Is the Skoda Slavia a better option than the Skoda Kushaq

The Kushaq has only one thing that is better than its sedan sibling and that's the ground clearance.

BHPian Vid6639 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This has already been highlighted before but I am going to stress upon this point once again.

• The Slavia has the same engine and gearbox as the Kushaq.
• The Slavia is better built than the Kushaq at least from initial impressions which were really bad for Kushaq from people visiting showrooms.
• The Slavia is considerably bigger in length than Kushaq.
• The Slavia is based on the same platform as Kushaq.
• The Slavia has more features vs Kushaq - virtual dials, electric folding ORVM etc.
• The Slavia has better dynamics both in ride and handling than the Kushaq.

The Slavia is 1.1L cheaper for the top end 1.0 TSI AT Style vs the Kushaq Style 1.0 TSI AT.

There is only one thing the Kushaq does better and that's the ground clearance which the Kushaq has 9mm additional over the Slavia.

Remember when going to the showroom that Skoda is charging 12K per mm extra for the Kushaq's ground clearance vs the Slavia.

To me, this package seems far more complete and a no brainer even if I wanted an SUV badly. I would change and get the Slavia.

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

Can see many customers facing this dilemma.

That's the case with most crossovers that have hatchback / sedan siblings with the same platforms & engines. The Kushaq does have more advantages = taller seating, easier egress / ingress (especially for senior citizens, many prefer crossover styling to sedans, etc.

Tough choice for sure.

Thought about it some more & I'd vote for the Kushaq.

Reasons

• I always buy the best engine that a car is available with. The difference between the Kushaq 1.5 & Slavia 1.5 is slimmer than with the 1.0.
• Already have 3 sedans in the family. Hence, would like "something different". Would also be the first crossover we ever bought.
• Would be primarily city usage as we have already fast & big sedans for highway runs. The smaller footprint + taller seating would be preferred in the city.
• Last but not the least, it is my bhabhi who would be driving this car and she'd (like most women) prefer a crossover to a sedan.

I'd buy the Kushaq in 2023 though. There are clearly many areas that Skoda needs to sort out or improve upon, in the Kushaq.

Here's what BHPian deetjohn had to say about the matter:

Is it really that clear cut to be a no-brainer though? Hear me out!

The Slavia has the same engine and gearbox as the Kushaq.

That's brilliant and I am a fan of both drivetrains. Wish VAG could have equipped the 1.5 + DSG in the mid variants too. Hey, some of us do dig additional horses + torque vis-a-vis ventilated seats or wireless/LED this and that!

The Slavia is better built than the Kushaq at least from initial impressions which were really bad for Kushaq from people visiting showrooms.

Both are fine on the outside. All panels have good heft and the panel + shut lines are very consistent. Kushaq was miserable on the inside on debut, Taigun was better. Slavia is better still. And that is on the plastic trim, but they aren't able to get the upholstery right. The stitching on the seats, the trim on the inside of the boot, the roof liner could be better. I wish Skoda had charged 25k more and made those class-leading. A car should be desirable inside out. And the plus side is that good quality stuff will be hard-wearing and will age well. I have never put an aftermarket upholstery on any car I have brought. But the quality of the stock fitment matters.

The Slavia is considerably bigger in length than Kushaq.

Is it such a big deal? Yeah, the boot is really humongous. But do we really need that much space? Yes, there will be a handful of days when it will be, but I wish the sedan was a little more compact. My wife opined that Slavia got a Manza vibe and I agree with her! That said, I have no idea why VAG chopped the rear end of both crossovers so much. It's not like those cars were built for the stupid small car rule, the side profile is ruined because of that.

The Slavia is based on the same platform as Kushaq.

Yeah, it's 1 - 1 for both.

The Slavia has more features vs Kushaq - virtual dials, electric folding ORVM etc

I hate the virtual dials and am not a big fan of electric fold either, I need my ORVM open all the time. But Slavia gets one big feature which both crossovers miss out on - and that's KESSY for the mid variants. For someone with 2 young kids, that feature weighs quite high in my decision making. Must have for any car across variants. The convenience and freedom it offers are unparalleled. And sensors on both sides, please! I hate the Korean implementation there. Agree on this though - with all the craze for crossovers, a sedan or hatchback has to be better equipped! It is the case everywhere!

The Slavia has better dynamics both in ride and handling than the Kushaq.

This is where I have the biggest issue. Disclaimer - I haven't driven the Slavia yet, but did spend some time with the car earlier this week. Are the ride and handling that better? Most reviews paint a not so great picture! The common theme is that it is not as good as the Rapid. Now, was the Rapid that good? It was okay and could be made much better with aftermarket mods. But it was only average in the stock form. Where does that leave the Slavia? Mind you, both crossovers ride and handle well too. The delta here doesn't look that big. So, VAG should have gone the extra mile with the sedans.

Anyways, I have requested Skoda to bring the car home, let's see how it goes.

What Skoda should have done

• Make the car sit low, and get that ride/ handling balance right! When it's sitting lower, they can make the suspension mode supple without making it roll or pitch so much. Why in the world does one need this much ground clearance anyway? If it's bothering so much, one should just simply pick up the crossover. And I don't think 90% of people buy crossovers or SUVs for ground clearance, it is for the Image + Practicality from a 2 box shape. And no sedan even if it has got the greatest ground clearance in the world is going to change that!
• The steering has to be more direct and involving! Again, this works in tandem with the point above. It also needs to come down a bit more, I am most comfortable at the lowest seating position in a car and the steering could come down a bit more in the Slavia. Full marks for the telescopic adjustment + movable armrest. I hate the steering wheel, but let's not get into that now.
• Better upholstery on the inside - even the boot, that looks so bad! It's like a school project. A notchback would have sealed the deal here.
• Get that 1.5 DSG in the mid variant. I will preselect the longest warranty.

They have a lot of room in the 15 to 20 lakhs bracket with the Octavia moving up the segments. And there are customers who would have paid for an involving notchback from Skoda with quality inside out. Instead, they have gone for the City here. Leaving the Slavia neither here, nor there I am afraid.

Here's what BHPian audioholic had to say about the matter:

Not just the ground clearance. The Kushaq has better seating at the rear. The seats are placed higher, there is greater headroom and the legroom also seems to be better. I didn't believe this in the first place but after sitting back to back in the rear seat of both cars, I found the Kushaq to be better and had to believe the salesman. The length advantage of the Slavia over Kushaq only shows in the boot and not in the cabin space.

But yes, on the other hand, I do not see a point in buying the Kushaq unless someone is really insisting on the compact SUV factor. Another issue being the ingress and egress of the rear seat. In the Kushaq you just turn around and walk out of the rear seat whereas, in the Slavia, it is slightly tougher.

Here's what BHPian CrAzY dRiVeR had to say about the matter:

I would vote for the Skoda Slavia. However, will not buy it.

Kushaq was a disappointment for me, ever since the reveal. I remember reading our Team-BHP review and getting a shocker with the dull grey interiors and the poor fit and finish (the seats, the roof liner etc) being evident even in pictures! Seeing one in the showroom didn't change my impressions either.

However, reviewing the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSi DSG made me fall in love with the mechanical package and I pre-booked one - only to be let down by the Kushaq again, which started breaking down by the dozens. By the time these issues got sorted, the Slavia was unveiled and it promised better quality over the crossover sibling. Decided to wait till March.

Got a chance to check out the Slavia too recently and was promised initial delivery of the 1.5 in the first slot itself if I was flexible on the colour, and second slot in my choice of colour - but the car (though better than the Kushaq IMHO) didn't excite. Also by this time, Kushaq disappointed for a third time - with the owners reporting severe rattles and build issues with the Kushaq - and the Slavia didn't seem revolutionary enough to have addressed all these shortcomings either.

Moving on from the 0-IN platform.

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