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The winning factor

With oil prices shooting up, every rupee saved on fuel prices is a rupee earned. While the Hyundai Sonata Embera CRDi and the Skoda Laura PD have both been around for a while, recent revisions to the Laura’s sticker price mean that the Sonata is no longer the only option for those shopping on a Rs. 14 lakh budget.

Step into the Sonata’s cabin and you will see a combination of beige and faux wood trim. The dashboard is made of quality materials but lacks design flair. Plastic quality is average at best and feels downmarket, especially when compared to the Laura which is light years ahead. Everything feels well put together though, but some bits like the column stalks are decidedly low-rent. However, the music system on the central console almost looks like an afterthought. The powered driver’s seat that adjusts for height and also has a manual lumbar adjustment, coupled with a steering that adjusts for reach and rake, ensures that you can find a comfortable driving position. The leather-clad seat is comfortable and holds you well during cornering and the light clutch is a definite plus in city driving conditions.

In comparison, the Laura’s dark grey cabin looks a bit staid. Touches of silver fail to liven up the bleak interiors but the cabin’s design is understatedly elegant as well as functional. The central console which houses the integrated music system and the aircon controls are of high quality. You will find that the Laura’s front seats are comfortable and come with full manual adjustments which work with a light and slick action. But a powered seat (which the top-end version gets) would have earned the Laura Elegance a few more brownie points. It is easy to find a good driving position in the Laura as all the controls fall within easy reach.

The Sonata’s CRDi unit puts out an impressive 138bhp and an even better 31.3kgm of torque (pulling power). Start the engine and the clatter under the hood reveals that it is a diesel. Once warmed up, the noise settles down and cabin becomes quieter as the speed increases. Driving around in the city, you will find that the engine does not offer enough power below 2000rpm. The six-speed gearbox is decent to operate, but not a patch on the Laura’s unit which is in a league of its own.

The Laura’s motor is not a common-rail but uses its own Pumpe-Duse tech. It scores good points for responsiveness but the downside is that it is not as refined as the Sonata. You get the typical diesel engine vibrations and the engine turns noisier as speeds builds up. Compared to the Sonata, the Laura is down on power and makes only 104bhp and 25.4kgm. But you never feel the lack of power. Driving even in chaotic city traffic, the responsiveness from lower rpm means there is ample amount of thrust. The Laura’s five-speed gearbox is a delight, with short and precise throws.

The Sonata rides on a soft suspension, which means that at city speeds it eats up most bumps with ease but sharp ridges still make their presence felt. Take it over a set of potholes at decent speed and it will not get unsettled easily. But this soft set-up results in considerable body roll which does not inspire too much confidence. But tyre grip levels are good and the car’s long wheelbase gives it fairly good stability at high speeds. The brakes have good feel but could do with a little more bite.

Reasonable option Sonata is no longer the only choice for those shopping on a Rs. 14-lakh budget

The Laura handles really well for its size. The Laura’s ride is a bit stiff at low speeds but improves as you go faster. Some bumps filter through to the cabin but the Skoda handles larger undulations with much better poise. The precise and direct steering weighs up nicely with speed. Body control and grip levels are exceptional.

The Laura trumps the Sonata in fuel efficiency with figures of 12.9kpl in city and 18.6kpl on the highway as opposed to the Sonata’s 10.6kpl and 14.5kpl.

The Sonata is a capable car that is highly under-rated. It is spacious and comfortable. The CRDi engine is refined and the ride pliant. But at this price, it does not quite make the grade simply on two counts — its cabin though high on space suffers from ordinary plastics and the Hyundai brand is just not as strong as Skoda in this segment, which translates into lower resale values.

There is no diesel dilemma here. The Laura will be the better deal in the long run as it will age better than the Sonata and when it is time to sell, the Laura will fetch better resale value which negates the Sonata’s lower sticker price advantage.

Even though the Skoda is slightly more expensive to maintain, its better fuel efficiency will mean more savings as you rack up the miles.

What makes the Laura the winner here is the feel-good factor. The Sonata just does not feel as special as the Laura which exudes a sense of class and purpose about it every time you take it out for a drive.

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