[yesyeswe]

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

So that comes with a 1.0 engine?

Yes, it came with the 1.0 TSI, the variant is not available now though.

[Dr ST]

Dear Rambo,
Well-written observations. Congratulations to you. Kushaq is a safe car with some limitations. Happy to know that you didn't have any power window or AC issues. My wife's Kushaq does have those issues which required multiple service centre visits. That put the ownership experience down for her. Please keep updating us about your ownership.

Regards

[turbogeek]

Originally Posted by Rambo-RS

Throughout the service, I was standing there by my car and never objected to it

Apart from this I can relate to everything you've said. The service folks, here in NCR send you away after a while, even if the mechanic has no problem then also, the floor manager will come. As long as the service experience stays the same, I've no problems with this.

I would just add one disadvantage of these cars, the air filter is a very complex part to clean at home. NCR happens to be very dusty, and cleaning the air filter always has a big noticable affect on the fuel efficiency and pickup. But unlike our other MS cars, we can't clean it at home.

[R.K.Ramesh]

Originally Posted by Rambo-RS

The star of the interior is the two-spoke steering wheel. It is the same one which is offered in much more expensive Skoda’s including Octavia, Superb, Kodiaq.

"Yes I love this too"

Originally Posted by Rambo-RS

Attachment 2318623


All I had to do was get an infotainment system installed. Although my first preference was to get a Headunit from Skoda itself,...

"Skoda said that they cannot offer the higher version Touch screens even as an option"

Originally Posted by Rambo-RS

So, I started researching where to get an android head unit fitted in the car. I found a Youtube video where a head unit was installed in a Kushaq along with a piano black frame around it which looked completely company-fitted, and the best thing was that this shop was in Punjab only! So, I contacted Mr. Deep from Deep Automotive Customs Ludhiana and talked to him about various options available for Kushaq. I found him very knowledgeable about his work and on his suggestion finalized a head unit by Autowood. I transferred Rs. 2000 to him in advance via UPI on 3rd June and he promised that the Unit along with the frame would arrive on Monday 6th June and would be fitted the same day. So I called him on Monday morning and he asked me to come at 2 P.M.

So, I reached there at the decided time and work on my car started instantly. I liked that Mr. Deep himself fitted the head unit and did all the wiring by himself.

He took good care and opened the required panels very carefully. Only two panels needed to be removed i.e Tailgate Plastic Panel and the head unit frame panel. All the wiring was neatly tucked in under the side panels.
It feels so disheartening to see your car getting stripped and the hole that was cut in the back for placing a reverse camera was a very difficult sight for me .

Attachment 2318626

Attachment 2318627

The specifications of the android head unit (as shown in CPU-Z) are as follows:

Ram- 2GB
Rom – 32Gb
Octa-Core Processor (T5 I think)
DSP
Canbus

Also, this unit supports both Wireless Android Auto as well as Apple Car Play!
The rear camera installed is an AHD camera by Blaupunkt. No wire cutting or splicing needed to be done as Kushaq supports canbus and with this device, the car itself sends the information to the head unit as to when the power is to be sent to the reverse cam to fire it up.

The best thing is the fitting along with the frame looks completely stock. So far, I am very happy with the performance of this aftermarket android unit!

Attachment 2318625


Versus what I was getting by paying Rs. 1.5 Lacs for the Active Variant :

Attachment 2318624

Dear Rambo,
congrats on your VFM Kushaq. I have placed an order for an Onyx version of the Kushaq which is to be expected in a couple of weeks as per PPS Skoda's indication. (This is the showroom located on the Airport Road near Jakkur airfield, Bangalore for those in the know).

I too wanted a few options available such as a full size 8" touch screen as opposed to the current ugly 7" unit and USB charging ports for the rear seats.

I was told that if i were to fit an aftermarket Touch screen then I would lose the warranty on the electronics of the car. Only if no wire was cut would they accept such an aftermarket fitment.

So did you manage to fit such an authorised aftermarket touchscreen unit which is a simple plug in unit (without cutting any wires)? Was the warranty on the electricals maintained? If so which one did you fit and how much did it cost you?

I too am planing to take the 4 year service package which comes to around Rs. 29 000/- now. Is this something that one can bargain down?

The colour i have chosen is white too. And PPS assured me that they will remove those odd looking stickers from the side profile of the car.

[Rambo-RS]

Originally Posted by R.K.Ramesh

Dear Rambo,congrats on your VFM Kushaq.

Many thanks, sir!

Originally Posted by R.K.Ramesh

I have placed an order for an Onyx version of the Kushaq which is to be expected in a couple of weeks as per PPS Skoda's indication. (This is the showroom located on the Airport Road near Jakkur airfield, Bangalore for those in the know).

Heartiest Congratulations! Kushaq really is a great choice and I am sure you are going to enjoy your ownership of the car!

Originally Posted by R.K.Ramesh

So did you manage to fit such an authorised aftermarket touchscreen unit which is a simple plug in unit (without cutting any wires)? Was the warranty on the electricals maintained? If so which one did you fit and how much did it cost you?

Yes absolutely! The unit I got installed was from a brand Autowood and am completely satisfied with it. I got it installed from a car accessory shop in Ludhiana and I personally was present there when the whole installation process was taking place, and I ensured that there were no wire cuts or splicing.

This touch screen unit costed me around Rs. 17,500 all-inclusive.

Regarding potential warranty concerns, it's important to note that Skoda can void the car's electrical warranty due to this aftermarket addition, even if no wires have been tampered with. However, under normal circumstances, maintaining a positive relationship with service advisors and opting for reputable installers can mitigate any issues should they arise .

My only suggestion would be to get it installed from a well-established car accessory shop, and please ensure your personal presence during the installation.

Originally Posted by R.K.Ramesh

I too am planning to take the 4 year service package which comes to around Rs. 29 000/- now. Is this something that one can bargain down?

I am not really sure if you could bargain on that since I could not at the time of my purchase. But I do know of some discounts that were offered during the festive season last year, during which some people got these service packages for free.

Also, I highly suggest you to get the maximum extended warranty i.e 6 Years/ 1,50,000 Kms for maximum peace of mind, which is a must while getting these European Cars.

Regards
Ranvir

[RohanPitre]

Originally Posted by Rambo-RS

Greetings Bhpians!

But out on the highway is where this car shines in this department. If you can control the throttle nicely, achieving above 23 Kmpl is a piece of cake at speeds below 90Kmph (max speed limit on most NHs). I am stating this figure with complete confidence because I have derived 24 Kmpl (by Tank-to-Tank method) on my return journey from Jaipur at constant speeds of 80Kmph on the Ambala-Narnaul Expressway.

That's some crazy mileage you're getting! Makes me wonder if my car is indeed a Kushaq lol! I have Ambition 1.0 AT and my best mileage is 15-17 kmpl. Point to note that the highways here are full of potholes and you frequently get stuck in start-stop traffic. Cruise control is impossible to use for more than a minute.
This mileage too has been extracted using cruise control as much as possible and not crossing 90 kmph with super self-control. I know the car can do better on good roads, but I don't have them here.
I feel either you can enjoy how brilliant this car is, or you can get good mileage.

[Rambo-RS]

Long-Term Ownership Report - 2.5 Years and 21,695 Kms

Happy to share that my ownership experience so far has been nothing short of an absolute delight!



Everything I praised earlier in my ownership review still holds true—and some points are even stronger now. I’ve fallen even more in love with the Engine-Handling-Suspension trio:

The engine feels perfectly suited to the car. It’s definitely not underpowered, though it does take some time to get used to before you can fully enjoy it.
The suspension is great—not just for me as the driver but also for the passengers. Everyone who sits inside the car finds it super comfortable. Small bumps and speed breakers are handled well, and even big potholes, while audible, don’t really bother much. I think the 16-inch wheels (compared to the 17-inch wheels on higher variants) play a role here. For the record, I keep my tires at 34 PSI (recommended is 33 PSI).

2nd Year Service was done in May 2024, and thanks to the service package, the final bill was —Rs. 0/- . The service experience was amazing, as always, at Krishna Skoda, Patiala.
Sadly there is some bad news here, Krishna Skoda has shut down its service operations in Patiala, but the sales operations are still there. This means my nearest service center is now in Ludhiana, which is 76 km away (one way). While this is not ideal, it’s manageable as long as the car stays reliable and my visits remain limited to once a year for the annual service—like they have been so far.

Fuel Efficiency has been a pleasant surprise, as I’ve mentioned before, and I’m loving it:
City traffic : 13–15 kmpl
Intercity commutes : 19–21 kmpl
Highway drives : 23–25 kmpl

When I try hypermiling (which I do often), I can achieve 26–28 kmpl by controlling the throttle, driving attentively and anticipating traffic to effectively use Engine Braking. My personal best has been 27.8 kmpl on a 45-km trip that took me 49 minutes .
I'll let pictures do the talking:



P.S.: I only fill Power95 (HP’s RON95 petrol) as much as possible. I’ve tried XP95 (from Indian Oil), but after multiple fill-ups, I feel Power95 works better for me.


MINOR NIGGLES/NEGATIVES:

- Driver-side power window issue: The driver-side power window stopped working once and got stuck in the closed position. Apparently, power windows and VAG 2.0 cars have had a mixed relationship. It’s a known issue, especially with the cars having auto up/down feature. The ASC fixed it with a software update and by disconnecting and reconnecting the window motor again. Problem solved! I was told that this Software Update is free for all customers and is a solution to this problem.

- Driver seat height adjustment: The height-adjustable driver’s seat tends to sink 3–4 steps below the set height after a few days. It’s not a frequent issue, and it doesn’t bother me much, so I’ll bring it up at the next service. This issue has also been noticed by some members of the forum as well.

- Air circulation setting reset: Every time I restart the engine, the air circulation setting resets to fresh air mode. Again, it’s not a big deal, but I’ll wait and get it checked at the next service.

- Low co-passenger seat height: The co-passenger seat is set quite low—I noticed that it's not just in the Kushaq but also in the Slavia as well. Also given that the dashboard is high-set, it’s not the most pleasant experience for a person sitting in Co-passenger seat.

- Inadequate Headlight Throw: Not just the Kushaq, but most cars these days are having very low light throw from the Stock Headlamps. This is not an issue for me anymore since I installed Auxiliary Lights, this too myself with help of my Uncle, thus we ensured no wire cutting or interference with the stock wiring was done and the installation was a simple plug and play.


FINAL THOUGHTS:

After 2.5 years of ownership, I can confidently say the Kushaq is a solidly built car. It looks good, the engine is just right for its size, the suspension is very comfortable, the cabin insulation excellent, and the in-cabin noise is minimal, plus the car is fuel-efficient too! I would say it’s a jack of all trades and has been completely reliable so far.

[Bane214]

Thats a great ownership review. Always happy to see a fellow Kushaq owner.
Kudos on achieving truly remarkable numbers on the mileage. I am still learning to keep a control on the throttle, I own a 1.5DSG and the power is so addictive.
On the air recirculation, i found that if you switch off the engine with the fan also off and air recirculation on, the next time engine starts with the same setting in place (fan off and air recirculation on).
The default setting to always switch on fresh air mode is for ensuring fresh air inside cabin and remove the air and any gases accumulated whilst the car was locked. Do let us know the feedback which you get from the SC after your service.

[three10]

Awesome fuel efficiency! Doesn’t the 1.5 lit engine in the kushaq/taigun come with cylinder deactivation?

[YashOjha15]

Originally Posted by three10

Awesome fuel efficiency! Doesn’t the 1.5 lit engine in the kushaq/taigun come with cylinder deactivation?

Yes it comes with cylinder deactivation in all VW/Skoda cars!

[Apex1815]

Originally Posted by YashOjha15

Yes it comes with cylinder deactivation in all VW/Skoda cars!

Please put some more light on this. I have never heard about such feature.

[vinaygeorgeroy]

Originally Posted by Apex1815

Please put some more light on this. I have never heard about such feature.

On the 4 cylindered 1.5 tsi engines, when there is not much throttle input and you are cruising/coasting. It shuts down 2 of its cylinders resulting in significantly higher mileage.
I have seen this happen on speeds as high up as 90 to 100 on light throttle. Ofcourse it will happen higher up also when you are slowing down from a higher speed (ie let go of the accelerator at 120 for instance ) , but that doesn’t really count.

[Davezzy]

Originally Posted by Rambo-RS

Long-Term Ownership Report - 2.5 Years and 21,695 Kms

The engine feels perfectly suited to the car. It’s definitely not underpowered, though it does take some time to get used to before you can fully enjoy it.

That is a great car that you have got yourself Rambo!! I read your entire thread about the kushaq and it was a very well put review. Just curious, With you coming from a lightweight car that has a peppy NA engines, was it easy for you to cope up with the turbo lag in the low revs of the kushaq or did it require a little time to get used to it?

[Rambo-RS]

Originally Posted by Davezzy

That is a great car that you have got yourself Rambo!! I read your entire thread about the kushaq and it was a very well put review. Just curious, With you coming from a lightweight car that has a peppy NA engines, was it easy for you to cope up with the turbo lag in the low revs of the kushaq or did it require a little time to get used to it?

Thanks for the appreciation Davezzy. Yes surely the Turbo Charged car was a big upgrade from NA, but adjusting and getting used to its characteristics is hardly a problem. At max 20-25 Kms and we all (me and parents) got used to its behaviour in the non turbo as well as turbo range which starts at about 1750 RPMs.
I would say yes the Turbo Lag is there which is its natural behaviour, but its pretty controlled since they have done some adjustment for this small engine to not feel lethargic from the get go. The car kind of pushes forward almost like a jerk when the clutch is released thus requires a little practice to adapt to its character.
But all in all its not a big deal and we never found any difficulty to drive it in city even when the car was brand new for us.