[jc.on.wheels]

Owning both of the Skoda India 2.0 vehicles – my thoughts

Skoda 2.0, literally!


Hello BHPians! This is my second post on the forum, and I wanted to take the time and post something valuable for you all. Just like I was, there are many who are currently debating as to whether they should make the jump to the Kushaq/Slavia. And I think I can be of some help here. We have both the Kushaq and Slavia – the former was purchased in November 2022, while the latter in February 2023. We also have a Honda Jazz in the house, but that blog is for another day.

The third wheel in our house, literally!


I’ve had some people come up and ask why did we take the almost-same cars from the same OEM? They are even more dumbfounded when they hear that they are the exact same trim: Style (top model) with the 1.0 engine. The only difference is that while the Kushaq is manual, the Slavia is automatic.

Please note that I am not from an engineering background and so this blog will not be very technical, it is from a simple consumer standpoint. With that out of the way, below is my detailed selection process for both the cars, along with some background and thoughts/observations:

The Why

We had two Ford cars before this – the EcoSport 1.0 L EcoBoost engine (Titanium trim), and the Ford Figo 1.2 L (Ambiente trim) – both manuals. For buying the Kushaq, we sold the Figo, mainly because:

• The car was Karnataka registered, and since I shifted to Kolkata at the beginning of the year, the 1-year NOC period was coming to an end. And after paying heavily for its shifting, I was not willing to shell out more. I must admit though, it was an amazing car and even after five years, the engine was smooth and peppy, and really showed the prowess of Ford and their tough, no-nonsense and built-to-last cars.
• A very common issue which Ford owners faced have since September 2021 – their exit. Ever since that announcement, we were quite worried about service and resale. While they had assured of 10 years of uninterrupted service and I believed them, I was pretty sure the resale value was going to sink faster than the Titanic. As of now, I’ve read that service from Ford is still decent, which I wholeheartedly believe. But I also know they have shut down several service stations, including the one which I went to when I was in Bangalore (Elite Ford).

Those rims though.. Oh how I loved them..


For buying the Slavia, we sold the EcoSport, and here are the two key reasons:

• Unlike the Figo, the EcoSport was showing its age, particularly the engine. The EcoSport was purchased in June 2015, while the Figo in July 2017. Seven years in, and I realized that turbo engines at the time were not as advanced as they are today. The engine was a little noisy from the start, but it was on another level now. Add to that the random problems which were coming up – oil leakages, gear lever suddenly becoming loose in the middle of the road (twice) – and we realized it was time to say goodbye. My dad loved the car, as it was a very tall and comfortable car (he has back problems and so he can't sit in a sedan comfortably and only prefers SUVs).
• The second reason is similar to the one for Figo – the exit of Ford and so, reliability.

The OG "compact SUV" of India. This shot was taken on its farewell day..


First one first, let's talk about the Kushaq now:

European, but Indian.


The Kushaq belongs to my dad, while the Slavia was purchased by me. Before going for the Kushaq, here are the alternatives we looked at:

1. KIA Seltos

The most common one. Everyone was after the Seltos in 21-22. Naturally we too wanted to have a look. We did not take a TD of the car though. Even though I really liked the car, my dad was not convinced, primarily because:

• The brand – as an auto enthusiast, I knew the brand very well and its amazing lineup abroad. But it was a name which he was not familiar with, and made me think there may be a section of people who are yet to be familiar and gain that level of trust with newcomes like KIA, MG, Citroen, etc.
• All features and no substance – while this is debatable, I do agree that the Koreans focus more on features and cosmetics to woo their customers. Its not wrong at all – its just something my dad wasn’t convinced with. To each their own.
• Safety – with a not too impressive NCAP rating of 3 stars, and with same reputation for other Korean cars, dad was not convinced with safety either, and so, even though I was upset about the decision at the time, we dropped the Seltos from the list.
• We had also seen the Sonet at the showroom and while we kind of liked it, the above factors apply, as well as the small size.

2. Hyundai Creta

We had actually checked out the Creta before the Seltos, and I had even test-driven it, but it was out of the race upon reaching home. While the brand wasn’t a problem obviously, point b and c apply here as well. Add to that the radical design which the Creta came with. While I eventually came to terms with it, it has still not grown on me. The interiors are really nice and premium though, and what had really bowled me was the panoramic sunroof – first time I saw the feature on a car. It really seems like magic the first time you see it.

Other cars in the category were not considered because:

• Jeep Compass – beyond budget, great brand but unsure about service and maintenance costs.
• Mahindra and Tata – the Indian duo is doing great right now, and kudos to them! Its just the belief that we have about the quality of Indian OEMs, with both Tata and Mahindra having infamous QC issues in their cars, and fit and finish not being at par with foreign counterparts. I just hope that there comes a time when I can overcome this fear and actually visit any of their showrooms to actually consider buying one (the way they are going, I’m sure it’ll be soon).
• MG Hector – have one in our complex, and looks like a dinosaur. No offence to any Hector owners here – this is just my personal opinion. To me, it looks too large for a five seater, have heard horrifying fuel-efficiency figures, and I really was not looking for an “Internet-Inside” car, I need a vehicle on wheels, not a computer.
• Nissan Kicks and Renault Duster – simply, no. They don’t even come into consideration set.

With all that out of the way, why Kushaq?

• Size – yes, believe it or not, this was a major factor. The Kushaq was the perfect choice because it was just the right size. Dad wanted something which was larger than the Sonet, i.e., beyond 4 metres in length, but also shorter than the Seltos and Creta, which were too big according to him, thereby causing parking hassles in a city like Kolkata, plus we honestly didn’t need that much space, as it would mostly be him and mom. The Kushaq and we were like hand in glove.
• Brand – Skoda has always been a fascination for both of us. Ever since we saw the Octavia for the first time on the road, both of us became fanboys of the car and brand. The name meant quality and standard to us, and the thought that a car with that tag is now within our budget and perfectly fitting our needs, was bliss. We even confirmed with friends and other owners of Skoda vehicles, and got to know that the infamous high maintenance costs are a thing of the past, and with the four year service package, you’re all set. And with the service centre being quite close to our home, 6.5 km, that was set.
• Design – Creta? Too radical and in-your-face. Seltos? Good looks but interiors seemed too busy. Kushaq – just right. Not too blingy – just simple, clean and elegant design, both inside and outside, that will age well. The Kushaq has clean body lines, well chiseled, and the exteriors are easy on the eyes. The interiors are not too busy, just the right amount of features and tech. The plastics are good to the touch, and all the key touch points for the driver are soft touch.
• Engine – we were OK with the 1.0L engine, as it’ll mostly be used in the city. It has gone on highways and no issues at all – the engines are exactly what we asked for.
• Price – nothing to say much here, except that it fit our budget well. We were not willing to go beyond 18L, and this one came around 17.8, so it was the perfect fit.

And now, why Slavia?

Too excited and eager to drive it out..

• Design – let's face it, one thing sedans have going for are their sleek and aerodynamic looks. They seem to be moving even while standing still (at least the well-designed ones). Slavia fit into this bracket fair and square, and I was in love with its looks since the day it launched.
• Boot space – Class leading boot space, at least until the Verna came along. 521L is aplenty, and we had the 5th gen City before (bought in 2009), so I know how big and practical the boot space of a sedan is.
• Prior Skoda experience – the Kushaq had left me impressed, and the sales and service experience for that one was positive so far, so that motivated me even further.
• The above points for Engine and Price apply here as well.

With all that out of the way, let's get to the meat of the story – what’s it like?

The How is it:

I have a lot to say here, so bear with me.

Kushaq



The good:

• Ride and handling: The suspension, ride & handling are rock solid. You can immediately tell that this is a sturdy car which, with the right maintenance, can last for years. You are not shaken around too much, it handles bumps like a pro, and you feel glued to the road, which is good for the city, and great for highways.
• The infotainment system: As mentioned before, the Kushaq got the new 10-inch infotainment system as it was delivered before the semiconductor shortage. This system is beautiful. It’s got good screen resolution, smooth and easy to use. Wireless Apple CarPlay works like a charm, and overall, a thumbs up from me. Indian manufacturers and MS could learn from this one.
• Alloy wheels: I truly believe they look better than the ones on my Slavia. Sleek, elegant and classy.

The not-so-good:

• Boot space: It looks decent from the outside, but doesn’t really meet expectations from the inside. Packing for 5 is not possible here, particularly for a long trip. Short trips should be fine though. This was an upgrade from the EcoSport, so maybe our expectations were a little more.
• Ingress and egress: A little difficult than I expected. Once you’re inside, its super comfortable. But getting in and out can be tricky, especially for seniors, as the floor is high and the roof not so much. For my dad this is a problem – I insisted on the sunroof model – had we not taken the sunroof, he probably would have been happier with the head space.
• Build quality: As mentioned in multiple reviews and forums, the build quality could have been better. While I’ve not come across any creaks yet, the plastic quality on the dash is not entirely worth the price, and the headliner fabric is just horrible, it’s very rough – this is something they addressed in the Slavia.

Slavia



The good:

• Again, the ride and handling. What’s more, as this is a sedan form factor, body roll is almost nil. It’s built beautifully for highways.
• Interior space and practicality: While not Honda City level huge, the space inside is more than what I need. It’s got good head and leg space.
• Boot space: HUGE POSITIVE. We could easily go on a 5-member trip in the Slavia thanks to the massive boot. It could easily accommodate all our luggage.
• The transmission: While the engine is the same 1.0 liter as the Kushaq, what makes the difference is the AT transmission. This is my first AT, and I am not purchasing a MT car again for my own use – its too convenient now. While the car is a little jumpy in stop-go traffic in S mode, its about right in the regular D mode. Wish it had auto-hold though.
• The design: I may sound biased here, but the design of the Slavia really turns heads on the road. Especially in the Carbon Steel color, it does leave an impact, and the car looks quite long while standing in traffic.

The not-so-good:

• Build quality: After 9 months of ownership: I finally came across a small creaking sound coming front the right side of the dashboard. It’s not disturbing, but I can feel it nonetheless, and look forward to getting it fixed in the car’s first service.
• The infotainment system: As I got shortchanged thanks to the semiconductor shortage, I really do miss the larger touchscreen on the Kushaq here. This screen is good, but that one’s more vivid and crisp. Most importantly, I miss out on wireless Apple CarPlay, which is a must have for me (it is wired though). I’ve bought an Ottocast U2-Air dongle for this purpose, and while it does job, it has its flaws and is nowhere near the factory fitted CarPlay experience.
• Brakes: While good, could be better.

To summarize, I’m glad Skoda launched these cars in India. They are well-built on the outside, beautifully designed both inside and out, have potent engines which make them city + highway ready, and comfortable enough for both long and short journeys.

The Skoda brand has been an aspiration for us for many years. Many people have commented that by pricing them higher and fixing the few niggles that they have, these could have been better overall packages. And while that is one way of thinking about it, I feel this price is just right. For many people like us, this price is the optimum price that we are willing to pay currently for the Skoda badge and experience (maybe more in the future?!). This makes the product quite accessible and sensible for us. And sure, it does have its flaws, but I think many Kushaq and Slavia owners would agree that the pros far outweigh the cons.

Thank you for reading so far! I hope you liked this blog, and if you're planning to go for any of these cars, I hope this helps. Looking forward to your questions and thoughts! Below are some parting shots:





This is from my recently concluded November drive to Belgadia Palace - blog on that coming soon!

[jc.on.wheels]

Thank you admins for putting my blog on the homepage + newsletter! Truly appreciate it..

[fastestindian]

Brilliant! The Virtuses and Slavias are perhaps the most beautiful cars on Indian roads today. I had my eyes on the Virtus but Gurgaon waterlogging over the last two years, had me go for Kushaq for that extra ground clearance.

Quick suggestion regarding creaks from the passenger side door or the dash. My Kushaq, (1.5 dsg march 23 manufacture) ~6 months old now, started creaking a little a couple of weeks ago. Here's how I fixed it.

Got a can of Wurth silicone spray (costs around Rs 700) from Amazon and sprayed a little on the section where the entertainment screen sits on the dash (basically, below the screen) and on the rubber beadings along the door on the passenger side. The sound is completely gone (for now, I should say). I am not entirely certain where the creak was from but going by other posts, it was likely the beading on the passenger side door. Regardless, I am quite happy with the fix.
Good luck and thanks for lovely writeup.

[jc.on.wheels]

Thank you fastestindian! Glad you liked my write-up

Originally Posted by fastestindian

Got a can of Wurth silicone spray (costs around Rs 700) from Amazon and sprayed a little on the section where the entertainment screen sits on the dash (basically, below the screen) and on the rubber beadings along the door on the passenger side. The sound is completely gone (for now, I should say). I am not entirely certain where the creak was from but going by other posts, it was likely the beading on the passenger side door. Regardless, I am quite happy with the fix.

This is an interesting solution - will definitely give it a shot.. thanks!

[Aditya]

My Skoda Kushaq 1.0 MT and Slavia 1.0 AT | Ownership Review - Posts moved to a new thread.

[fhdowntheline]

Curious to know - why did you not try the 1.5 DSG for the Slavia? Would be at least worth the differentiation for essentially two cars on the same platform. Also, there would be a difference in the "assured" availability of power while driving a fully loaded Slavia.

[Raghav07]

Excellent review on both the cars! However, I felt you could have got the 1.5 engine for any one the cars, in case you want the extra power on the highway. But hey, its your cars.

I saw your cars earlier on the "Pictures of you with car/bike" thread, but now its in a nice detailed thread, which is good to see. Please continue to update this thread, as it wil be nice to see the difference of a SUV and a Sedan with the same engine, and the manual vs automatic.

May I know the ODO reading on both of the cars as of right now?

Also, do you have any plans on modifications for both of these cars(LED's, new wheels?).
You put aftermarket wheels on your Figo, which looked quite nice. Are you planning the same for the Slavia?

Wishing you many happy journeys and memories with your cars!

Regards,
Raghav

PS. This is my 100th post, and I joined in July!

[jc.on.wheels]

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

Curious to know - why did you not try the 1.5 DSG for the Slavia? Would be at least worth the differentiation for essentially two cars on the same platform. Also, there would be a difference in the "assured" availability of power while driving a fully loaded Slavia.

Great question fhdowntheline. We didn't go for the 1.5 DSG for two main reasons:

• We initially had a budget of 16-17L. On both these cars, we crossed 18L on-road. However, for the Slavia, going for 1.5 would have meant another 3L more on road. That was beyond our budget.
• Following up on the above point, we didn't need the additional power to be honest. Driving the Kushaq, I realised the 1.0 was more than powerful enough for my city and occasional highway drives. So I went for the same engine on the Kushaq.

To summarise, would I like some additional power? Sure, that would be good to have. But do I want to pay another 3L for that? Not really. The 1.0 suits my needs just fine. Hope this answers your question.

[SidTheChamp]

Congratulations @jc.on.wheels . From 2 Ford to 2 Skoda, it was quite an exciting journey for you.

Both the cars look great.

I was a bit surprised that you didn't go for automatic in Kushaq too. Guess dad is not comfortable with AT after drivibg MT throughout

[Motorhead007]

Congratulations on the new cars !!
The selection process and the description of your experience with regards to the pros and the cons are very insightful.
Just one question (pardon if this has been covered already) - do you find much difference in the space and seating comfort in the rear seats between the 2 cars
Thanks

[itsashishsharma]

Originally Posted by jc.on.wheels

[h3]we had the 5th gen City before (bought in 2009)

Did you mean 2019? Or am I missing something?

[jc.on.wheels]

Originally Posted by itsashishsharma

Did you mean 2019? Or am I missing something?

Hi itsashishsharma, 2009 is correct. I am putting a picture here for reference (I searched my entire Google Photos library for a photo of our car, but alas ). Ours was in silver.

[jc.on.wheels]

Originally Posted by SidTheChamp

Congratulations @jc.on.wheels . From 2 Ford to 2 Skoda, it was quite an exciting journey for you.

Both the cars look great.

I was a bit surprised that you didn't go for automatic in Kushaq too. Guess dad is not comfortable with AT after drivibg MT throughout

Thank you SidTheChamp! So the Kushaq is chauffeur-driven, as my father can't drive, and so it didn't make sense to spend extra and give an automatic to the driver. Since the Slavia is driven by me, I went for the automatic. Hope that makes sense.

[jc.on.wheels]

Originally Posted by Motorhead007

Congratulations on the new cars !!
The selection process and the description of your experience with regards to the pros and the cons are very insightful.
Just one question (pardon if this has been covered already) - do you find much difference in the space and seating comfort in the rear seats between the 2 cars
Thanks

Thank you so much Motorhead007! Glad you liked my write-up.

You've asked an excellent question, and I have just the answer for you. Since the platform is the same for both the cars, the rear seat spacing is exactly the same on both. Now if you ask me how the seating is, I'd say these cars are best for four people on board. Can you seat 5 people in the car? Yes sure. But as we had a Honda City before, I can use that as a reference and say that the City accommodates 3 people in the rear seat marginally better.

The reason is also because the seats are slightly scooped out towards the sides, whereas Honda makes them more flat. Hope this answers your question.

Originally Posted by Raghav07

Excellent review on both the cars! However, I felt you could have got the 1.5 engine for any one the cars, in case you want the extra power on the highway. But hey, its your cars.

Hey Raghav07, thank you! Glad you liked my write-up. I've answered this question above, hope that clarifies your question.

Originally Posted by Raghav07

May I know the ODO reading on both of the cars as of right now?

Also, do you have any plans on modifications for both of these cars(LED's, new wheels?).
You put aftermarket wheels on your Figo, which looked quite nice. Are you planning the same for the Slavia?

Last I checked on the Kushaq, it was around the 10K mark, and the Slavia is at 4,500 km (I know, not much.. )

I've put modifications in the Slavia, and they include LED foglamps, 3D floor mats, steering wheel leather cover, side bumper guards (which you will see in the above pics), Ottocast U2-Air for wireless Apple CarPlay, Qubo Dashcam, and recently got aluminium pedals fitted from the Skoda ASC.

Originally Posted by Raghav07

PS. This is my 100th post, and I joined in July!

That's great news.. Congratulations!

[itsashishsharma]

Originally Posted by jc.on.wheels

Hi itsashishsharma, 2009 is correct. I am putting a picture here for reference (I searched my entire Google Photos library for a photo of our car, but alas ). Ours was in silver.

I am attaching a pic of the 5th gen City as Google makes it out to be. Hence the confusion. In Indian context, the one you are referring to is the 3rd gen but really it was 5th gen gobally.