Skoda Kushaq price, long term report, highway performance, comfort, boot space – Introduction

Whereas my lengthy overdue drive to Goa didn’t materialise, our Skoda Kushaq long-termer lastly bought to stretch its legs exterior metropolis limits. It was to ferry video camerapersons Mrityunjay and Roshni, photographer Basil, and me to the Aamby Valley Metropolis airport at Lonavala. The Kushaq wasn’t going to be the hero automobile that day, not with 4 Porsches round – a 911 Turbo S, a Taycan Turbo S, a Panamera Turbo S and a Cayman GTS – however there’s a lot the crew and I discovered concerning the Skoda.

The thrilling 1.5 TSI engine provides sparkle to even mundane on a regular basis drives.

For one, usable boot house is much more than the 385-litre capability would lead you to imagine. Digicam crews don’t journey gentle and the tripods and digicam luggage take up a number of room. However the Kushaq, with its deep ground, was in a position to accommodate all of the equipment comfortably. There was even house for the cones we’d want for the mega Porsche Turbo S drag race that we have been driving up for. To not gloat, but when there’s one space the place ‘my’ Kushaq had the higher hand on the Porsches, it was baggage house. Their house saver spare tyres depart little or no useable room.

Audio system features a subwoofer and delivers punchy sound.

The drive to Lonavala by way of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was simple. Cruise management was put to good use on the lengthy straights and the 1.5 TSI engine’s 150hp and 250Nm allowed simple progress up the ghats previous vans chugging up, after all, throughout all lanes. The enjoyable bit was the climb from Lonavala to Aamby Valley; sweeping corners and hairpins make up a lot of the route, and it’s right here that the taut Skoda reacquainted me with its crisp dealing with. The 7-speed DSG can also be aware of handbook inputs on the paddles and all in all, as fun-to-drive SUVs go, the Kushaq is correct up there. As a lot because the highway highlighted the Kushaq’s dealing with, it additionally introduced out its agency experience. Giant patches of the highway are in disrepair on which the Kushaq didn’t cushion us in addition to it ought to have. 

There’s more room than the 385-litre boot will lead you to imagine.

There was fog on sure sections of the climb (the auto headlights labored nicely in altering gentle) and when issues cleared out, there have been ominous clouds threatening to rain on our parade. However I suppose even the climate gods needed to see the Porsches go up towards each other, and what we bought was an extended sufficient window of clear climate to finish the drags. The 911 Turbo S was the undisputed winner with 1 / 4 mile time of 10.22 seconds. For reference, the Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG recorded a 17.15-second time at our drag races final yr. Gulp! Then once more, the 911 positive as hell wouldn’t have matched the Kushaq’s 13.7kpl financial system for the day’s drive from Mumbai, as much as Aamby Valley and again to base.

The Kushaq feels stiff-kneed on damaged patches of highway, and the experience is agency.

I don’t find out about different pockets of the nation, however the Kushaq in Monte Carlo spec appears to be successful in my neck of the woods. There are three on my parking ground alone, and I inevitably see one other one or two on my commute to the workplace. Perhaps they simply catch my eyes extra as a result of to me, they’re the best-looking variations of the Kushaq. Changing chrome with black is a win in my books, and as I’ve mentioned earlier than, the Kushaq can carry off the purple interiors too. It’s an inside color combo I affiliate with the legendary E46 BMW M3.

Reverse digicam decision not consistent with Kushaq’s worth.

The Kushaq has not given us any hassle in its time with us, however I do want some issues have been higher. The touchscreen is very nice, although, at a time when rivals are providing 360-degree cameras, the Kushaq’s rearview digicam actually wants an replace. And whereas at it, I hope Skoda can rethink the AC controls; the contact panel is fiddly to make use of on the go. On the plus aspect, the stable construct (the odd creak from the beading however), gem of an engine, eager dealing with and wealthy sounding audio system will stick with me.

I’m nonetheless angling for my subsequent long-termer, however it’ll be arduous to seek out one thing extra enjoyable and characterful than the Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo.

Additionally see:

Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo long run evaluation, 9,000km report

Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI long run evaluation, 3700km report