Skoda Kushaq

Skoda India has unveiled the Skoda Kushaq Explorer concept, which is essentially the Kushaq with off-road-spec design bits. The Kushaq Explorer features a matte green paint, orange highlights, offroading tyres, and additional design enhancements. This particular version is based on the 1.5-litre TSI engine variant of the Kushaq SUV.

The Kushaq, the most important car in Skoda India’s two-decade history, arrived in 2021. It is the first made-in-India, named-in-India, and made-for-India product and a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and investment went into making it. It competes with big brands like the Hyundai Creta, Kia’s Seltos and it’s own stable mate the Volkswagen Taigun to name a few of it’s rivals. Should you pick it over other compact SUVs then?

Looks

The larger and more upright Skoda grille, also seen on the Octavia, stands out and the slim LED headlamps add a stylish touch. The car looks sleek with sharp lines starting from the headlamps. The 17-inch alloys have a design reminiscent of some Lamborghinis. The boomerang-shaped tail lamps at the back look sharp, although they would have been even better with LEDs.

The Skoda Kushaq is noticeably smaller than its competitors. It is shorter and lower, and also narrower compared to rivals. It lacks a substantial visual presence. The wheel arches are somewhat flat, leading some to think the Kushaq competes with smaller models like the Sonet and Venue, rather than the larger Seltos and Creta.

Interiors

The Kushaq is built strong, and the satisfying sound when you close the door confirms that. Inside, the cabin feels premium, featuring a nicely crafted two-spoke steering wheel and high-quality dashboard plastic. The 3D hexagonal pattern on the door pads and dash adds a touch of style, enhancing the overall ambiance. The leather upholstery adds to the premium feel.

The Kushaq's 10.25-inch infotainment system sets a new standard in its segment. It responds quickly to touch, with smooth transitions. The layout is logical, making important functions easily accessible. The powerful processor ensures fast and hassle-free device connectivity. This system also supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, making the wireless charging pad even more practical.

The driver's seat in the Kushaq is designed for comfort, with logically arranged and well-executed controls. The high-quality stalks are easy to operate despite the numerous functions. The steering-mounted controls are not only beautifully designed but also user-friendly. The knurled finish on the rotary switches ensures a good grip, and the touch-sensitive aircon controls, though initially tricky, are grooved for easy operation while driving. The tilt and telescopic steering, along with adjustable seats, provide a wide range of adjustments for an ideal driving position.

In the front, you have two cup holders and spacious door pockets that can fit large bottles. The cooled glovebox is of decent size, and the surprisingly roomy boot, though officially 285 liters, is deep and square-shaped, accommodating plenty of luggage. The low loading lip and 60:40 split-folding rear seats further enhance flexibility, although they don't fold completely flat.

The Kushaq is a comfortable four-seater. The front seats are very well padded and supportive. You also get some feel-good features, such as seat ventilation which you'll appreciate in our hot conditions. Even the rear seat is heavily contoured, giving you great support. Despite the narrow cabin and small sunroof, the rear seat feels surprisingly airy thanks to the big glass area and the lighter colours used in the upper half of the cabin. Even four six-footers will feel comfortable with more than enough knee and headroom.

Some Negatives

Up front, the narrow cabin doesn't give you the sense of space you expect from a compact SUV. The lack of width also makes the Kushaq strictly a four-seater. The centre passenger will not only find the shoulder room constricted, but will also feel uncomfortable because of the heavily contoured seats, limited headroom, and cramped foot room.

On its own, the Kushaq feels pretty well-loaded, especially in the top Style variant. However, competition is tough and it misses out on some feel-good features that its rivals get. You don't get a powered driver seat, digital instrumentation, a panoramic sunroof, an electronic parking brake, and drive modes. 

Generally, cost-cutting and Skoda don't go hand in hand. However, in pursuit of pricing the Kushaq competitively, you do find some low rent bits. The side vents on the Kushaq feel flimsy, something not expected from a brand like Skoda considering it is one of the most used bits in the cabin.The roof lining in front of the sunroof feels loose. It moves and rattles when you put even little pressure on it. The infotainment system is top-notch but the reversing camera feed it displays is subpar. It’s pixelated and the quality doesn't feel fitting on a car this expensive.

Safety

Talking about safety, the Skoda Kushaq has Electronic Stability Program (ESP) included right from the basic version. In the top Style variant, you get extra features like hill hold, a warning system for tire pressure (without specific pressure details), automatic wipers, automatic headlights, three-point seatbelts for all five passengers, and two points to anchor ISOFIX child seats at the back. If you opt for the top manual variant, you get six airbags, but with the automatic version, there are just two! This decision seems to keep the price competitive, but we believe Skoda could have done better in this area.

Powerful Petrol Engines

The Kushaq gets two engines, both petrol. The first one is a smaller 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit, making 115PS of power, mated with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The larger 1.5-litre four-cylinder, on the other hand, makes 150PS of power and comes with two gearbox options: a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT. On test, we have the range-topping 1.5-litre engine that we have also experienced on the bigger Karoq. This should make the Kushaq feel fast, right? Yes. The claimed time of 8.6 seconds will make it the fastest accelerating compact SUV and it feels like it too. It has loads of grunt and it pulls really well from as low as 1300rpm.

Even out on the highway, this engine has reserves of power and because of the tall gearing, this engine stays at a very comfortable rpm even at high speeds. This not only results in less stress on the engine but also aids fuel efficiency. Improve highway fuel efficiency further you get cylinder deactivation technology with the 1.5-litre unit. This basically shuts down two of the four cylinders while cruising or when the engine load is low. If we have to nit-pick, the clutch on the manual Kushaq is a little bit on the heavier side but other than that, as an urban commuter, this car works.

Now coming to the automatic transmission, with most dual-clutch units you feel some jerkiness, especially at low speeds, but the Kushaq's DCT feels smooth and always manages to find the right gear at the right time. It is quick to downshift too which makes overtaking an easy affair.

Ride & Handling

Just like the engine, the Kushaq delivers a comfortable ride, living up to the SUV expectations. It handles rough roads with ease, thanks to its quiet, softly damped, and long-travel suspension. Surprisingly, even on highways, the ride remains comfortable, showing composure over uneven surfaces with minimal body movement. Driving long distances in the Kushaq feels effortless.

Is it fun to drive? Absolutely! As mentioned earlier, the engine feels powerful. While it doesn't appreciate being revved hard, it packs plenty of grunt. The real surprise, however, is the chassis balance. Despite its comfortable ride, the Kushaq is eager to change directions. It feels agile, and the steering is well-weighted and accurate. Your confidence gets a boost as the Kushaq remains stable around corners, even at higher speeds. The brakes are strong, providing a good bite.

Verdict 

Expectations from the first mainstream SUV from a brand like Skoda were always going to be sky-high and the Kushaq delivers for the most part. It feels solidly built and even rides and handles well. The ride is especially impressive, with it taking on the worst of our road surface with ease. It is also rather practical and comfortable for a family of four. Even both petrol engines have enough power to put a smile on your face. Is it perfect? Well, no.

It is a size smaller than the competition and the narrow cabin results in a car that is strictly a four-seater. It is also missing some feel-good features that its rivals get. Besides, the lack of a diesel engine marks it down further. But are these shortcomings big enough to be deal-breakers? Certainly not in our books.