Skoda Kushaq
What you'll like:
A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs
Classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality
Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats,
perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
148 BHP engine makes the Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment
Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
Safety features include 6 airbags (sadly MT only), ESC (all variants), 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
6-year extended warranty & 4-year all inclusive service packages available
Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, audio system with a punchy subwoofer, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
What you won't:
No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks / litre
DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
Lovely 1.5L TSI is only available on the top variant
At 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L)
Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
Skodas notorious dealerships & after-sales horror stories
Missing some
now expected features
such as 6 airbags on the ATs, driving modes (sport), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric driver's seat adjustment & regular USB ports
Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard
Review Link Hyundai Creta
What you'll like:
A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
We find the Hyundai Creta to be well-priced for what it offers
User-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality parts
Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. These are fantastic engines
Smooth & competent automatic gearboxes available. With the useful "auto-hold" feature too
Sorted road manners & handling for a Hyundai, including on the highway. You will be surprised!
The Creta's safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS etc.
Impressive kit (panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more)
Hyundai's competent after-sales service, fuss-free ownership & upto 5-years standard warranty
What you won't:
Oddball
love it or hate it styling. We find the Creta's exterior design to be too weird & futuristic
Firmer suspension isn't as cushy as the 1st-gen Creta. It is more comfortable than the Seltos though
Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
Some misses (
no auto wipers, 360-degree camera, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trims)
Dual-clutch ATs (like the Hyundai Creta Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
Diesels 113 BHP & 250 Nm
although adequate are the lowest in the segment. Old 1.6L CRDi was superior
No manual transmission available with the fast 1.4L Petrol (Seltos offers this combo)
The stiffer Seltos has an edge in the handling department. IMHO, the Kia is better looking too
You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500)
Review Link Kia Seltos
What you'll like:
A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
Handsome, contemporary styling. Looks very sharp
We find the Seltos to be well-priced for what it offers
Nice, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality
Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. They are BS6 compliant too
Both the automatics - Diesel AT & Petrol DCT - are simply fantastic!
Mature on-road behavior, including at highway speeds. A+ brakes as well
Unusually wide variant offering. Seems there is something for everyone
Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, blind spot monitor, TPMS etc.
Impressive kit (360 degree camera, HUD, front parking sensors, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more)
What you won't:
Barely managed 3-stars in the GNCAP crash tests (
full discussion)
Firm suspension. Liveable, but bad roads will bother you (
especially on 17" wheel variants)
Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
Niggles are being reported by owners (
details here)
Some misses (
illuminated window buttons, thinner spare tyre on top trims, no dual-tone option on GTX+ / HTX+)
Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
Diesels 113 BHP & 250 Nm
although adequate are the lowest in the segment.
Extremely confusing & complicated variant spread. We still havent gotten the hang of it!
Kia's after-sales service quality is an unknown. We await details in our ownership reports
You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500)
Review Link Jeep Compass
What you'll like:
Handsome Cherokee-inspired styling & loads of
character
Solid build. Feels very robust, just as a Jeep should
Powerful 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, fast on the open road
1.4L turbo-petrol makes 161 BHP! Offers fast performance.
Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
Capable AWD available (unlike some competitors)
City-friendly: Compact size, higher seating, smooth gearshift, soft clutch & low NVH
Topnotch safety: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
We think the Compass is well-priced for what it offers. The driving experience & overall package feel premium
What you won't:
Small size for the price! A sentiment echoed by most people who saw it in person
Suitable for 4 adults, not 5. Boot is small too
Tiny dealership network. Plus, after-sales quality & long-term reliability are unknown factors
AWD's premium is over 2 lakh rupees on-the-road
Turning radius of 5.65m is wide. Also, 17Ί approach angle is too low
Missing goodies (
blanks on the steering, lumbar adjustment, reclinable rear seats)
Review Link Review Link - Petrol AT Link to Report - The Trailhawk Tata Harrier
What you'll like:
Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
The Harrier's 2.0L diesel now gets 30 BHP more & offers good performance
205 mm of ground clearance + terrain response system. Latter will make monsoon driving safer
Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
Features such as the panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control
What you won't:
Heavy steering gets cumbersome at parking / u-turn / crawling speeds (<5 km/h)
Harrier ATs focus is on smoothness & comfort; gearbox is not the most responsive
Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability associated with Tata cars
Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (
12-months is the norm today)
Diesel engine does get loud at 3,500 rpm & its engine note is quite sad too
No petrol option (
almost all competitors offer it). No AWD for enthusiasts either
Although improved, the Harrier's steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
Review Link Review Link - Diesel AT MG Hector
What you'll like:
Big size & lots of bling for the money! We find the Hector to be well-priced
A spacious cabin that can easily seat 5 adults. Massive 587 litre boot too
Fiat-sourced 2.0L diesel is simply fantastic
Compliant ride quality. Suspension is tuned for comfort
Lots of kit (
panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric seats & tailgate etc.)
Connected Tablet ICE with an embedded SIM & lovely sound quality
5-year / unlimited km warranty with roadside assistance
Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS & more
What you won't:
Awkward styling on the side & rear profiles. Looks weird from some angles
Sloppy high-speed handling, noticeable body roll & easy understeer
The petrol engine is adequate at best. Its guzzling Automatic variant is unimpressive
No Diesel AT (
Creta, Seltos, XUV500, Hexa offer this combination, which we love)
Some annoyances like the ~6 meter turning radius, strange rpm meter
Small after-sales network. Service quality & long-term reliability are big unknowns
Waiting period runs into a couple of months
Dont get blinded by the British branding. This is a Chinese car
Review Link Mahindra XUV500
What youll like:
A well-engineered, contemporary SUV with a
value-for-money price tag
More mature styling. Front end no longer looks garish
Acres of space on the 1st & 2nd seat rows
Competent engine delivers fantastic urban driveability, as well as fast highway performance
Balanced ride & handling package
Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP with rollover mitigation, ABS + EBD and all-wheel disc brakes
Expansive feature list (sunroof, touchscreen ICE, powered driver's seat, cruise control etc.)
What you wont:
Absolutely no luggage capacity with all the seats in place
Cramped 3rd seat row is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
Interior quality, although better, still has a lot of scope for improvement
Clutch is lighter now, but has a long travel range & high resting point. Gets cumbersome in traffic
Niggles & issues, as reported by existing XUV500 owners
Mahindra's inconsistent sales & service experiences
Review Link Review Link - Diesel AT Volkswagen T-Roc
Launch Thread Seahawk's Ownership Review