Confused between the Kushaq & Tiguan: Is the VW worth Rs. 18 lakh more

The points of comparison will be size, engine, driveability, safety etc. I don't care a lot for tech features.

BHPian nks81 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

I am in the market for a new car and so far I have test driven the Compass, Octavia, Tiguan and sat in my cousin's Kushaq.

We are a family of 4 and here are our preferences in descending order

• Driving dynamics and performance.
• Safety and comfort for 2 adults at the front and 2 growing kids at the back.
• Good suspension setup for Indian roads.
• Good interiors.
• Good music system.

We have moved back to India 2 yrs back and want to now do long drives around India. Current car is a Honda Jazz iVtec - 2017.

I have loved the Tiguan and the Octavia and they seem to be the front runners.

For now I am just comparing Tiguan to the Kushaq and cannot stop thinking:

• The Tiguan will cost approx 41 OTR and top end 1.5 Kushaq 23 L.
• I know Tiguan is in a different segment and is CKD which pushes its price to 40+.
• Is the difference of 18 L really worth it? What will I miss if I go for top end Kushaq with respect to my points above.

The points of comparison will be size, engine, driveability, safety etc. I don't care a lot for tech features.

I know some of you will say that this is a weird comparison, but 18 L is big amount.

Appreciate your responses.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Not a fair comparison, yet cross-shopping across segments is more common than one might think. I know people who have cross-shopped many 20-lakh cars with 35-lakh ones, and 70-lakh cars with 1.2-crore models.

The Tiguan is a global product sold in more mature markets, not a cost-driven one like the Kushaq. Hence, the build, part quality, NVH, depth of engineering, finesse, safety etc. will all be superior to the Kushaq. Driving pleasure (2.0 TSI) & performance will be way better than the Kushaq, the Tiguan is a superb handler (stiff suspension) and its DQ381 DSG will in all likelihood be more reliable than the Kushaq's notorious destined-to-fail DQ200.

Whether that's worth it to you is something only you can decide. Personally though, if I was asked to pick between these two only, I'd go for the Kushaq as the Tiguan's ride quality is too bumpy for India. It's a major deal breaker. I value comfort & cannot live with a suspension like the Tiguan's.

If I had 40-lakhs in my pocket for a crossover, what I would really do is buy either the Kodiaq, Tucson, Carnival or Compass / Meridian Diesel AT. Would have recommended the 30-lakh XUV700 to you, truly an SUV that punches above its weight. But the waiting periods are insane for the fully loaded variant.

From our Official Review:

The Tiguan uses a MacPherson strut suspension up front and a multi-link setup at the rear. The suspension feels too firm for Indian conditions. While owners who drive themselves might find the ride acceptable (it's better at the front), those sitting at the rear will definitely not be comfortable. They will complain. On the back seat, road imperfections come in easily at low speeds and on broken roads, it can get bone-jarring. Volkswagen should have softened it more for our kind of roads; we don't have blemish-free tarmac like Europe! You can also hear some suspension 'thuds' in the cabin. I must add that the poor ride quality is probably accentuated by the 18" rims and 235/55 profile tyres.

While the recommended tyre pressure is 36 PSI, the tyres on our test car were pumped up to 42 PSI. This made the ride very bumpy. We dropped it to 33 PSI all-round and things became better. The ride became more compliant, but still, we feel that the suspension is a level too firm for India. You simply feel too much of the road in the Tiguan.

As the speedometer climbs, ride quality does get better, but it still cannot be termed plush. As long as the expressway is smooth, there are no issues. Big & sharp bumps easily make their presence felt inside the cabin though. It's nowhere near the ride offered by something like the Citroen C5 Aircross. There is no comparison.

To sum it up, the Tiguan comes with a typical German suspension that gives it good road manners, but again, you feel bad roads. Potholes and broken surfaces are very evident inside the cabin. Owners will not appreciate this ride quality.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

There is absolutely no comparison between a watered down India specific product and a genuine international car. It’s like comparing your local small AC room hotel to a Taj property. From design to materials and specifications to powertrain to build quality to ride and handling to sheer execution, everything is better. Much better. If you have the budget for the Tiguan, go for it.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

Purely from a price vs quality point of view, international models are worth the difference compared to highly localised cars. For instance, going from Kushaq to Octavia is worth the premium. Octavia to Superb I am not so sure. I think there are very few international models without localization sold in India - Tiguan by VW, Camry by Toyota, Tucson by Hyundai, etc. If finances permit, it’s definitely worth buying a car from these models compared to highly localized cars. OTH, localized cars offer great value. Kushaq 1.5 comes with an excellent drive train and well tuned suspension.

I am not sure about the Tiguan as a car though. Like GTO mentioned, their rear seats (suspension, recline, cushioning, etc) don’t match the price.

Here's what BHPian ACe_10 had to say on the matter:

If I had 40-lakhs in my pocket for a crossover, what I would really do is buy either the Kodiaq, Tucson, Carnival or Compass / Meridian Diesel AT.

+1 to what GTO has said above.

I was looking forward to the 1.5TSI + DSG combo - had patiently waited for the VW 2.0 cars to launch since 2020. However, the reviews on this forum + multiple test drives and showroom visits have convinced me that the VW2.0 cars (as they stand currently) are not worth the 22 lakhs on road.

I have gone ahead booked the Jeep Compass Diesel AT and am waiting for delivery next week.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.