Everyone’s all praise for on-road performance of the Skoda Kushaq but its steep price and less spacious interior has left many unimpressed
Launched earlier this month, the Skoda Kushaq, a brand-spanking-new compact SUV that locks horns with Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, has been in discussion for many reasons. Of course, one of the highlights is the excellent driving experience the new car provides, which is, honestly, something that we have come to expect from all cars from Skoda. We’ve tried hard not to be blinded by all that driving pleasure and even provided you with a list of the pros and cons of the new model. And it looks like it’s just not us who have managed to not let the grunty engine or the well-sorted dynamics blind us as several potential buyers seem to be cancelling their bookings after re-evaluating their purchase decision based on many factors.
Priced in a range of Rs 10.49-17.59 lakh (ex-showroom), the Skoda Kushaq has been positioned at par with the Hyundai Creta (Rs 9.99-17.70 lakh) and Kia Seltos (Rs 9.95-17.65 lakh). While it is quite unlike Skoda to NOT charge a premium over the immediate rivals, what works against the Kushaq here is its size, lack of Diesel engine and absence of some goodies. The Kushaq measures 75 mm smaller and 30 mm narrower than the Creta and as much as 90 mm smaller and 40 mm narrower than the Seltos. It’s also a tad shorter than both the vehicles. In a market that gauges the class of vehicle through its size and road presence, the small dimensions are clearly working against the new model.
Of course, the shorter dimensions also translate into lesser legroom, especially for rear occupants. People who have checked out the Skoda Kushaq at the dealerships are quite vocal about the inconvenience tall people might face when travelling on the rear seat during long journeys. There have also been talks about some missing features in spite of a high price tag. People have been largely unimpressed with the rather basic instrumentation in comparison to the Creta and are even upset about the lack of connected car technology or goodies like a Bose-sourced audio system. While not many in number, there are at least some who’ve been complaining of a lack of a diesel engine. Given the high demand for the diesel variant of the Creta, the lack of the oil-burner on the Kushaq comes across as a glaring omission to some.
Also Read: Days Into Launch of Skoda Kushaq, Dealer Malpractices Come Into Light
And then, there are some who’ve been smitten with the Kushaq but are still refraining from signing the dotted line simply due to the behaviour of the dealerships. There have been reports of dealers not accepting bookings in case the buyer chooses against purchasing the insurance and the optional accessories from the dealership. An amalgam of all these factors have simply led to many deciding against buying the new product. What are your thoughts on all of the above? Do you think that in spite of these issues, one should still choose the Skoda Kushaq over the Hyundai Creta or the Kia Seltos?
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