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At times, motoring journalists can get it horribly wrong. Alright, make that most of the time if you want. What else can explain the stupendous success that the Skoda Laura has had in India? That too, when the previous generation Octavia is still sold in the country at a bargain price point? I attributed more street-smartness to Indian buyers and thought they would get lured to the showroom seeing the Laura only to end up buying the Octavia in large numbers.
But even at Rs 17.13 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai for the L&K edition), there are enough takers for the Laura and the makeshift assembly unit at Aurangabad is struggling to put together enough cars to meet demand. The fact that the Superb was way too expensive and the Honda Accord never came with a diesel powerplant helped Skoda India slot the car better in the marketplace. But now there is some serious competition coming up from, ahem, within the family.
The Volkswagen Jetta TDI DSG retails at Rs 16.94 lakh (for the Comfortline which participated in this test) and is powered by the very same Pumpe-Duse diesel engine that you can find under the bonnet of the Laura. So if you are in the market for a premium diesel mobile, you have enough reason to be confused – it is entirely another thing that whatever be your decision, it is the VW bottomline that will flourish.
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