Skoda has just unveiled the 4th technology Excellent Sedan for the Indian market. When in comparison with the third technology mannequin on sale earlier than, Skoda Excellent will likely be provided with a Diesel engine, which was first showcased on the 2025 Bharat Mobility Expo. In contrast to the Excellent Diesel 4X4 proven final yr, Skoda is just launching the FWD model.
New Skoda Excellent TDI For India
Alongside the disclosing of Slavia facelift, Skoda additionally unveiled the 4th technology model of Excellent TDI. That is the primary time Skoda is bringing the Diesel again into their lineup after discontinuing the oil burners in 2020. Submit that, Excellent was solely provided with a Petrol engine. There’s a chance of Kodiaq Diesel sooner or later, if there’s demand for one.
The 4th Gen Excellent will likely be launched in India as a CBU (Utterly Constructed Unit). It is going to instantly tackle the Toyota Camry, which stays the one different premium government sedan in India from a mainstream carmaker. Because of India’s obsession with SUVs, sedans like Hyundai Sonata and Honda Accord have been lacking in motion.
Skoda is but to announce the pricing of Excellent, however is predicted to be greater than Camry’s worth which ranges between Rs 48.69 lakh and Rs 48.89 lakh (Ex-sh). It must be famous that Camry is a domestically assembled car introduced into the nation by way of the CKD route (Utterly Knocked Down).
New Excellent diesel launch will happen by June 2027. The delay in launch and worth announcement is as a result of India-EU FTA which is about to return into impact in 2027, which may permit Skoda to cost it competitively. Worth is predicted to be within the Rs 60 lakh vary. Skoda Excellent for India will likely be introduced in by way of a single top-spec Laurin & Klement trim.
Design & Aesthetics
The color Skoda confirmed for India known as Ice Tea and it lends a premium vibe. Different colors with Excellent embody Pebble Silver, Carmine Purple, Cobalt Blue, Ebony Black, Graphite Gray, Vitality Blue and Purity White. There are 18-inch alloy wheels together with Matrix LED headlights, massive butterfly grille, C-shaped LED tail lights and the sensible hatchback model tailgate.
4th Gen Excellent measures 4,912 mm in size, 1,849 mm in width, 1,481 mm in top and has a 2,841 mm lengthy wheelbase. The boot capability behind the hatchback model powered tailgate is 645L, which is humongous and is loaded with practicality. There may be even through-loading which extends past the rear centre armrest, permitting customers to hold longer objects.
Interiors & Area
On the within, Excellent is an government affair via and thru. We favored the truth that there’s no sunroof with the India-spec Skoda Excellent, as India doesn’t want one to start with. Glass space is massive sufficient to make the inside appear and feel spacious. For India Skoda is providing the ‘Sleep Bundle’ together with sunblinds for rear glass and rear home windows. Additionally, there’s winged headrests as effectively.
We’ve to begin with the rear seats as that is the place the proprietor might be gonna sit. There’s ample quantity of kneeroom, headroom and even shoulder-room for 3 individuals to slot in. There’s three adjustable headrests, a centre armrest, premium Cognac leather-based seats, studying lights, first rate under-thigh help (mounted), devoted local weather zone, rear sunshades and extra. Doorways have correct mushy contact supplies and door pockets get felt-lining even on the rear.
On the entrance, we get a sort-of comparable theme as Kodiaq with many shared parts, aside from the AC vents design and total form of the dashboard. The identical 12.9-inch infotainment display screen, digital driver’s cockpit, ambient lighting, 14-speaker Canton audio system, 10 airbags, 360-degree cameras, Degree-2 ADAS and extra.
The entrance dashboard and door trims are additionally mushy contact and felt-lined door pockets prolong to the entrance too. Under the infotainment display screen, we now have the good multi-function dials with built-in shows which we first noticed with Kodiaq. Entrance seats are extra refined than the rear as they’re heated, ventilated and massaging together with being energy adjustable with 3 reminiscence settings after which has extendable under-thigh help.
Powertrain, Misses
The place powertrains are involved, there is just one mixture. A 2.0L TDI Diesel engine with 147 bhp of peak energy and 360 Nm of peak torque, mated to a 7-speed DSG transmission choice, driving solely the entrance wheels as it’s a FWD car and never AWD. This will likely be Skoda’s first Diesel car for the Indian market after 6-7 years, relying on when it is going to launch.
Whereas the Excellent coming again to India is large information and Skoda Diesels making a comeback is greater information, there are some things we wished had been completely different with Excellent. For starters, we want rear seat occupants acquired extra goodies to play with. Like powered recline for rear seats, rear ventilated seats, rear massaging seats which the decrease tier Slavia will get. Some form of rear leisure bundle would have gone a good distance too.
