Skoda Slavia, Kushaq and Kodiaq Maxed Out at Natrax

Safety is increasingly becoming a very important aspect for Indian customers, and manufacturers have no choice but to take notice of it. With India leading in the number of deaths caused by road accidents in the world, safety should be the top priority for customers. Recently, Skoda India had a reason to celebrate, as the mainstays of their product range got five-star safety ratings. So, to mark this achievement and highlight the dynamic ability of their products, they invited us to the terrific NATRAX facility outside Indore to test the cars dynamically on the high-speed and handling tracks and to take the Kodiaq for some mild off-roading. 

WORLD-CLASS FACILITY

The event was also to celebrate the success of Skoda’s products at the GNCAP tests, wherein both the Slavia sedan and the Kushaq SUV were tested under the new, more stringent GNCAP standards and received five-star safety ratings for both adult and child occupants, making them some of the safest cars in India. Given that the Skoda Kodiaq already has a five-star rating in Europe, Skoda is now one of the few manufacturers to have five-star safety ratings for all its products for both adult and child occupants.

On the NATRAX premises, a cut-out version of the Slavia bodyshell was on display, which allowed us to look at the safety features and enhancements, thanks to which the cars received such splendid ratings in the GNCAP tests. Also, on display was a recent student project car – it was a one-off cabriolet version of the Rapid sedan created by students from the Skoda-VW Group’s Vocational Academy. 

FLAT OUT

My main mission, however, of this trip was to experience the NATRAX facility, which for some weird reason I’d never been to since its inception. First, I was taken to the handling circuit – it’s a brilliant and technical circuit with both fast sections and a slow, quite technical section. We first drove the Monte Carlo edition of the Kushaq, and after a sighting lap, I was able to throw the SUV around quite a bit, enjoying its brilliant handling, direct steering, and excellent dynamics. Next, we drove the Slavia, which was even more fun to throw around the circuit, given its low centre of gravity, nimble handling, and quick responses. All of that really made me enjoy the various turns of the 3.6km long handling loop.

Next up, of course, was the High-Speed test track, which is amongst the biggest of its kind in the world, with a total length of 11.3km. Here you can easily reach speeds over 300km/h, but that was not our goal. As we started, my instructor told me to keep the accelerator pressed flat to the floor. The Kodiaq reached its top speed of 220k/h in no time. What was surprising, though, was that even while going through a long curve at the end of the track, the car maintained its speed and poise, except for some minor crosswind buffeting. Frankly, it was a piece of cake to drive the car flat-out at its limit. The Slavia was next, and it, too, remained rock solid as we reached its top speed of 204km/h and stayed there for quite some time. In fact, after driving both cars, I have had a newfound respect for Skoda’s engineers – both cars not only have great chassis composure but also excellent aerodynamic management. 

THE ROUGH STUFF

Now, the Kodiaq also comes with an all-wheel drive system, and Skoda wanted to show off its off-road prowess. However, the track designed by the Skoda folks wasn’t necessarily very difficult, but it did show that you could take the Kodiaq on the rough stuff. That said, various obstacles designed to show off the wheel articulation, as well as the side inclines, were quite impressive. Needless to say, the Kodiaq handled all of that without a fuss. Sure, most customers will never take the Kodiaq off the tarmac, but it’s good to know that if you ever find yourself amid inclement weather or on icy road conditions, the car can deal with them quite effectively.

While the main purpose of the Skoda event was to showcase the safety achievements of their vehicles, it was also a good chance for us to get behind the wheel of their cars and test their driving dynamics at one of the best facilities in the world. And the performance of the Skoda products under demanding conditions was exceptional, just like their impressive five-star safety ratings.

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The Slavia was rock solid as we reached a top speed of 204km/h