Skoda Kushaq: The Skoda Kushaq is something of a risk – a European brand’s take on what Indian buyers desire from a compact SUV.
This indigenously developed, locally produced car Born out of the VW Group’s India 2.0 project, the Taigun tries to blend Continental dynamics with subcontinental sensibilities.
Czech Aesthetics for Indian Prints
On the design front, the Kushaq proudly flaunts Skoda’s sharp design language and style. The sharp creases and angular design give a very European look among the more bulbous shapes of Japanese and Korean competition.
The front end gets butterfly grille – the signature Skoda design theme — with crystalline headlamps that give it a premium feel.
It may be small on the outside, but the Kushaq is well proportioned, giving it good road presence. The elevated body and flared wheel arches give an impression of confidence, but without having to rely on overblown, plasticky cladding or fake skid plates.
This restraint in terms of styling is rather refreshing in a segment that’s so used to being over-bling-ey.
Performance DNA
What’s under the bonnetPerhaps its strongest card — and possibly the reason why the rest of the car was penned accordingly — is the choice of turbo-petrol engines that serve up much more character even if they don’t exactly top the charts.
The 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI is one of the most powerful engines for its size in the world and the 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI is genuinely punchy in a segment short on spirited performance.
The six-speed manual gearbox provides accurate shifts via well-defined gates, but most people would prefer the slick seven-speed DSG automatic.
It’s the purist’s choice, but guys who drive this car assertively will also appreciate the quick gearchanges that hold the engine in the meat of its powerband, even if there’s a touch of indecision at low speeds that reveals the tranny is calibrated more for performance than everyday use.
Dynamically, the Kushaq is typically European with a level of composure that breeds confidence.
The steering has an organic sense of progression rather than fakely heavy, and body control is still exemplary even when you snap from one direction to another. The suspension tune also does a good job of balancing an absorbing ride quality with limited body roll.
Living Space
Inside, the cabin takes to minimalism with purpose. Function takes precedence over form: physical buttons manage all the important functions while a user-friendly touchscreen dominates the center of the dashboard.
Material feel varies strategically – areas you are bound to touch feature pliable materials, while ones you won’t are coated in a harder plastic that should last longer in dusty environments.
And while that interior space impresses overall, it’s particularly strong in the back seat with space for taller passengers to stretch out. The floor on the 2nd row being relatively flat is more conducive to use the center rear position – a key point for family buyers in India of course.
Ventilated from the seats is welcomed on sweltering summer days and is as notable for its omission in the rear seats.
Don’t lack for places to stash things in the cabin – there are enormous door pockets and well-positioned cubby holes everywhere.
Rear boot space is competitive with the class norm and the 60:40 split fold rear seats increase luggage capacity when necessary.
Strengths and Limitations
Pros:
Responsiveness of turbocharged engines that engage
European dynamics all in order, but well integrated.
Sturdy construction and even reassuring door closes
p>All-round safety with six airbags.
Ventilated front seat to suit Indian weather
Tastefully designed outside, distinctive in the interior
Cons:
Pricey compared to its Japanese rivals
Smaller service network compared to more experienced competition
Sporadic stop-and-go DSG hesitance
Fuel economy lags non-turbo rivals
Some cheap plastics in the areas of the cabin nearer the floor
Bundle of joy at times unresponsive.
Skoda Kushaq: Final Assessment
And that’s where the Skoda Kushaq succeeds in not being an everything-to-everyone car. Instead it’s concentrating on providing European driving dynamics and sound engineering in a package that is sized and priced for the Indian market.
It’s for drivers who publish experience behind the wheelscapes to spreadsheets.
Kushaq If you can get past the established set of Japanese and Korean options, the Kushaq is a refreshing alternative in the compact SUV space.
It’s a reward to drivers who believe in nuanced handling and refined powertrains, even if these don’t always read literally in showroom brochures or specification comparisons.
But in a market inundated with vehicles that tend to blur into one another, the Kushaq’s best feature may be its distinct point of view — a reminder that character still counts in a world where automakers increasingly find themselves turning out products that look and feel alike.