CarWale
    AD

    Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo 1.5 DSG First Drive Review

    Authors Image

    Desirazu Venkat

    35,661 Views
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Right Front Three Quarter
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Right Front Three Quarter
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Right Front Three Quarter
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Right Side View
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Left Rear Three Quarter
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Left Side View
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Dashboard
    Skoda Kushaq [2021-2023] Steering Wheel

    Why I would buy it?

    • Looks
    • Feature list
    • Driving experience

    Why I would avoid it?

    • Interior build quality, not upto earlier Skoda standards
    • Rear seat space
    • No diesel or hybrid option

    What is it?

    If you have a lengthy and impressive racing heritage then using it to promote your cars only seems logical and that’s what Skoda had done first with the Rapid Monte Carlo and now with the Kushaq Monte Carlo. Looking to build on the success of the Rapid Monte Carlo, the car was launched earlier this year and is a special edition of the Kushaq. It sports a host of cosmetic and feature updates both inside and outside and is now a new top-spec version of the SUV.

    What’s different on the outside?

    Grille

    Up front, Skoda’s butterfly grille is painted in full black and this is something that Skoda usually only does for its very sporty models. In the profile, you can see black cladding and Monte Carlo badging sitting prominently above the front wheel arches.

    Wheel

    One of the most crucial styling elements is wheel design which the Kushaq has picked up from RS245 Octavia and this combined with the coloured brake callipers really helps the car stand out. The biggest highlight of the exterior design is of course the paint scheme. The Kushaq has been treated to a red and black colour scheme specific to the Monte Carlo trim level.

    What’s it like inside and what about features?

    Dashboard

    The cabin, in terms of elements and layout, remains unchanged from the standard vehicle but sports shades of red and black exclusive to this Monte Carlo trim level. The seats are dual-tone while the dashboard, centre console and door all get red inserts. Even the digital cluster and ambient lighting are all red affairs to match the Monte Carlo badge. Because it is unchanged from the standard car, you get the same in terms of headroom and legroom in the first row. The second row is reasonably spacious with enough room for two to sit in comfort. The seats are a little low on under-thigh support but otherwise offer decent levels of comfort.

    Second Row Seats

    Because the interior is unchanged in terms of touch and feel, the Kushaq’s cabin feels a segment down due to the plastic quality as well as the switches and buttons on the doors. On the feature list front, this Kushaq is based on the top-spec Style trim level. This means all the bells and whistles that Skoda offers with the car. The list is pretty extensive with features like climate control with rear AC vents, touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Connected car technology, ventilated front seats, steering mounted controls, and power mirrors, power windows, auto-dimming IRVM, connected car technology and 360-degree parking camera.

    What’s it like to drive?

    Engine Shot

    Skoda offers the Monte Carlo treatment with both the 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine and the 1.0-litre TSI engine. The former is the powerful one with an output of 148bhp/250Nm and mated to a seven-speed DSG. The smaller 1.0-litre TSI unit produces 114bhp/178Nm and can be had with a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque-converter automatic.

    Right Front Three Quarter

    We had a chance to drive the 1.5-litre DSG version for our review and came away rather impressed with what it offered. The numbers are impressive and it certainly has the grunt. On the go, there’s lag below the 2000rpm mark but once past, the engine comes into its own with a linear delivery providing strong cruising ability. The DSG does its best work if you let it do its thing in the background and give the numbers that this engine offers; you are never short of grunt. If you need to up the pace, the engine does equally well and in the S model, the gearbox pushes all the way to the 6000rpm redline before shifting.

    Right Side View

    As is the case with most modern four-cylinder petrol powertrains, this engine and gearbox combination is right up there on the NVH scale with smooth and vibe-free idling. Even when you put the pedal to the metal to build up speed, it shifts seamlessly and makes all the right noises as you push closer to the red line. Skoda’s petrol cars have always been known as driver’s cars and this one certainly has kept that name going strongly.

    Instrument Cluster

    In our tests, the Kushaq Monte Carlo did the 0-60kmkph sprint in 4.88 seconds while the 0-100kmph time was 9.68 seconds. Of this, the latter is indicative of the engine’s ability to rev quickly, smoothly and relentlessly. The steering weighs up nicely as go faster and is very direct in its response and this pretty much falls in line with Skoda’s fun-to-drive image. You get confidence-inspiring turn-ins and room to make course corrections if needed. The body roll is well controlled and the ride quality is on the firmer side but it’s pliant.

    How does it compare and what’s the price?

    Front Badge

    As a product in the segment, the Skoda Kushaq is a rival for the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Nissan Kicks, MG Astor and soon the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. However, as a special edition vehicle, it is a direct rival for the Kia Seltos X Line and we have done a comparison story between both vehicles. At the time of writing this review, the Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo range was priced from Rs 15.99 lakh to Rs 19.49 lakh (ex-showroom Navi Mumbai).

    Photography: Kapil Angane

    Featured Cars

    • Popular
    • JUST LAUNCHED
    • Upcoming
    Maruti Suzuki Fronx
    Maruti Fronx
    Rs. 7.51 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mahindra Scorpio N
    Mahindra Scorpio N
    Rs. 13.60 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Tata Nexon
    Tata Nexon
    Rs. 8.15 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mahindra Scorpio
    Mahindra Scorpio
    Rs. 13.59 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Hyundai Creta
    Hyundai Creta
    Rs. 11.00 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
    Maruti Grand Vitara
    Rs. 10.76 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mahindra Thar
    Mahindra Thar
    Rs. 11.25 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Tata Punch
    Tata Punch
    Rs. 6.13 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Lexus LM
    Lexus LM
    Rs. 2.00 Croreonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    JUST LAUNCHED
    15th MAR
    Hyundai Creta N Line
    Hyundai Creta N Line
    Rs. 16.82 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    JUST LAUNCHED
    11th MAR
    BYD Seal
    BYD Seal
    Rs. 41.00 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE Coupe
    Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE Coupe
    Rs. 1.85 Croreonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mercedes-Benz GLA
    Mercedes-Benz GLA
    Rs. 50.50 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Porsche Macan Turbo EV
    Porsche Macan Turbo EV
    Rs. 1.65 Croreonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Rolls-Royce Spectre
    Rolls-Royce Spectre
    Rs. 7.50 Croreonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Tata Punch EV
    Tata Punch EV
    Rs. 10.99 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mahindra XUV300 facelift
    Mahindra XUV300 facelift

    Rs. 9.00 - 15.00 LakhEstimated Price

    Mar 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor
    Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

    Rs. 12.00 - 16.00 LakhEstimated Price

    3rd Apr 2024Unveil Date

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Maruti Suzuki New-gen Swift
    Maruti New-gen Swift

    Rs. 6.50 - 10.00 LakhEstimated Price

    Apr 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    MG Gloster facelift
    MG Gloster facelift

    Rs. 40.00 - 45.00 LakhEstimated Price

    Apr 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Force Motors Five-door Gurkha
    Force Motors Five-door Gurkha

    Rs. 15.50 - 16.00 LakhEstimated Price

    May 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Nissan Qashqai
    Nissan Qashqai

    Rs. 25.00 - 30.00 LakhEstimated Price

    May 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Volkswagen ID.4
    Volkswagen ID.4

    Rs. 50.00 - 60.00 LakhEstimated Price

    May 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Skoda Superb
    Skoda Superb

    Rs. 28.00 - 35.00 LakhEstimated Price

    Jun 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    AD
    • skoda-cars
    • other brands
    Skoda Slavia
    Skoda Slavia
    Rs. 11.53 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Skoda Kushaq
    Skoda Kushaq
    Rs. 11.89 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Skoda Kodiaq
    Skoda Kodiaq
    Rs. 38.50 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city