[ashis89]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Road presence against Creta, once again -

Attachment 2199211

Attachment 2199212

Courtesy - Skoda Kushaq Club India on FB.

IMO, the angle of the picture doesn't do justice here. From the few Kushaqs I have seen on the road, it looks a size smaller than the Creta (shorter in length and narrower in width).

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by ashis89

IMO, the angle of the picture doesn't do justice here. From the few Kushaqs I have seen on the road, it looks a size smaller than the Creta (shorter in length and narrower in width).

Agreed. Both the shots are taken closer to Kushaq.

But the Skoda sure does look handsome and can carry that red colour much better than the Hyundai.

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

But the Skoda sure does look handsome and can carry that red colour much better than the Hyundai.

Agreed on both points! In fact, apart from the orange, there isn't a shade which doesn't look good on this Skoda. I will have a tough time deciding a favourite.

[Meph1st0]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Road presence against Creta, once again -

Attachment 2199211

Attachment 2199212

Courtesy - Skoda Kushaq Club India on FB.

The camera is closer to Kushaq and is definitely making Kushaq look bigger but the red on the Kushaq looks absolutely dope compared to the Creta.

[vm67]

Read an news report that the Kushaq 1.5 TSI will now be available in Ambition MT and DSG variant.

[GTO]

Potential 1.5 TSI owners might do well by reading this thread (Can cylinder deactivation tech harm the engine in the long run?). Skoda's usually patchy long-term reliability, complex electronics and a suspect new tech are making me a bit uneasy.

[Hayek]

Originally Posted by GTO

Skoda's usually patchy long-term reliability, complex electronics and a suspect new tech are making me a bit uneasy.

This seems to be a video on the VCM system used on a more than decade old Honda V6. Not sure if the system works in the same way in the 1.5 TSI. However, even without VCM, TSI engines have always consumed a lot of oil - and ensuring that oil levels are ok has been key to running these cars.

Did check the typical Skoda / VW forums - have not seen any problems with the ACT in the 1.5 TSI, though there are lots of reports of a juddering problem in this engine at cold start in cars equipped with a manual transmission.

The good news is this engine has now been in use since 2017 - and so problems other than those caused by Indian fuel should have been ironed out.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Hayek

This seems to be a video on the VCM system used on a more than decade old Honda V6. Not sure if the system works in the same way in the 1.5 TSI. However, even without VCM, TSI engines have always consumed a lot of oil - and ensuring that oil levels are ok has been key to running these cars.
.

A vicious cycle, the engine burns oil and then the timing chain tensioner gives up due to lack of oil pressure. Keeping an eye on the oil level is a habit long lost these days.

[vishy76]

Originally Posted by GTO

Potential 1.5 TSI owners might do well by reading this thread (Can cylinder deactivation tech harm the engine in the long run?). Skoda's usually patchy long-term reliability, complex electronics and a suspect new tech are making me a bit uneasy.

I would be more worried about carbon buildup around the intake valves more than anything else. It's an issue which has plagued many direct injection turbo petrols for years.

In an MPFI, the petrol is directly injected into the intake. Since petrol has detergent properties, it cleans the carbon buildup around the intake valves before going into the combustion chamber and igniting. In a direct injection, the petrol is injected directly into the combustion chamber.

This means there is a much greater chance of carbon buildup around the intake valves (not to forget the PCV system also has oil vapours routing into the intake manifold which can worsen this issue by forming a cake of carbon and oily deposit around the intake valves). End result, misfiring on cold starts and EPC.

In the case of the 1.8 TSIs, the layer is so thick that no intake manifold cleaning sprays or Italian tuneup (anyways useless) can get rid of it. The entire intake manifold needs to be taken off and the valves need to be cleaned using walnut blasting. One way to prevent this is to use an oil catch can so that atleast the oil vapours containing carbon debris don't accelerate carbon buildup, but then warranty is compromised.

The oil consumption issues have been sorted by changing the oil scraper ring design. I haven't heard of any Octavia 1.8 TSIs suffering from oil consumption issues.

Another worry is the timing belt system. VAG is using a high tech timing belt for the 1.0 TSI atleast and optimistically says its sealed for life. I see this as planned obscelense. I am not trusting a rubber belt to last 8-10 years in any way. If it snaps (which it will do outside warranty around the 7 year mark), the owner is left in the lurch. Cutting edge technology and all that horsepower from 1000cc mills comes at a price.

[Oomph11]

The real build quality of Skoda Kushaq ?
Watch the video from 3:20.

https://youtu.be/vYIKMPJ8hmg

Picture for reference.
The owner pointed out some niggles as well in the video.
This is not a defamatory post, just wanted to know if any of the owners on forum have faced these issues.

[JishD]

So after the horrendous stories all over TBhp of Kushaqs breaking down left right and center , I must say that , despite my optimism, I was worried taking it for a family trip from Gurgaon to Samode over the long weekend.

Car performed flawlessly with 4+1 onboard and a sizeable amount of luggage. On the cobbled roads leading up to Samode Palace , ride quality was stiff, but there wasn't a single squeak or rattle (people who are complaining about this on the forum could have experienced an ill maintained TD car) . Hit horrendous traffic on the way back near Neemrana , and ended up having a bit of an offroader experience as we took village roads as part of a detour. A Scorpio and a Fortuner also took the same route. At some tricky places , both me (due to fear of bottoming out) and the Fortuner (probably due to lack of non existent road experience) were slowing down , but the Scorpio guy wasn't really bothered No wonder the hinterlands favour the Scorpio and Bolero so much !

FE wasn't anything to write home about at the end of the trip - but then it wasn't all smooth sailing, and we had idled close to 20 min while going , and 40 min while returning, while stuck in traffic. I tried cruise control, but couldn't keep it on for more than 5 min due to sheer volume of slow moving trucks across all lanes.

Hardly any complaints otherwise - everyone thought the ride overall was very comfortable, not a glitch on the ICE, and the car performs really well at low triples.

An ergonomic issue I faced with the 2 spoke steering wheel is related to the horn boss - if you try to apply the horn with your palm wrapped around, you will end up fouling with the paddles - they are just placed too close !

[GTO]

Driving the Kushaq 1.5L DSG Automatic

Having driven the Kushaq 1.5L MT & all the fun I had with it on the highway, I was looking forward to the 1.5L DSG as well. Called for the car in Bombay and spent some time with it. As you would’ve guessed, the engine + transmission are identical to the VW Taigun.

The likes are as expected = fast shifting DSG, fantastic 1.5L motor, enjoyable performance, nice engine braking, well-tuned suspension. The dislikes too are as expected = DSG reliability woes, no AT with 6 airbags (terrible decision by Skoda) & the 1.5’s prominent boominess at high revs (gets annoying). Am also very concerned about the many breakdown reports of brand-new Kushaqs.



Fast and effortless at any legal speed, this powertrain compliments the ride and handling characteristics of the car beautifully. The combo makes the Kushaq an effortless cross-country mile-muncher, if fuel prices aren’t a concern .

Slot into D mode, take your foot off the brake pedal and the Kushaq DSG slowly creeps forward. This will be highly appreciated in heavy traffic conditions where you can drive with just the brake pedal. With a light foot, the gearbox moves up the ratios pretty quickly. Impressively, you won't feel these shifts as the transition is butter smooth. While the automatic transmission makes the Kushaq very easy to drive in the city, when crawling in slow traffic (1st - 3rd gears), you will experience a little jerkiness, which is a typical DSG trait. In the city, the 1.5 motor's healthy bottom end helps you get around effortlessly. Throttle response is good and the Kushaq rolls smoothly. Add to that, the direct-injection and turbocharger ensure that the engine isn't lethargic at any speed. There's always enough power on tap to accelerate or overtake quickly.

Out on the highway is when things go from good to great! This is easily among the most fun-to-drive crossovers for 2 million bucks, whether with a DSG or the MT. You'll find yourself addicted to flooring the throttle whenever there's an empty stretch of road. Outright performance is excellent and the strong mid-range takes care of all the overtaking you need to do. Downshifts are quick (not as fast as upshifts though) and the gearbox responds well to throttle inputs. The 7th ratio gives the Kushaq DSG long legs on the highway. And touring you must do - this car is built for long road-trips. In summary, the 1.5 TSI DSG is a jewel of a combination that will keep you happy at low revs & high, and in the city as well as on the highway. Other than its reliability woes, this is one of the best AT gearboxes sold in India.

I found the 1.5L TSI to be too boomy at high revs though. If you are continuously driving hard and / or in ‘S” mode, your passengers will complain about the prominent boominess. It is part motor, and part compromised insulation levels. The sound gets very annoying if you are driving aggressively for a longer duration.

Tap the left paddle for a downshift and manual mode is engaged. The ECU blips the throttle to match the revs, and holds the gear till near the redline. This gets addictive, especially during overtakes! However, even in manual mode, the DSG will upshift above ~6,000 rpm and also downshift below ~1,000 rpm. We feel this is way too conservative - the MT revs to ~6600 rpm. Manual mode will also ignore wrong gear selections which put the engine out of the above rpm ranges. Long hold the paddles to revert back to auto mode.

Cruising around in D mode, one won't even notice the gears being shifted. They are damn smooth. The kickdown response time is quick enough and you will never feel that the gearbox is hunting for gears either. It's in the right ratio almost all the time. When you are in the mood to drive the car aggressively, engage Sport mode. In S, the gearbox downshifts to keep the car in the power band, holds the ratios longer and lets the punchy midrange do all the heavy lifting required. But in "S" mode, the boominess is more obvious (due to the higher rpm levels). Out on the open road, you will find it hard to resist the urge to go hard on the throttle. The Kushaq is simply brilliant to drive!

On the flip side, we have scarily serious concerns over the DSG's long-term reliability. Just search on Team-BHP and you will see story after story of DQ200 failures & breakdowns. Skoda insists they have fixed the problem, but we aren't convinced at all. This gearbox has inherent design defects IMHO. Some BHPians who can't resist the DSG have mentally relegated themselves to 2 breakdowns over 8 - 10 years of ownership. If reliability is your topmost criteria, you should pick the 1.0 with a torque-converter AT, or consider another car model altogether.

[eccentric]

Originally Posted by vinu_h

Wondering if Skoda should consider installing the Superb's pump in the Kushaq instead ?

Not possible I presume. The pressure rating at least in the delivery side of the pumps will vary since the engines differ.

Could anyone please confirm whether both 1.0 TSI & 1.5 TSI are affected by this error? Seems to be a lot of commotion behind this!

[84.monsoon]

Skoda to offer more affordable variants in the Kushaq - 1.5L Ambition MT and 1.0 Active AT:

https://www.autocarindia.com/car-new...ordable-421870'

1.5-litre TSI engine currently only on top-spec Style trim, the speculation here is that Skoda may make this engine available on the Ambition trim in an MT Avtar, making the 1.5 TSI accessible under 15 lakhs ex-showroom for the Ambition 1.5 TSI MT.

Similarly, coming to the 1.0 TSI range, the Automatic is currently available only on the Ambition trim and upwards, costing 14+ lakhs. Making the AT available in the Active trim may provide the possibility of getting a decently equipped 1.0 TSI Active AT at around 12 lakhs ex-showroom.

[androdev]

Have finally test driven Kushaq 1.5 DSG. Asked the sales person if I can drive it in full josh. He said it would be no problem as long as there are no speed cameras. Fair enough. I was very excited because this is the cheapest VW car with DSG + Paddle Shifters offering 6 years of warranty.

Let's get some banter talking points out of the way. The car looks smart. Design is pleasing inside out. VW-ness is retained. Yeah, it is no Octavia but you are reminded of that fact in a respectably subtle way. The driver is well covered - whatever he/she sees and feels (steering, visibility, general controls, etc.) is of good quality and aesthetically pleasing. You will not feel like you got a great deal for your money but it will surely meet your objective of driving a typical VW/Skoda car with its typical build, ride and finesse. Grey + black is an unusual choice for India, I guess they were trying to break away from the beige.

Ever since I drove the Polo DSG when it was launched, I have been hoping for VW to do justice to DSG at a lower price. Polo GTI was too niche, too expensive and too impractical. Reasonably powerful engine in compact car, DSG with paddle shifters + 6yr warranty for the driver along with usual by-products like space and convenience features for the passengers so you can get the green light to buy it.

Unfortunately, that has not happened. Given that I am disappointed, I don't have a lot of energy to write a compelling review of the drive. I will resort to the lazy bullet-point format to pass on the important observations:

1. DSG is phenomenal but it has not got a competent engine partner. The engine is noisy and gives you the feeling that it is not too happy to rev. This is a bummer - because the dreaded DSG is loved just for the single trait of holding the gear till the engine revs to redline and slamming a lightning quick shift. The engine builds up revs quickly and gets to redline but that noise is not pleasant. For comparison, Honda City 1.5 sounds great as it revs to redline.

2. Hard braking experience is not great. Ignoring the engine noise, this car is a rocket and gains speeds very rapidly. If you slam the brakes while at a good speed, it doesn't give you that "planted" feel. Lack of rear brakes, high GC (not sure about the tires and pressure) must be contributing factors. This is why I am never a fan of crossovers - they go fast like sedans but can't handle emergency situations like sedans.

3. I am guessing the speed chimes (80, 120kmph) can be disabled - absolutely unnerving.

Just these three aspects totally disqualified this car from being a contender. Chimes can be disabled I guess. I might get to like or live with engine noise (it is responsive and powerful). High speed braking was a total deal breaker - I think it has more to do with it not being a sedan than rear drum brakes.

I have also test driven the Superb while I was there, just to see how a 2L engine performs in comparison. I hated that virtual display and constant changing of information and suggestions to change gears and all that rubbish. I just wanted to see the damn tacho and time my gear shifts - I hope they have a setting where the display can be set to strict analogue mode. The engine is way too powerful to redline on city roads, which is why I felt disappointed about Kushaq DSG. It has got just the right amount of power to enjoy a petrol+DSG combination without going dangerously fast.

Kushaq 1.0 MT and conventional AT are the cars to buy: No DSG headache. Brakes and chassis can handle 1.0 power. This is a great practical city car - good looking, pleasant aesthetics, spacious, sorted ride and contemporary features, etc.

Kushaq 1.5: I feel you will get into trouble if you drive at the limits - the brakes and chassis don't seem upto the challenge.

Kushaq 1.5 DSG: The commitment warranted by the DSG is a bit too much given the driving pleasure on offer.

My key take away is not to ever consider a crossover again and stick to hatchbacks and sedans. That would put pre-owned Polo DSG (add a steering with paddle shifters) and Octavia DSG above Kushaq DSG.