The Skoda Kushaq is a fantastic benchmark of how cars and SUVs built under the ‘Make in India’ banners should be made. It brings in the famed European levels of build quality and sturdiness while also focusing on those aspects for it to perform well in our conditions. I remember reading somewhere that European cars are built to work flawlessly under exacting conditions and most often they do not match our weather or road conditions which leads to intermittent issues.
It is a good thing then, that SUVs like the Skoda Kushaq are made in India, for India which means they are developed with our roads and our weather conditions in mind. It kind of explains how our Kushaq managed to take on a lot of abuse and still over the course of over 26 thousand kilometres of good roads, bad roads and no roads display nary a creak or squeak. Yes, the doors do not shut with a reassuring thud unlike the previous Skodas but these new generation Skodas score highly when it comes to ruggedness. A shoutout to the alloy wheels that overcame quite a few missed potholes and road joints at speeds without any damage to show for it. Like typical Skodas, the Kushaq too is a driver’s SUV. It displays car-like handling traits, with a feelsome steering and a stiff chassis. This without impacting ride quality which, while firm, absorbs everything you throw at it. The Skoda Kushaq is one of those rare SUVs that gracefully toe the fine line between ride and handling.
Then there is the boisterous 1.0 -litre turbo-petrol motor that loves to rev and delivers punchy performance. It comes mated to this intuitive six-speed torque convertor gearbox that offers snappy gearshifts. In fact, the engine-transmission combo seems tuned for performance which invariably meant I was driving faster than I should most of the time. This did lead to a dip in fuel efficiency as like most turbo-petrol engines, the 1.0-litre TSI is sensitive to throttle inputs. That said, being conservative with my right foot fetched upwards of 14kmpl in city driving.
The Kushaq has been one engaging SUV to drive and spend time with. It impressed in all aspects like style, premium feel, features, performance and dynamics to the point where I sure am sad to see it go.
