Skoda Kushaq Facelift: 1.0 TSI With New 8 Speed Automatic And 1.5 DSG Driven
CarToq got a chance to experience the facelifted Skoda Kushaq in Jaipur recently. We drove the 1.0 liter TSI and 1.5 liter TSI turbocharged petrol engines, paired with the new 8 speed torque converter and 7 speed twin clutch automatics. While prices will be revealed tomorrow, here's what the Kushaq Facelift looks, feels and drives like.
* Looks gorgeous, and very German car-like. The facelift is restrained, and hasn't gone over the top, even in terms of lighting.
* The illuminated Skoda lettering at the rear doesn't look tacky, nor does the light bar up front. So, the designers have done a fantastic job in balancing these elements.
* Car feels very sturdy and solid. Doors have nice heft to them. Feels like a proper German car in the way the doors shut. Safety is 5 stars. So, no compromise there.
* On the inside, the decision to go 'Nashik Red', which is a dull red on the Monte Carlo trims is a very good one. It's a subdued shade that adds to the coziness of the cabin. Cabin quality feels better than before but is still a couple of notches below the new benchmark - Seltos!
* Charcoal headliner is a win. I'd pick the Monte Carlo's interiors over that of the regular Kushaq's. It's the sportier cabin, and also the one that'll age better thanks to the darker shades. Airiness won't be a problem even with the charcoal headliner as there's the new panoramic sunroof.
* Ergonomically, the car is sorted. Steering adjusts for rake and reach (tilt and telescopic). + Powered driver's seat. So, you can get a comfortable driving position off the bat. Visibility from the driver's seat is very good all around. You can see the edges of the bonnet, and the touchscreen is just the right size and doesn't hamper vision. Again, a win! Manual handbrake: Good!
* The improved AC was quite effective in a hot Jaipur. It helps that all trims get UV cut glass as standard And there's ventilation for the front seats on top trims. Even the panoramic sunroof cuts heat thanks to UV cut.
* Rear cabin: Space is decent. Rear AC vents and USB type Cs are the utilities. Great for four. Okay for five over shorter distances.
* Boot: Reasonably big and capacious. 491 liters up to the roof. No complaints really, since the 60:40 split adds versatility when you need it. Space saving spare wheel is standard.
* The new MID (called Virtual Cockpit) is quite sharp and loaded with information. Looks quite good.
* The touchscreen is very vibrant, and easy to use. Android Auto: very nice. The Skoda sound system: Very good even at higher volumes. I really enjoyed my music on this car.
* Camera quality? Still not sharp enough. 360 camera: Missing. Rear sunblinds: Missing. ADAS: Missing.
* Rear seat massage function: Good to have feature but I'd have much rather had ventilated seats over the massage function.
* Two spoke, leather wrapped steering feels good to hold. Horn easy to use. All controls including paddles feel nice and tactile. Paddles are very responsive too.
* Irritating features: Idle stop, and the front parking sensors. And there's no way to permanently turn them both off.
* I started off with the 3 cylinder 1.0 turbo petrol motor (114 Bhp-178 Nm), paired with the brand new 8 speed AISIN torque converter.
* What a motor! It's smoother than on the Kylaq. You won't even know it's a triple. It's that smooth. And even the gearbox doesn't show the typical thrum of a triple cylinder engine. Same scene with the steering and pedals. You don't have any triple cylinder thrummi-ness. Lovely NVH.
* The 1.0 TSI motor has a lovely note. It's a nice raspy sound that burbles a bit at the lower rpms. Great fun on narrow roads. And even at the very top of the range, doesn't sound harsh. It sounds very, very good. If you like a nice petrol engine singing, you will love this motor.
* On the move, the 8 speed AT comes into its own. Very, very smooth. This is the closest you can get to a BMW ZF 8 speed box in a mass market car. It's that's smooth, and responsive. 80 on the expressway is 8th gear. And when you floor it, instantly the gearbox is in 3rd gear and you get a nice surge of power. And it's so seamless that it doesn't even feel like a gearshift. Almost like a stepped CVT. I was super impressed.
* I couldn't confuse the 8 speed automatic although I did try multiple times both on crowded city streets and the highway. It almost reads your mind.
* Steering is Hyundai-light in the city. I was a little alarmed as I started driving around narrow city streets first. Once I hit the highway, the steering weighed up beautifully. Plenty of feel. And stability at high speed. Car feels very good.
* Keep it pinned and you'll quickly see 150-160. I saw 165. 180 should be easy in this car. So, the 1.0 TSI doesn't feel underpowered at all. It is MORE than adequate.
* Braking (discs up front and drums at the rear) is effective. However, pedal feel was a little wooden/inconsistent initially while braking from really high speeds. At sub-100 speeds, feel was good.
* Suspension is the right mix between ride and handling. It's not the softest nor the stiffest. And at high speeds, it's very composed and confident. All in all, the steering and suspension work very well together, and the car feels very confident at triple digit speeds. Sport mode makes the steering stiffer, and the gearbox lets you hold revs up to about 6,000 rpm before upshifting (even while using the paddles). You can drive this car very enthusiastically. It'll make you smile.
* Jumping into the 1.5 DSG after a good 100+ Kms on the 1.0 AT, I immediately felt the power difference. The engine makes the car leap ahead, especially with the transmission in sport mode. Using paddles, you can push the revs up to 6,200 rpm before the auto upshift happens. The 1.5 DSG's extra power and torque (150 Bhp-250 Nm) makes the car move, and if you love some blazing acceleration, this is the one to pick. Braking: All disc set up. Sharper, and much better feel than the disc-drum set up of the 1.0. Braking - Clearly the 1.5 DSG wins.
* However, the 1.5 DSG is not the smoother car. The engine gets boomy at higher revs, and the note of the 1.0 TSI sounded much better. You can mess around with the DSG and get it to jerk just a little bit (typical DSG). But it's very smooth and quick for most parts. In fact, at 75 Kph in 7th gear, mashing the loud pedal puts the car in 2nd instantly and you get furious acceleration. This is a F-A-S-T car.
* As for suspension, the panoramic sunroof and the additional weight makes the car ride stiffer. This is a relatively stiffer riding car. If you want comfort, pick the 1.0 TSI. That rides much better. You can distinctly feel expansion joints on the 1.5 DSG. It's funny but I enjoyed the 1.0 TSI 8 AT combo more than the 1.5 DSG for most parts as 1. The ride's better and 2. The engine note is addictive. Yes, the 1.5 DSG is clearly the faster car but speed's not everything. The 1.0's power felt more than adequate in city and highway conditions.
* Summing it up, my pick would be the 1.0 AT over the 1.5 DSG for city and occasional highway use (80:20). If it's or 60:40, city highway use, I'd go with the 1.5 DSG. Again, 1.5 DSG only if roads are good to moderately good. For bad roads? 1.0 TSI AT all the way!
* There's a lovely Classic+ base trim that Skoda now offers with the Kushaq Facelift. It gets both 6 speed manual and 8 speed AT options. Paddles come standard, and so does a basic touchscreen, alloy wheels, adjustable arm rest, LED headlamps, tilt-telescopic steering and even a rear wash-wipe+defogger. I sense that Skoda is going to price the Classic+ very well. It'll be a great buy if they do. One can pick the Kushaq over many sub-4 meter SUVs in that case!