On the morning of September 11, Skoda officially introduced the Slavia B-segment sedan to Vietnamese consumers. This marks the fourth model from the Czech automaker in Vietnam, and the second one assembled locally at the Thanh Cong Group’s factory in Quang Ninh province.

The Skoda Slavia is offered in three versions: Active, Ambition, and Style, with listed prices of $18,500, $20,900, and $22,400 respectively. These price points position the Slavia squarely against heavyweight rivals like the Toyota Vios, Hyundai Accent, and Honda City – all well-established and deeply rooted in the minds of Vietnamese car buyers.

Like the Skoda Kushaq, the Slavia is built on Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform. It measures 4,541 x 1,752 x 1,487 mm (length x width x height) with a wheelbase of 2,651 mm.

This makes the Slavia slightly larger than the Vios and Accent and nearly equal in size to the Honda City. Notably, its 178 mm ground clearance is the highest in its class, even comparable to some compact crossovers.

The exterior design of the Slavia exudes a masculine, straightforward, and distinctly European character. The front grille is chrome-trimmed, paired with LED headlights (on the Style variant) and sculpted body lines along the sides. The wheels are 16-inch multi-spoke alloys, with the Style variant featuring a 5-spoke machined finish.

Inside, the Slavia offers a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, automatic touch climate control, wireless charging, push-button start, and smart key. The top-tier Style version adds a sunroof, digital instrument cluster, 8-speaker audio system with subwoofer, an 8-inch digital display, and ventilated seats.

Safety features are competitive for the segment, including electronic stability control, hill-start assist, traction control, and a rearview camera.

The locally assembled Slavia is powered by a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine, producing 115 horsepower and 178 Nm of torque. It uses a front-wheel-drive system, identical to the Kushaq.

Despite offering several advantages over its Japanese and Korean rivals, the Slavia faces tough challenges in the Vietnamese market.

The B-segment sedan space is considered prime territory in Vietnam's automotive landscape, with annual sales reaching tens of thousands. Toyota Vios dominates with brand strength and proven durability, Hyundai Accent leads in value for money, while Honda City appeals with sleek styling and strong performance.

Other competitors such as the Mazda2, Nissan Almera, KIA Soluto, and Mitsubishi Attrage may not boast high sales, but each has unique advantages and loyal customer bases.

To truly compete in Vietnam, the Slavia must prove itself in at least two key areas: real-world durability and after-sales service. Vietnamese buyers are accustomed to widely available spare parts and low maintenance costs from Japanese and Korean brands. A new European player without a solid post-sale support system may struggle to gain traction.

Quick comparison: Skoda Slavia vs. competitors

Hoang Hiep