After coming from my Vento, the car doesn’t feel like it has 1.8x additional power – especially in the city.

BHPian Jangra recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My 10-month review of Kodiaq Sportline

Like my initial ownership review, let me start with negatives.

• After coming from my Vento, the car doesn’t feel like it has 1.8x additional power – especially in the city. Though I understand it weighs 1.4x times

• This one is very subjective – After driving an SUV / crossover for 10 months, I have realized my love for sedans. The driving position of an SUV feels like sitting on a chair vs a sedan that feels like a bean bag. Later feels very comfortable and sporty. Like others, never found a right driving position and it creates elbow fatigue on a long drive as the right side armrest is far from reach. Finally ordered this.

• Each morning wife and I fight over who gets Vento, as it’s not so easy maneuvering this bear Kodiaq in the city of Metro construction aka Bombay. Experience is further ruined by the bikers and autorickshaws who ride like a maniac

• Keep getting low battery warnings now and then. Though it has never prevented the car to start in the cold mornings OR after being 15-day stationery, it does create a little bit of anxiety

• Nit-picking but Skoda navigation turns off google maps from CarPlay. I like to have Skoda maps on the instrument cluster while Google maps on the infotainment display.

• Folding and raising 3rd-row seats requires the second row to be adjusted slightly. Not a big deal calling it out as it’s a pain.

Positives

• Like others have called out – Engine & gearbox. It doesn’t need any elaboration – its butter smooth, and with time, it behaves far superior in stop-and-go traffic than the DSG of my Vento

• Car makes me feel special. It is two or three segments above my Vento and it feels like it. The quality of materials used, the music system, Alcantara black sports seats, and the silence of the cabin elevate the entire experience of my journey.

• And the looks, man! This one look prettier than any car under 75lacs. Am I right?

The 3 positives more than compensate for the negatives. However, sometimes when I retrospect my decision to buy this over 2-year-old 5 Series – 530d, I want to believe it was a better decision as this is a car that does it all. But the enthusiast in me still feels a bit compromised, especially now that I realized I am a sedan guy. I do feel sometimes trading my Kodiaq with something more enthusiastic, but I know that would not be a wise decision. Time will tell.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Fuel efficiency has been surprisingly better than I expected. I am getting between 9-11kmpl in city and around 12-13 on highways. The worst I’ve ever got was around 8.3kmpl.

BHPian Fun_to_drive recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Updated ownership review at 3500 kms:

Its been 70 days since I’ve got this amazing machine which brings a smile on my face everyday. Thought of sharing my experience so far:

• The build, the thuds feel solid for the most part. Except for a few cheap plastic bits , and the thin sun roof cover, the car feels premium and reassuring.
• Mileage has been surprisingly better than I expected. I am getting between 9-11kmpl in city and around 12-13 on highways. The worst I’ve ever got was around 8.3kmpl. It comes down to how you drive, I ve been a little intentional about it. I’ve tried the ECO mode, coasting feature(honestly both made a little difference) and Auto start/stop which do come in handy to save fuel. I’ve configured an individual mode which puts drive in ECO, steering in normal , and DCC in Comfort mode(sharing the pic). I use the gear lever to put it in sports to surge ahead in an open patch to have the best of both worlds. Even in Normal mode with Auto start/Stop, you should be fine with the mileage.
• Honestly been a little disappointed with the DCC feature. I expected the comfort mode to absolutely glide the car over bad roads like it happened in an Endeavor I once drove. The ride quality is good but not plush. It's little on the stiffer side but not uncomfortable by any means.To simplify- its not bad in normal mode to begin with, but putting it in comfort doesn't improve it by a lot. I would request other members to please share their observations around this. Do you feel a huge difference wrt to DCC in Normal vs Comfort mode? . If DCC is not a differentiator, TPMS being poor and 360 camera being only good to have, the decision of many owners to go with Sportsline seems vindicated. I honestly would still pick Lnk just for the looks, and dual tone interiors alone.
• The car is just the perfect size, perfect as a 5 seater without feeling too big for weekdays, and practical enough 7 seater for two families to go for a weekend trip with luggage comfortably. Have done two road trips and the practicality factor is amazing.
• It’s a well put together machine, everything works as it should without any noticeable rattles or niggles. There’ve been minor static noises that I’ve heard but not noticeable with music on. There’ve been times if you take off the seat belt at the rear, it keeps beeping even if no one is sitting at the back, restarting the car had resolved it.
• The drive is just amazing . Its comfortable at cruising speeds that you can maneuver through the city with just one hand with that light steering , ignoring traffic stress as the car cocoons you. At the same time, push the pedal a little and you will see it zip past everything and easily achieve that claimed 0 to 100 in about 7.5 seconds. The only gripe being that at low rpms there is a lag of about a second for that power to get unleashed. There’s plenty of grip on the road and the car is well planted and stable at triple digit speeds as well.
• I never thought a great music system can make so much of a difference, feels like a moving concert and a great place to unwind after work. I’ve found my perfect settings and sharing in this post with everyone.

I’ve loved everyday with it so far, the love for its looks and the eagerness to drive it is still the same as day one.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The customer sure is spoilt for choice in the 40 - 50 lakh crossover space, and we're not even including indirect competitors like the Fortuner, Carnival, Hycross etc.

Audi Q3

What you'll like:

• Evolved sporty styling, matched with solid build quality
• Increased cabin space, practicality and boot capacity (530 litres)
• Incredibly fun-to-drive 2.0L turbo-petrol with a quick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
• Quattro all-wheel drive provides loads of grip & will help you get out of tricky situations (sand, mud etc.)
• Good road manners with sorted ride quality
• Well-equipped (panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, virtual cockpit & more)
• 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and equipment

What you won't:

• Efficient & punchy 2.0 turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Same 187 horses as the Kodiaq & Tiguan. We would've preferred a higher state of tune on a more expensive Audi
• Pricey! The Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan are ~10-15 lakhs cheaper on-road
• Just two variants. No cheaper FWD entry-level variant available. Period
• Should’ve gotten adaptive dampers, at least on the top-end 'Technology' variant
• Cabin is best suited for 4 adults, not 5
• Missing features like a 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, driving assist tech, auto-hold, connected car gizmos etc.

Link to Official Review

BMW X1

Link to Chethan B G's Ownership Review

Link to Nurni76's Ownership Review

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Link to Karan561's Review

Volvo XC40

What you'll like:

• A sharply styled SUV. Volvo’s new designs sure are head-turners!
• Solid build & top-notch quality, inside out
• Sweet looking cabin that’s loaded to the gills with features
• 9” responsive touchscreen & Harman Kardon sound system are awesome
• Excellent high speed stability coupled with sorted handling
• Volvo's 5-star safety rating & equipment

What you won't:

• Rear seat comfort levels are mediocre. It’s best for just 2 & ingress / egress are tricky too
• Firm low speed ride. Liveable, but not plush in the city
• Small dealership and service network isn't a patch on its competitors2.0L petrol is the only engine on offer. No diesel option
• Lacks the badge value of the German marques

Link to Official Review

Link to Gismosin's Ownership Review

Mini Countryman

Link to Launch Thread

Volkswagen Tiguan

Link to Official Review

Link to Official Review - The 2021 Facelift

Skoda Kodiaq

What you'll like:

• The ultimate “value luxury” SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
• Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
• Impressive 2.0L turbo-petrol is mated to a quick 7-speed DSG automatic
• Cushy ride quality in “Comfort” mode (L&K variant)
• Sorted handling & road manners in “Sport” mode. Adjustable suspension is a USP of the L&K
• 3rd-row of seats is an advantage over some 5-seater competitors
• Massive boot with 3rd seat row down. Boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
• Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking...)
• AWD available to get you out of tricky situations. Tourers will love it
• 5-star safety rating & equipment (9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)

What you won't:

• Workhorse 2.0L turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Single digit fuel economy of the turbo-petrol AT in the city. Drops drastically if you drive aggressively
• Its sibling, the VW Tiguan, is priced a few lakhs cheaper
• Expensive! Worse still, Skoda increased the Kodiaq’s pricing within days of the launch
• Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for small children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
• Styling does look Estate-ish from some angles. Doesn't have that much street cred or presence
• We feel that the “Sportline” variant should’ve been offered with the DCC & other L&K features
• Skoda’s ill-famed dealership network & after-sales horror stories
• Skoda’s patchy long-term reliability track record (including, but not limited to, the DSG)
• Silly feature deletions from older Kodiaq (rear door sills, 1 umbrella, 1 blanket, chrome tip on power window switches, removeable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

Link to Official Review

Jeep Meridian

What you'll like:

• Handsome unmistakably-Jeep styling & loads of character
• Robust build quality. Feels very solid, just as a Jeep should
• Classy cabin now boasts a versatile 5+2 seating configuration and better accommodation when compared to the Compass
• Competent 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, quick on the open road
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available, with 214 mm of ground clearance
• Feature packed: electric front seats (driver memory), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered tailgate, LED projector headlights…
• Topnotch safety kit: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• Diesel AT now available without the AWD as well, thereby making it more accessible for urban dwellers (Compass Diesel AT only available with AWD, 5-lakhs more OTR)

What you won't:

• Cabin has limited width, can feel snug for larger passengers. 5th passenger (in the 2nd row) will feel unwelcome
• 3rd row is strictly for children and small adults
• Should’ve had more power for the price. Same 2.0L diesel available in SUVs from a segment below
• No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrols in a big way. Delhiites will be disappointed
• 9-speed Automatic gearbox is competent, but not brilliant
• We’d have liked to see front parking sensors, paddle shifters, gearbox ‘sport’ mode, a sliding middle row, more connected tech features (it’s very basic currently)
• At low speeds, the firm ride quality always keeps you aware of the road quality you’re driving on
• Jeep India’s dealer & service network coverage is still limited
• Just the higher Limited & Limited (O) variants at launch. Not sure when lesser variants will follow

Link to Review

Citroen C5 Aircross

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
• Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It's matched to solid build quality
• Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
• 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
• Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
• Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
• Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes...
• 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

What you won't:

• Very expensive! We wish Citroen had priced-it-to-sell-it (aka penetration pricing)
• Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10" adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
• No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
• Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass & Tiguan are more fun
• Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable passenger seat, ADAS, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
• The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
• Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a 40-lakh car
• Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn't have
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are still big unknowns

Link to Official Review

Link to Official Review - The 2022 Facelift

Hyundai Tucson

What you'll like:

• A futuristic-looking, well-engineered premium SUV
• Complete urban package with comfortable suspension, light steering and a smooth automatic
• 2.0L diesel engine is not just refined, but punchy too
• 540 litres of boot space is enough to haul holiday luggage
• ADAS safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist are cool & work reasonably well
• Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, multi-air mode AC, ventilated and heated front seats, connected car tech, wireless charging, boss control for the front seat etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP rating. 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, downhill brake control, TPMS, 360-degree camera & more

What you won't:

• Edgy looks & funky styling may not be to everyone's liking
• At ~43 lakhs on road for the top-end variant, the Tucson is expensive!
• Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
• Naturally-aspirated petrol isn't as punchy as the competitors' turbo-petrol units
• Other crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats. Tucson is a 5-seater only
• Some missing features such as paddle shifters, rear sunblinds...
• Hyundai badge lacks the snob value that many 40-lakh rupee customers are looking for

Link to Official Review

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

The customer sure is spoilt for choice in the 40 - 50 lakh crossover space, and we're not even including indirect competitors like the Fortuner, Carnival, Hycross etc.

My choices would be the Kodiaq (a truly premium SUV with AWD, adjustable suspension, great turbo-petrol & DSG), Tucson (a thorough all-rounder) and believe it or not, the Innova Hycross. Despite it being an MPV, I'd actually buy the Hycross over a lot of entry-luxury crossovers like the GLA, X1 & gang which just aren't my kind of vehicles.

From the luxury marques, I'd pick the new Audi Q3 over the German competitors.

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

My vote goes to the GLA for its fast diesel, premium interiors and the Mercedes badge. The X1 is a close second and if the poll is repeated after the next gen X1 is launched, I may vote for it.

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

The next gen X1 is around the corner and looks good to me. I strongly believe its worth the wait, especially most cars have waiting period. Among cars listed, Tuscon and Kodiaq looks good value. The GLA diesel is a good improvement over predecessor, however personally find the looks of the car underwhelming.

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

I had voted for Tucson in COTY this year owing to the fantastic package of torquey diesel + automatic, space, futuristic looks and features, plus the hassle free after sales service by Hyundai. Still preferred to vote for Kodiaq on this poll - great all-rounder for the price Mercedes, BMW & Audi offer bare-bones; the love for European build and quality still makes me prefer Kodiaq over a Tucson.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I would have booked an Octavia right away, but my family had started moving towards SUVs,

BHPian nks81 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Background:

I moved back to India in December 2019. I started using my dad's Honda Jazz for daily rides to work and other things. Dad had already stopped driving and now prefers Ola or Uber.
I had plans to buy a new car after coming back and was always smitten by the looks and performance of the Octavia. Then came COVID, and we dropped all plans to get a car soon. we weren't going anywhere!

The itch to get "my first" car started again in 2022, and I started looking at existing cars and new cars that would be launched.

Requirements:

We are a family of four, and here are our preferences in descending order:

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

Some other simple requirements:

It had to be a petrol automatic.

The initial budget was set at around 20-30 L after discussion with wifey.

The contenders:

Jeep Compass: I had my heart set on it once I saw it in flesh after coming back to India. The facelift also improved the interior quality.
The TD experience was meh. The petrol engine did not appeal to me.felt lethargic for such a big car. Also, the space inside is a letdown. Still was my first crush, but it wasn't to be.

Hyundai Tucson: During college days and my early career, I drove my dad's Santro / i10 / i20 a lot. I didn't like any of them, so I assumed we wouldn't get another Hyundai. I saw the upcoming launch of the Tucson and saw / read the international reviews. The car is a looker. I loved it. I thought we would definitely have to wait for it. Saw the India launch, but then saw the petrol specs - disappointed. 153 bhp and 192 nm of torque? in a 30L car! I still thought, "Let's do a TD", but the showroom never sent a petrol for a TD. The salesman flatly stated that there is no petrol version of the TD. It was probably for the best. dropped.

Skoda Octavia/Superb: Loved the Octavia's smooth ride, awesome comfort, and good build. There was a problem with availability. I saw tons of reviews and drooled over it every time. I would have booked it right away, but my family had started moving towards SUVs, so we at least had to consider other SUVs before we said yes to the Octavia.

I also tried the Superb again and found it to be excellent.no complaints. However, an Octavia would have sufficed. I didn't need the "longer" Superb.

VW Tiguan: I liked the car, felt very nimble to drive, and it had plenty going for it. had started considering it seriously and went for a second TD with family this time. They liked the car but were not wowed by it. The interiors feel bland, the seats are OK, and it would not feel luxurious even after spending 41 big ones. kept in consideration but did not finalize. In the midst of all of this, we considered the Kushaq, which was significantly less expensive than the Tiguan.

Most folks suggested getting the Kushaq or go for the Kodiaq.

Skoda Kodiaq: During all of this TDing and researching, I asked my kids (8 and 11) to make a spreadsheet with all of the features we wanted in a car and fill it out for each of the shortlisted vehicles. They came back after a few days and said Kodiaq is the winner. I knew the Kodiaq was a solid car and was recommended to buy it by my German neighbour who works for VW. Discussed again with wifey and we agreed it will not be a stretch for us to go for a 40L Kodiaq.

But it was already sold out for 2022, and I called the dealers, and they said they weren't taking bookings. But suddenly, sometime in August, they declared they were taking bookings for Q1 2023.

When I inquired again, I was told that there would be a 6-month wait with delivery in March 2023. Went with family to the showroom, saw a parked Kodiaq, checked it out, but did not get to drive it.

BMW X1: We had put the Kodiaq on the shortlist On the same day we saw the Kodiaq, we visited the BMW showroom and drove the X1. The drive is smooth, the performance is good, and it has the snob badge. But that's it; there's nothing else I could like.

Interiors are just ok—there is a lack of space and features.struck it out.

I returned with the impression that Kodiaq is providing so much for so little, or, as GTO puts it, "value luxury".

Paid the booking amount for a Lava Blue Kodiaq L&K on 22nd September 22. Then the wait started.

Why we booked the Kodiaq without driving it:

• Luxurious interiors.
• Awesome reviews within the forum and outside. I didn't hear a single negative comment about the drive or performance.
• Loaded with safety features.
• Amazing music system.
• It has fantastic looks and the added benefit of seating two children in the third row.
• Quality inside and out.

The booking and delivery experience:

As is currently the state of things, it's a sellers' market, and we buyers are at the mercy of most dealers and manufacturers. I had booked the Kodiaq but was wary of waiting for six months. I was always on the lookout for something better.

Kept calling the dealer every 1-2 weeks. One day he mentioned there is a white Superb available, but by the time I got back to him, he said it had gone. Then he mentioned that there was a Lava Blue Kodiaq available, but only if I paid in full as soon as possible. I said I would take a loan, but that will take a few days at least. I called him back after a few hours, and he said it was taken by someone who paid the full amount.

So I told him to keep an eye out and let me know if another allocation became available; this time, I will pay some down payment and process the loan as soon as possible.

I have no idea how allocations happen. Skoda India appears to manufacture white and grey in large quantities but not Lava Blue and black. Allocations are also happening randomly, and either people are not claiming their allocations or the dealers play a game of who has the most money to throw and push the car their way. There's no way to tell. That's the way things work here.

Fast forward two months, and on November 29, I got a call again that I may be able to get a Graphite Grey Kodiaq L&K as it is allocated to them. I tried to dig into it, like whose allocation it was initially, but got no satisfactory answer. I talked it over with my family, and they all agreed on Graphite Grey. I went down to the showroom, met the showroom manager, paid 10L, and confirmed. They immediately started the loan process, and within 2–3 days my loan was approved, and they sort of pressured me to release the disbursement. I went again and checked out the car in person, confirmed the VIN, and did a basic PDI.

I bargained hard for the insurance and finally got them to give me TATA AIG's full comprehensive 1+3 plan for 102k. I couldn't haggle for the accessory set, which was going to set me back 23k, up from 17k in June 2022.

Delivery time was set to be on December 9, but due to delays in getting insurance (they had trouble getting approval for matching the external quote), it got pushed to December 11.

I took it out of the showroom after all the customs and filled her up with Shell V Power. I will be looking for XP95 bunks for next time.

The family is ecstatic on getting this amazing car, and we soon want to go on some longish drives!

Thanks for reading!

I haven't had a chance to take better pictures of her since delivery day.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I feel even after spending 40+ lakhs I wouldn't get that premium experience with a Tucson. The Kodiaq is just 4-5 lakhs away.

BHPian shashankjain16 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I currently own a Duster AWD, 3.5 years old, almost 50k km on ODO. The vehicle served me really well, and have made some amazing trips through the toughest terrains in the Himalayas. No problems whatsoever. However, I have since moved several ladders up my career and also become a father.

I am looking to upgrade to a new vehicle, possibly Premium Luxury SUV. Budget limit is 75 lakhs.

My requirements.

• Ride Comfort for Long Drives - I am spoiled by Duster's ride quality. The other day I sat in my friend's Hector and found it so bumpy, it was off-putting. Also, I absolutely need an automatic this time.

• Less Body Roll - for a comfortable ride in the mountains

• Superb NVH Levels - This is the biggest pain point with my current car. The poor NVH level spoils otherwise excellent ride quality. I have done the entire car's damping yet the noise is just too much. I am okay with Petrol if it gives better NVH levels.

• Safety - Given now I have a daughter, the safer the car the better.

• Reliability - I often do long drives to off-beat places in the mountains, including Ladakh and Spiti Valley. Even Duster AWD has its own reliability concerns with diesel injector failures, but my ownership has been fuss-free thus far.

• AWD - Not sure about this now. Duster AWD has been helpful with some crazy trips we have done in the last 3 years. But we will be a lot more careful being parents and might not venture to unknown roads too often. Also, I think most trips we have done can be done with an FWD vehicle if driven carefully.

• High Ground Clearance - My duster has 210 mm and it has served well everywhere. Lower ground clearance would be a pain on patchy terrains in remote areas.

• Little Badge Value, if possible - I have had a long-standing dream of owning a luxury SUV, and I think this might be the best time. In future, my responsibilities and commitments will only grow, and I might not get the chance to spend so much on a car.

• Long Ownership - I want to keep this car for the next 7 - 8 years unless I change upon a lottery and have enough money to throw at an even more premium car.

My considerations:

Hyundai Tucson

Pros

• Ticks most boxes - AWD, reliability, good NVH levels (from reviews), powerful engine, and ride comfort.
• Hyundai Service Network

Cons

• Low ground clearance - 193mm
• Diesel - DPF clogging, future of diesel cars
• Headlights are not up to the mark, as suggested by owners on Team-BHP. Since I do a lot of night driving, this might just be a deal breaker
• I feel even after spending 40+ lakh I wouldn't get that premium experience. Kodiaq is just 4-5 lakhs away which is a much more premium vehicle, Volvo XC40 is 10-12 lakh away.
• Although Hyundai has a great service network, I am not sure many service centres would be familiar with a premium vehicle like Tucson. I might be looking at long waiting for repairs if the car goes into remote service centres such as Leh, Manipur, Sikkim, etc.

Skoda Kodiaq

Pros

• Handsome looks, brand value
• AWD
• Premium experience
• Petrol, superb NVH levels

Cons

• Low ground clearance - 192mm
• DSG reliability
• High repair costs. I read one review where the replacement of DSG gearbox was billed at 6.5 lakhs (although covered in warranty)
• Poor service network

Volvo XC40

Pros

• High Ground Clearance - 211 mm
• Premium SUV
• Badge value without much attraction. I can be a proud owner of a premium car without attracting much attention wherever I go.
• Very practical car for my needs - Google Maps in the instrument cluster, superb safety, ride quality
• Long-term reliability - ownership reviews I have read have been mostly fuss-free. I have even seen some XC60s that have done 1,50,000 km in the second-hand market. I haven't found many German brands with such usage.
• Lower cost of ownership than Germans

Cons

• No AWD
• Poor Service network

Other Considerations

BMW X3 - Petrol, Audi Q5

• Reliability - given so many electronics, hydro-locking, expensive repair costs

Fortuner

• Too big a vehicle, bumpy ride

Jeep Compass

• Reliability, small car, Diesel doesn't age well and gives in bad NVH levels in the long run

Next-Gen BMW X1, Nissan X-trail, Jeep Grand Cherokee

• Can wait for these to evaluate but not sure about their timeline.

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

I say, whatever car you end up buying, retain the Duster. You'll always find use for a cheap, familiar & capable AWD with exceptional ride quality, keeping in mind the kind of touring that you do .

For value-luxury, you really can't beat the Kodiaq & Tucson. Both have been extensively reviewed on the forum, so read up, take a test-drive and come back here with your observations. For ~40 lakhs, can't beat these two.

If you want to splurge (~75 lakhs), you could consider the Audi Q5 (neighbour recently got a quote for 65 in the first round of negotiations itself) and X3 (top class reliability & driving pleasure). Not the XC40 - too small, but the XC60 isn't too far from your budget. It's quite a mega SUV, so do check it out. And yes, definitely test-drive the Grand Cherokee.

Take your time shopping & test-driving, 75 lakhs is a lot of money and there are a lot of options. Eventually go with the car that makes you the happiest...smile the widest. Any car over 30 lakhs is driven more by "want" than "need".

I don't know if you're into sedans at all, but if I were in your place, I'd keep the Duster AWD and get a M340i / C300d / 530d to accompany it. Now, that would really be something! A capable AWD with a really fast enthusiast's sedan.

Congrats on your success. Going from a Duster to a 75-lakh machine is a big jump for just 3 - 4 years, so well done!

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

Is there any reason why you have not considered C5 Aircross? It seems to tick many of your boxes if not all. Good ground clearance (235mm), Excellent Ride comfort and NVH, Stable (pretty good moose test result), Powerful Diesel Engine, Good Looks (Subjective), European (not German though), Big - but not bulky. On the downside, it is Expensive for what it offers, Diesel and lacks 4WD, unknown reliability and a limited service network.

Here's what BHPian yedukrishnan199 had to say on the matter:

Luxury doesn't come cheap, so high repair costs and maintenance are bound to follow. In my opinion, your best options are the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5.

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

The Q5 is actually quite reliable and powertrain is a proven one. This same engine does duty in lesser VW’s as well, so parts and upkeep will be reasonable. Interestingly, it shares its engine with the base Porsche Macan too.

It rides very well, goes fast, ergonomics are spot on. Apart from the somewhat dull looking dashboard, it has little other shortcomings. The facelift one on sale looks handsome too. Do test it

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

The more I read through your requirements, the more it seemed to me your requirements screamed BMW, and specifically the X3 30i. AWD, sporty, with good ground clearance, and a car with multiple personalities for family and fun. Throw in BSI + BRI, and you have zero worries with respect to maintenance for the duration of those plans. That would be my top pick if I were you.

The Lexus NX300h is also a good shout if you want to trade in the sportiness for a bit more comfort and fuel economy, although I have no idea how good/bad its ground clearance is. But again, it ticks a lot of boxes like the X3, while performing better than the X3 in some respects (comfort and mileage) and lacking in others (outright performance).

I would not go with a Kodiaq/C5, or anything of the sort, since you said you want a bit of a badge. I'd also skip the Grand Cherokee, even though you should give it a look and see if that's your cup of tea. Reason I say that I'd personally skip it is that it's something like 77 lakhs ex showroom (so 80+ OTR) with a 2 liter engine that's not exactly sporty in the Meridian, so I struggle to see how it would be adequate in the Grand Cherokee.

You might say I'm biased in recommending the X3 with a 2 liter engine (I'm genuinely not), while vetoing the Jeep. But the truth is that the 2 liter turbo petrol from BMW is fantastic. Drive it to believe it, and happy hunting.

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Every creak and rattle is a constant reminder of how I needlessly spent so much money on something I am so unhappy with.

BHPian solaris007 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I was able to drive my Kodiaq around quite a bit over the last few weeks and I am just so utterly disappointed by the interior quality!

Every creak and rattle is a constant reminder of how I needlessly spent so much money on something I am so unhappy with. I just cannot get over the incessant rattles over small bumps, annoying creaks from the door panels and the phantom sounds that come and go. My entire mind space every drive is taken over with which new or old sound will crop up.

So much so that I seriously consider taking my Hyundai Venue instead (1/4th the price!) to the office. Sure the plastics are hard (it turns out the Kodiaq is not much better in this regard) but they are oh so solid - every drive is silent apart from the road noise.

I know this car is far from being a lemon but I always wonder what could have been. Sure the Kodiaq is supposed to represent value and feel like 60-70% German at 50% of the price but the car is showing every bit why it is only worth 40-50% of the price. I keep wondering if I should have just spent the extra cash and "upgraded" to a GLA or a Q3. Even the Tucson would have been a better choice given my experience with Hyundai.

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

Don’t let a few creaks and rattles get to your head!

You paid 40 lakhs and have got yourself one of the best 7 seater monocoque SUVs in the market today. The next best 7 seater monocoque SUV is a Q7 which costs 1 cr.

Our road conditions are not great either and these cars have to bear that beating! Even my X3 has an odd creak/rattle that comes occasionally. Play your favourite song, drown that noise and enjoy your car!

I myself still think when the updated Kodiaq came into the Indian market, why didn’t I buy a Kodiaq and save my 30 Lakhs rather than getting the X3. Nothing wrong with the X3, but the premium-ness, features, performance and AWD make the Kodiaq an indomitable package at the price it’s offered!

One of my friend has a G05 X5 30d for the past 3 years, he recently got home a Kodiaq L&K and is seriously impressed by the car!

You’ve got a great car, cherish it.

Here's what BHPian nks81 had to say on the matter:

Your quote seems to say that Kodiaq in general has these issues. I am not sure if other owners have shared this thought. There could some owner of Hyundai Venue sitting somewhere cursing hyundai for lack of space, rattles and what not in the car.

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

You're absolutely right, but in your case the issues seem pronounced. For me as I mentioned earlier, there is a creak from the front passenger door card area, but I cannot pin point it. The centre dash tunnel handles creak when flexed, and there is some noise from the rear left seat bench if it is not aligned properly with the right side seat. Other than that, I have written down issues I am going to need to address during first service.

• The LED light in the third row on the left works when the doors open, but its manual operation button is stuck from day one.
• There were a few errors when I did a random scan with OBDEleven, concerning the headlights, need to get that checked as well.
• The left dipped beam vibrates over rough roads and on idle as well.
• When I turn the steering towards the right from cneter, there is a creaking sound which I have seen on other Skodas but not Kodiaqs, on international forums. On those forums however are horror stories of pre-facelift Kodiaq's front and rear door handles creaking badly even on pulling the door to close it, random noises from the dashboard, etc. Our cars are not that bad in comparison.

There are also some noises from the gearbox when driving sedately or just starting your journey. The clunks and clangs from D1 to D2 and D3 to D2 are pretty evident and the car does jerk when doing so. But I have learnt to accept these as part of behavioural traits of the specific powertrain.

Recently in Goa I rented a Kia Sonet Diesel AT for three days. The car was great to drive, wireless CarPlay worked seamlessly, overall comfort was good, even though it was a brand new car, there were no rattles or creaks of any sort. Only the fit and finish was questionable, as is expected from the segment.

But compared to that, the Kodiaq does have its fair share of these non-mechanical niggles which spoil an otherwise fantastic ownership experience. I like the car very much, as I have mentioned in previous posts. But yes, I also was expecting a more robust build, and complete insulation from any weird noises. These noises are not only audible by petrolheads, everyone who has sat in the front seat with me has noticed this. The mechanical noises, only my ears are blessed with those.

In comparison, my dear old Octavia manufactured in July of 2013 and bought by me in October 2013, till date does not have a single rattle, creak or any interior quality issues! It is just brilliant how the car has held up in 9 years and 185000 kms. The cheapening of materials and quality started somewhere around 2016 when Skoda realised we need to add more features to keep product relevant and in doing so we can cut cost by cheapening the materials. It is a fact and no denying this. The same perceivable difference was also evident to me when I bought the Octavia, after owning and driving a Laura TDI DSG for 3 years and 50000 kms. That Laura was some tank, and was a sedan on steroids. I have taken all my cars to various roads and places where there have been no roads, and likes of Cretas and Seltos' will be afraid to venture.

All of these Skodas have managed those with aplomb. Its a progressive trend in terms of size and power for me (140<180<190 hp) but a regressive trend in terms of interior feel and quality of plastics, rubbers, etc.

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The acceleration is plenty but it takes a moment or two for you to actually get the feel of it. I think its mostly down to the slow(but smooth) gearbox

BHPian Fun_to_drive recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The smooth road to a Lava Blue LnK- Kodiaq.

The need to buy a new car:

There wasn’t any actually. I was a happy owner of a Ford Aspire diesel (bought in 2016) and a Ford Ecosport petrol AT (bought in 2019). Both are fun to drive cars in their own way, and Ecosport is relatively young too with only 32000 kms on the odo. So, no real reasons to even check out any cars in the market. But then suddenly the XUV700  launched and all hell breaks loose. Their marketing campaigns got me hooked as to how a 7-seater SUV, can be tech loaded and fun to drive at the same time. So, my heart took over my head and I ‘wanted’ a car.

The shortlisting criteria:

Has to be a 5/7 seater petrol 4x4 SUV with good handling and ride quality. It should have power in excess of 170bhp and ideally a 2L engine. Also a good quality sound system is a must. I've spent a lot of money just to upgrade the sound system of my previous cars as well. I started with a budget for an XUV700 but went cross shopping later on.

The contenders:

Mahindra XUV700: This is the car which started it all, the most disruptive car to have come out in the past 5 years. It had everything – tech, features, power and space. I went through every Youtube video which was out there, read the entire Team BHP thread, took multiple test drives and had almost booked the car (Diesel 4x4).

Reasons for not going with XUV700: I got so obsessed with the car that I over-researched it. As I dug deeper, I found users having issues from day one with its electronics , suspension and what not. Those could be more prevalent in the initial batch. In my test drives I found the diesel engine to be too noisy, vibrations on steering, and the steering to be too light and vague. Also the middle row didn’t slide, so the space between 2nd and 3rd row could not be adjusted. With 3 rows up, there was no space for luggage in the boot. The practical purpose of buying a 7 seater is that at least 6 people can travel for a weekend with some luggage onboard, which I could not envisage with XUV. The music system didn’t impress me much either. The car became a bit too massy with time with so many people going for it. It didn’t exceed expectation in any one particular area, but a great value for money car nonetheless.

Volkswagen Tiguan: I loved the idea of owning a German car and kept researching about Tiguan online as the launch date came near. But I was disappointed with the launch as many of the global features were removed like better alloys, Harman Kardon sound system and those interiors looked a bit dull to me. The test drive was great but still didn’t feel like worth the money for the above-mentioned reasons.

Mercedes GLA: I liked the interiors , the M-Badge and it had a great feel about it. But the petrol had an underpowered engine and didn’t have a 4x4. Its not a proper 5 seater and music system felt underwhelming.

Skoda Kodiaq: This is a car which always attracted me with its looks in Lava Blue color , looks handsome inside out , ticked all the boxes but felt a little overpriced at 45 lakhs for a Skoda. So I did all the possible research online , reached out to owners to take their personal feedback and was finally so convinced that I made two bookings with different dealers in a hope to get the car early. All of this without even taking a test drive, but I trusted the opinions of people on this forum and the other owners whom I reached out to. A few of them had owned a Q5 and a Mercedes in the past and spoke highly of the Kodiaq, so I went with it. I also did a PDI of someone else’s car in the stockyard and loved the feel of it.

BMW X1 2023: I was closely following this car since its unveiling , and absolutely loved the interiors and that integrated screen. This was actually my first choice and I was willing to pay a little extra for it as well. I called up BMW and they said there’s no clarity in which quarter of 2023 the car will be launched, but one thing’s for sure it will be north of 60 lakh rupees as it’s a generation change in X1. During my car research, I also took paid car consultancy services from two famous Youtubers, and one of them had extensively driven the Kodiaq for 40 days and said good things about it. Interestingly , while he was on a trip to Europe, he also drove the new X1 and found it to be a little underwhelming in terms of pure driving pleasure. So his vote, potential pricing of X1 and the long wait for it actually made my decision to go for the Kodiaq a little easier.

Audi Q5: While I was waiting for Kodiaq, I made a visit to Audi showroom for the Q3 launch which I felt was overpriced for what it offered. I also happened to check out the Q5 and absolutely loved the car from outside. Except the protruding screen, I loved the brown interiors and it had an awesome B&O 17 speaker sound system also. I thought to myself that I am already shelling out 46 lakhs for the Kodiaq and I may never buy a car in this range again. If I can pay a little extra and negotiate the deal for a Q5 Technology for around 60-62 lakhs, then I can own a logo, get a better engine, more power and the best sound system. During negotiations the last I went was till 65.5 lakhs and the showroom quoted me 66.5, and it was a no deal. When I returned home, I felt a little relived as I was overstretching my budget a lot considering I started with 29 lakhs to buy an XUV700. But in hindsight, I know for sure I would have closed the Q5 deal at 65.5 if they agreed to it and would have adjusted. But it was a no deal and I was left with my two bookings of Kodiaq with no sight of delivery.

Three days after visiting Audi’s showroom, I was returning from a work trip to Bangalore and I got a call from the Skoda sales rep saying “there is one Lava blue in the stock which was supposed to go to Bihar’s dealership , but we can offer the same to you if you can make a down payment in the next 1 hour”. I was getting the car and color I wanted, so I transferred 20 lakhs using Bangalore Airport’s wifi immediately, the balance in next 2 days and the car was allocated to me. A day after making the full payment fo rthe  Kodiaq, I got a call from Audi’s showroom that they are willing to offer me the Q5 at the price I wanted . I just smiled at the chain of events and felt content with my choice and the fact that I could use the 20 lakh rupee difference between Q5 and Kodiaq to fuel up and maintain my Kodiaq over its lifetime of running in “sports mode”.

The delivery experience:

The sales rep at Brite Skoda was a gem of a guy, who ensured that the things went smoothly on the day of the delivery. However, most Skoda dealerships are not aware about the features or any changes to their premium cars. The alloy wheels in the newer batch of LnK were changed to trinity silver but nobody had a clue. Even during delivery they filled up the car with 10 litres of ‘normal’ petrol instead of XP95.

My family didn’t have much clue about the car, and they were against me buying a car as expensive as this. But boy they were blown away by the sheer looks, quality and presence of the car.

Getting the looks and color protected through PPF:

After plenty of photographs, we got the car home but only for 2 hours, as I had made up my mind to protect the showroom color and look with a PPF right from day 1. I went for ‘premium shield self healing PPF’ which costed me 1.9 lakhs and the car was returned 3 days later.

Experience so far:

Till date, I have done about 1300 kms in both city and highway and have been loving every second of it. There is a constant smile on my face as long as I am in the driving seat. Below are my observations so far:

The dislikes:

• Wireless charging: This is a useless feature as it doesn’t even charge the phone 2%, and makes it extremely hot to a point that the phone may get damaged.
• Ventilated seats: I hardly notice the feeling , its too slow and not cool enough to get noticed.
• TPMS: Haven't got it to work yet. I was looking for a feature that can let me know the individual pressure in each tyre, but it doesn’t work.
• The placement of ‘Mode’ button is horrible. You would need to take your completely off the road to fiddle around the driving modes.
• Absence of connected car features like the ability to start the car and cool the cabin with an app.
• Skoda’s commitment to premium cars- With Skoda shelving its sedans in India , it will mainly be reduced to a mass market player focusing on the cars like the Kushaq and Slavia. The same seems to reflect in their focus, service and spare availability for their premium cars. Most of their sales people have no clue about the features and capabilities of the Kodiaq, i am dreading if I have to experience the same with their service technicians as well. Cars like the Kodiaq will require specialists who understand the engineering in and out.

The likes:

• The looks: The looks of the car are so drool worthy, that I cannot resist myself from staring at it whenever its even remotely close to my sight . In Lava Blue, it looks so handsome from all angles and is a head turner.
• Maneuverability: The car in spite of being a 7 seater, handles like a small SUV, is easy to cut across traffic , and masks its size quite well. Even in traffic I have never felt uncomfortable driving this car. This aspect has blown me over as to how easy the car is to drive.
• Ride quality: The suspension although a little firm, is stable and the car feels planted at all speeds. The ride is smooth and comfortable.
• Music system: Easily one of the best I've heard in any car. The sound is so rich and immersive that I feel like sitting in a moving concert all the time.
• Performance: The car is very quick to respond when you floor the pedal, couple that with easy maneuverability, and it’s a pleasure to drive both in the city and the highways.
• Space management in 3 rows: Lets address the elephant in the room, the car has very practical space in all 3 rows and still enough space to carry atleast 2 cabin suitcases for a weekend trip. This was missing in most 7 seaters that I evaluated including XUV and Tata safari . The fact that the middle row can slide, you can find a right balance by sliding the first and middle rows to make space in the 3rd row and everyone can be reasonably comfortable. I am 5’9 and I can sit in the last row easily for 2-3 hours in one go. So kids (who are part of most journeys), people shorter than 5’10 should be okay to sit there for those occasional family outings.
• Mileage: I had very low expectations hearing the experiences on this forum , but was pleasantly surprised. I did a highway trip from Delhi to Dehradun on which I got around 13.2 (checked by tank full method, MID showed 15) . In city I easily get around 8-11kmpl (on MID) depending on the conditions. Its not great but I am happy with it.
• Features: The car is loaded with tech and features and few of my favorite ones are boot gesture control, Wireless Android Auto, Auto start stop and auto hold, which make the drive convenient in the city.
• Excellent build quality with zero rattles.

Things that could have been better:

• The acceleration is plenty but it takes a moment or two for you to actually get the feel of it. I think its mostly down to the slow(but smooth) gearbox already highlighted by adi_petrolhead in his earlier posts. There’s enough power available when you floor the pedal, but how I wish if it was available on just a ‘tap’. It’s a not an issue and most people wouldn’t even notice it, but a wishlist.
• Tan/Brown interiors. Beige is good but I wish we had more options.
• DCC: Honestly in terms of ride quality the difference is very little to be noticed with changing modes. I expected a cushier ride quality in comfort mode where the car would just glide over bad roads. It comes close but not quite there, you still feel the road. But something which is not bothersome.

To sum it up:

I am extremely happy with the car and always on a lookout for an opportunity to drive it. I have stopped taking calls while driving because the music is so good and stopped taking cabs because the driving pleasure is so amazing. To summarize, the Kodiaq is a good looking , fun to drive, feature loaded car that you can drive with a blazer ON from Monday to Friday to work. It gives the feel of a large SUV like a Q5 or X3 with better interior quality and finesse . At the same time its a practical 7 seater for those occasional weekend trips with luggage on as well.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The front passenger door card has a unique creaking / rattle over rough roads. It is faint sometimes, but it gets worse with speed.

BHPian adi_petrolhead recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Questionable build quality in the Kodiaq:

In initial 4800 Kms, I have noticed that some of the parts especially in the interior trim, are made with inferior materials as compared to my 9 year old Octavia:

• The front passenger door card has a unique creaking / rattle over rough roads. It is faint sometimes, but it gets worse with speed. I am unable to find the source, but seems like it is a fitment issue or same material of inner / outer plastic which is creaking due to friction. When I visit the service centre I am sure they will guide me to replace the door card under warranty. If I cant find it, they surely won't be able to even hear the creaking noise, let alone find the source.
• The buttons on the roof console to control the interior lights and sunroof controls, especially the button to control the sunroof cover, feels extremely flimsy, like it might fall on my head if I press it too hard. Need to be really gentle. There is some issue with the sunroof itself, on one day I saw some water on the sunroof cover. Luckily it was small patch and dried up quickly, has left a small stain. Checked everything, no drains blocked no water lodged in the channels, couldn't find any issue. Again will have to get it checked. Although it hasn't returned even after I pressure washed the car and its also been raining.
• There are some random spots on the dashboard top cover. I didn't notice them earlier and saw them only while cleaning the interior.
• Dead pedal seems to be flimsy.
• Most horrendous part is the cover behind the steering. The steering itself is so good to touch and hold, but the plastic housing for the various switch gear, KESSY system etc., is so flimsy, it moves up and down, side to side, with just a gentle press, flexes badly. I am afraid I might break it if I apply too much pressure. Also that part creaks when I turn my steering to the right. Its very annoying. Its faint and cant be heard with music or when the AC blower is at good speed, but in city or even while parking, it is crystal clear and audible. The only downside I think of an otherwise well insulated cabin.
• In the Canton sound system, I normally set the bass at a mid level, not too punchy or not too dull, I like a good thump though, but the IRVM / ORVM glasses and some plastic parts vibrate with the thump. Its unsettling. I immediately settle for lower volume and lesser bass. I cannot feel like the car is gonna fall apart due to excessive bass from the system. This phenomena I last saw in my Verna when I had a Pioneer 12" sub in the boot! Yea those were the days of windows down - music loud life.
• The base of the front seat, just where the bottom cushion ends at the front, the big plastic cover / base is cut quite sharply and also flexes if you apply pressure. Again the quality much below the expected levels.
• Overall I feel the quality of plastics on the switch gear, door handles, door cards, front dash, everything is a tad cheaper. It is slightly shiny and not absolutely matte like the ones in my Octavia. The plastics in the Octavia are still creak / rattle free for me and still have that OEM matte finish thanks to the use of good detailing products and cleaning regime I followed.

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The Kodiaq won’t take home any trophies for best feature loaded SUV or best off-road SUV, it’s a good sized car with a higher GC, and precise maneuverability.

BHPian adi_petrolhead recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

First service update: Odo at 8750 kms:

Decided to carry out the first oil change post Jodhpur trip. Pretty standard affair, nothing special. Engine oil, oil filter and pollen filter were replaced. Bill came to ₹6411 including taxes. Labour was free for the first service.

Reported all the issues I had listed down here before, only two of them got a resolution, the interior LED light for the third row has been ordered under warranty as the switch is stuck in off position, and the passenger side front door rattle was narrowed down to the panel that houses the passenger airbag on/off switch. The cover was opened and lined with felt tape. I can still hear it over extremely bad patches but not on good roads. Headlight vibration issue required to be raised to HQ via query and for that they need the car for a day. Left it for now, and the steering wheel creak required to open the airbag cover and airbag, would take a lot of time and patience. It was lunch time and I decided to get that checked later when I go for the LED interior light replacement.

Nice clean underbody with lots of high quality protection bits.

So the front cover under the engine now has this dual flap design which I wasn’t aware of. There are a total of 14 screws and bolts to get the cover off. I think there were 6-8 on the Octy.

Mucky 3 months / 8500 kms old oil, caught it just when the tech popped the drain plug.

So happy they’ve again shifted to 1L cans for the engine oil instead of filling in a jar from a drum previously. Grade is also new, VW Longlife IV FE 0W-20 and is oriented towards better fuel efficiency. Marketing gimmick? 5.7 litres went in, billed the same amount. Already have a 1L can in the boot from delivery day.

Discussed the gearbox noise issues, slight gruffness, lead tech said Superb B8 and Kodiaq TSI both make the same kind of noise / transmission clangs and other bits. It’s inherent to the design of the gearbox, but the more I drive it, more robust it feels. Sounds / noises / rattles aside, it’s a good car under 50 lakh I’d say. It won’t take home any trophies for best feature loaded SUV or best off-road SUV, it’s a good sized car with a higher GC, and precise maneuverability. It’s not meant to compete with the Fortuner and Meridian. Only competition might be the Tiguan and the Tucson but again petrol buyers are not liking the latter that much, Tiguan has better appeal too. It’s a good opening pair from the VW stable. Das Autos are Simply Clever.

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All throughout the journey on highways,I was missing the instant and ferocious acceleration of the Octavia. But I could feel that I am also in a safer, more reliable car.

BHPian adi_petrolhead recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Completed an 800 km round trip to Jodhpur on Monday. Was driving with 4 passengers including me, with a full boot. I did not alter tyre pressures as I felt that the recommended pressure is too high as far as my current payload was concerned. As such the change recommendation was for 5 people with 5 luggage pieces. I did not see any issues, besides lower fuel efficiency. In Jodhpur city we met with some more friends and now we were 6 adults and a toddler driving in Jodhpur city. Thankfully the roads are good unlike in Jaipur old city. Everyone was comfortable for short journeys even in third row. Its a task though to alter between third row being folded or open.

The highway drive about 350 kms one way, was good but not great! I say this because I still feel the car takes a moment or two, to decide and drop a gear when I press down on the A-pedal. Manual mode does solve that issue, but still I am feeling that jolt when I shift from 3 to 4. I don’t know why?

AC kept everyone cool even at 2:00 pm peak outside temperatures, in fact second row passengers were feeling cold! With the heat coming from the front, I found that the AC could have been slightly more quicker to cool and maintain cabin temperature. I had to interfere manually with air direction, blower speed, temperature all the time. Besides that, not having leather seats is I feel equivalent to having cooled front seats, because when you sit on hot leather seats after the car has been parked in the sun for 2 hours, not only will your soul try to escape your body, you will most definitely end up with a wet back of your shirt / tee. Not the case with Alcantara. It doesn’t get as hot as the seats in my Octy do. Not justifying missing cooled seats, but this is an observation contrary to what a lot of people think, that black seats attract more heat. I used Apple CarPlay to show maps on the HU and it worked fine for the onward journey, but in between stopped responding on the return journey. This was via wireless connection.

Overall I got an FE of 11.0 km/l with some enthusiastic driving in Gujarat. When in Rajasthan, need to follow speed limits extensively as I learnt the hard way for the second time. We were stopped twice, fined ₹1000 for the first stop for speed captured at 120 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, but the second time we observed that cars with GJ plates were only being pulled over and when we told the same to the authorities they let us through.

Suspension did its work well, hardly any body roll, or vertical movements, very stable for all passengers. The brakes got a chance to show their prowess too, a stray dog waiting on the side of the road, decided to just start walking when I was 50m away from it. Panic braked and the dog lives to tell the story to his friends. Though he might have just caught the edge of my front left tyre and flaunt the bruise as well. I hate when such things happen, at the end of the journey, it spoils your mood. I also like dogs, so they’re the last creatures I want to hurt ever. I don’t hurt any other creatures either! But man are animals on a national highway a nuisance of such a high level, MORTH should do something about this simultaneously with rear seat belt warning rule and six airbags rule. Cows, dogs, jay walking humans, everything is a serious hazard on the highways.

All throughout the journey on highways,I was missing the instant and ferocious acceleration of the Octavia. But I could feel that I am also in a safer, more reliable car and that is enough to justify the buy. A car I look forward to sit in every day.

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