Top Gear, January 2006 has featured a piece on the Skoda Laura. They definitely seem smitten by this Skoda. But then, who can help but be impressed by any Skoda? However, Top Gear seems put off by certain aspects of the car that aren’t expected from a car of the Skoda’s stature. That explains the deduction of five whole points from 20, making it a 15 / 20 for the car. To know more about what’s hot and not about this car, read on.

PROS:

1. The Skoda Laura, like all cars belonging to the Skoda family, is good-looking and recognizable almost instantly. The Laura feels very powerful and sturdy. However, when seen by itself, there seems no difference between the Laura and the Octavia. The fact that the Laura is longer, wider a wee bit taller than the Octavia, is evident only when the two cars are seen together.
2. About the interiors, the Laura has actually surpassed the Octavia in terms of space and comfort. And this was not thought readily possible. The Laura has more comfort and luxury, more so in the rear. Aesthetically, the interiors are spruced up with oodles of class and tons of finish.
3. Ergonomically, the dials and buttons on the car are impeccable, and there are tons of cubby holes to accommodate some sizeable amount of paraphernalia.
4. The Laura’s diesel engine is extremely powerful. It produces 105 bhp (15 more bhp as compared to the Octavia’s 90 bhp). The car’s DSG gearbox makes the whole riding experience truly fantastic.
5. The McPherson suspension of the Laura does not let any bump filter its way into the cabin. The whole ride is smooth and faultless.
6. The steering wheel is totally sensitive to the driver’s needs, and feels strong and powerful when held. The brakes too are totally problem-free, and have a pleasing feel to them.
7. The Skoda Laura sure comes with some fancy technology as standard equipment. For instance, check out the rain sensors that automatically activate the wipers when it starts raining. Or you could also consider the monitors that look after tyre pressure, seats that adjust electrically, etc. That’s about it for the standard equipment. The thoughtful touches given to the Laura include door mirrors that act as puddle lights that help you see the patch of ground where you alight. What’s more, if the space you’re about to park in is teensier than you think, four otherwise unnoticed sensors in the rear bumper make enough noise to guide you get the perfect parking space. Sounds straight out of Mission Impossible, doesn’t it?

CONS:

1. It is a little disappointing that although the makers of Skoda could have done so much to the design of the car, they chose to stick to their old conservative design. Result, the Laura doesn’t differ much from the Octavia in terms of looks.
2. The engine at higher rpm tends to protest by making a lot of noise and vibrations that are made known via the gear knob and the pedals. This one aspect does ruin the excellent impression one initially has about the engine.