegant designs, their powertrains and their inherent ability to serve up an engaging driving experience. Testing them to the limit is hardly ever possible on public roads without breaking the law and to show us exactly what their cars are capable of, Skoda had us try them out at Asia’s largest and, by far, India’s finest testing facility just outside Indore – NATRAX. With the Superb and Octavia off the roster for the time being, we were handed over the Kushaq and Slavia on the handling track, the Slavia and Kodiaq on the high-speed oval and the Kodiaq to tackle an off-road course.

Safer with Skoda track day Rapid Cabriolet — Also on display was the Skoda Rapid Cabriolet, part of the company’s first-ever student car project in India. Selected students from the Group Academy’s Dual Vocational Training in Mechatronics program have created this unique cabriolet version.

FLAT OUT

NATRAX boasts one of the longest high-speed test tracks in the world at 11.3km. It has been designed to allow for speeds well in excess of 300kmph, something that warrants the highest grade, absolutely blemish-free tarmac. We did half a lap each in the anti-clockwise direction piloting the Slavia and the Kodiaq. Hitting 200kmph (speedo indicated) in both cars was quite a fascinating experience.

Safer with Skoda track Slavia top speed run — Hitting 200kmph (speedo indicated) in the Skoda Slavia at NATRAX.

Although the surface was absolutely perfect, devoid of any bumps and undulations one might encounter even on the most state-of-the-art public highways/expressways in India, it still was a great showcase of just how well-engineered these products are feeling rock solid and confident even at speeds over 200kmph.

Safer with Skoda track Kodiaq high speed run — High speed run with the Skoda Kodiaq.

HANDLE WITHOUT CARE

We’ve always maintained that the Kushaq and Slavia are one of the best if not the best handling cars in their respective segments. Being able to put that properly to the test around a handling track meant to allow for the sort of spirited driving one simply should not indulge in on public roads helped highlight just how true our judgement has been.

Safer with Skoda track day Slavia and Kushaq — Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo and Skoda Slavia, both with the 1.5 TSI mated to the 7-speed DSG.

NATRAX’s 3.6km handling track has a great mix of corners with subtle elevation changes, perfect for testing everyday cars like the Slavia and Kushaq. Following a sighting lap and with the help of instructions for members of Rayomand Banajee’s Rayo Racing team, I was able to extract the most from the 1.5 DSG variants of the two to the best of my abilities, of course. The way the suspension behaves as the weight shifts from one corner to another, the throttle response, the shifts from the DSG and the power and torque from the 1.5 turbo, all comes together beautifully to deliver an experience other cars in their respective segments simply can’t.

Safer with Skoda track day Kushaq Monte Carlo — A few laps of the handling track in the Skoda Kushaq and Slavia proved why these are considered the best handling cars in their respective segments.

OFF THE ROAD

With the Kodiaq, the recently launched 2023 version which carries on largely unchanged save for an updated engine to comply with the latest regulations and a few added features, Skoda had us tackle a fairly challenging off-road course.

Safer with Skoda track day Kodiaq off road — The off-road course helped highlight the breadth of the Kodiaq’s capabilities.

The ease with which the Kodiaq made its way through is praiseworthy and helped highlight that despite its positioning as a soft-roader, it still is more than capable of handling the rough stuff. Besides an intelligent all-wheel drive setup and a dedicated off-road mode, the Kodiaq also boasts Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) that can raise the ride height by 15mm enhancing its all-terrain capabilities.

Safer with the Skoda track day Kodiaq off road — Skoda recently introduced the MY2023 Kodiaq and also announced increased allocation for the market to 750 units per quarter indicating that there is stronger than anticipated demand for its premium SUV.

From an owner’s perspective, of course these features are unlikely to be ever put to use but it certainly is reassuring to know your Rs 40 lakh SUV is proper and not just a glorified estate on stilts.

Safer with Skoda track day ft. Slavia, Kushaq and Kodiaq