Skoda Kushaq

When Practicality Meets Performance

Not that long ago, Skoda had a midsize SUV on sale in India - the Yeti. It was critically acclaimed, but was never a success in our market. The reasons were simple — high pricing and maintenance costs. In fact, the same problem plagued a few other SAVWIPL (Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd.) cars too, like the Fabia and Jetta. To address this, the group went back to the drawing board and came up with a new strategy. The “India 2.0” strategy spawned a new compact car platform specifically for India — MQB-A0-IN.

The MQB-A0-IN platform is based on the global MQB-A0 platform which has underpinned millions of VW group cars. But the India specific platform promises over 90% localisation, reducing production costs, thanks to a reduction in import duties. The first car this platform spawned was the Skoda Kushaq, and it was an instant success. But does the Kushaq retain the character that older Skoda cars offered?

Skoda Kushaq Pros and Cons 

Skoda Kushaq Exterior Design 

One good look at the Kushaq, and you will get the feeling that this is a true Skoda product. At 4.2-metres long, it is one of the smaller compact SUVs, but from some angles it definitely looks larger than it is, especially the front. The relatively longer bonet with low rake and sharp creases gives the car a butch and muscular look. The large butterfly grille outlined with a thick chrome strip gives it an Indian touch as well. Interestingly, the headlights and fog lights are both placed high up and close to each other, giving it a split-headlamp-like design. But the bumper still gets recesses where the fog lamps would traditionally be placed. The front end does look a bit busy, but the design is tastefully done and should age gracefully.

Despite its relatively compact dimensions, the Kushaq still has the longest wheelbase in the segment. That paired with the short overhangs on both ends gives the Kushaq great proportions. The 17” alloys look beautiful and also fill up the wheel wells well. Sharp creases continue along the sides, and the roofline doesn’t swoop in low either, giving the relatively smaller Kushaq a more SUVesque stance. The rear end, however, isn’t as appealing as the front. The faux diffuser doesn’t look as elegant as the rest of the car, and the chrome strip that morphs into reflectors on both ends feels like an afterthought.

Skoda Kushaq Interiors 

Skoda’s sharp and elegant design theme continues on the interiors. Opposed to its sibling — the Taigun — which has a young and European interior design, the Kushaq gets a clean and luxurious appearance. There are plenty of intricate design elements; attention to detail in the cabin is great. Knurled finish rotator dials on the steering wheel, chrome accents around the cabin, and other small design details all give you a feeling of being in a special car. However, there are a lot of hard plastics throughout the cabin, and some bits don’t feel very solidly built. There are almost no soft-touch elements on the dash either, and it feels as though Skoda has elected to cut some costs on the finishing, and mask that with a good design.

The cabin scores well on design as well as practicality. There are many storage spaces all around the cabin. The rear seats also get AC vents, two USB Type-C charging ports, dedicated slots in the backrest of the front seats to keep your smartphones, and a foldable armrest with built-in cup holders. Door pockets are also large enough to accommodate water bottles and a few other objects. Longest wheelbase in class also translates to best-in-class legroom at the back. However, the dark interiors, high roofline, and the lack of a panoramic sunroof takes away from the sense of airiness in the cabin. The shorter length also means that boot space is a little compromised, and at 385 litres, is about 50 litres less than most of its competitors.

Skoda Kushaq Comfort 

SAVWIPL has managed to do an excellent job of finding the balance between handling and comfort with all the new MQB-A0-IN cars. The suspension rounds off bumps and potholes fairly well, and allows the Kushaq to go over broken roads easily. It isn’t the comfort benchmark of the segment, but leaves no room to complain either. The strong build quality also inspires confidence on rough roads, and you may find yourself going over such roads faster than other cars from its class. 

The Kushaq’s seats are also well designed and bolstered, and you get a good amount of support from it. Front seats also get ventilation, which adds greatly to the comfort on a hot summer day. Thanks to the long wheelbase, the rear bench gets a great amount of legroom and knee room. The rear bench gets great bolstering as well and a good amount of under thigh support, but it’s best suited for two adults, thanks to the way they are contoured, lack of width in the cabin, and the centre console that eats into the middle passenger’s leg space.

Skoda Kushaq performance and handling

The Skoda Kushaq gets two engine options — a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder, and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder. Both engines are turbocharged petrol units, and have different use cases. The 1.0 TSI is designed to be an economical, commute-friendly unit. It gets two gearboxes — a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic. It has 114 bhp and 178 Nm on tap, and is fairly refined considering it’s a 3-cylinder unit. The power kicks in fairly high up in the rev range, and above 3,000 rpm it has a decent amount of performance on offer. However, the engine is only economical if you use it with a light foot, and the fuel economy figures can drop down to single digits if you drive spiritedly.

The 1.5-litre on the other hand is designed to be enjoyed. It’s rev happy, powerful, and will put a big grin on your face every time you floor the throttle. It’s paired with either a 6-speed manual — which has great throws — or a 7-speed DSG automatic which has lightning quick shifts. The 1.5 TSI also gets an active cylinder deactivation feature, and when it is under low demand, the engine will stop combustion in two of the four cylinders. The whole system operates seamlessly and you can’t tell when it is active apart from a readout on the instrument cluster. This greatly aids fuel economy, and despite having a higher displacement and power figure than the 1.0 TSI, the 1.5 TSI can still deliver similar fuel economy figures.

The Kushaq is a delight to drive when it comes to the twisties, and it will just forget that it is an SUV when you throw it around a corner. It handles like a poised hatchback, and paired with the 1.5 TSI it will wake up the racing driver in you whenever you see a corner. The chassis is stiff, and so is the suspension, so the Kushaq barely ever loses composure, be it high speed expressways, a set of twisties, or rough roads. 

Skoda Kushaq Key specifications 

Skoda Kushaq Safety Features

The Skoda Kushaq — along with the other three MQB-A0-IN cars on sale in India — has scored a 5-star Global NCAP rating for both adult as well as child crash protection, making it one of the safest cars to be in. ABS, EBD, brake assist, ESC, and traction control are among the list of safety features on offer to prevent a crash from happening altogether. However, there are no ADAS features on offer. Other safety features include six airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, hill hold, TPMS, and brake disc wiping. However, only the front gets disc brakes, with the rear getting drum brakes.

Skoda Kushaq Technology and Infotainment

The Skoda Kushaq comes equipped with all the basic bells and whistles that you’d expect a compact SUV to have. It gets a 10-inch infotainment unit which is feature rich and gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The infotainment is paired to an 8-speaker with subwoofer music system which sounds beautiful and immersive. It also gets an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, which could’ve offered more information. Other features include a touch sensitive climate control unit, a wireless phone charger, ventilated seats, sunroof, and more. 

Is the Skoda Kushaq for you?

The Skoda Kushaq is not the most feature loaded SUV in its segment. It also is one of the smallest in its segment, and doesn’t get the largest boot or the most comfortable suspension. Narrow dimensions also mean that the cabin is good only for four adults and a child. But look away from these things and you’ll see what the Kushaq is really all about. It is one of the better looking models in its segment both inside and outside, has brilliant driving dynamics, and the two engine options on offer also cater to different buyers. The gearboxes on offer are also a delight to use, and the handling is better than you’d expect. It will take every commute and every road trip you throw at it, and will make sure all of them are memorable. So unless you have a large family and you are looking for a big family car, the Skoda Kushaq fulfils almost every criteria that would be on a compact SUV buyer’s checklist, and then goes on to do a lot more than that.