Bought a used 2022 Kushaq 1.5L TSI: Comparing it to my Octavia

I can't help but notice the brand dilution, especially when comparing it to our Octavia. If you're upgrading from a lower-segment vehicle, you'll likely appreciate the Kushaq more.

BHPian oilgascng recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello everyone! We recently purchased a 2022 Kushaq Style 1.5 MT from Spinny. Our main requirements were a 5-star safety rating and a budget within ₹17 lakhs. To be honest, there aren't many options that meet those criteria. Personally, I'm not a fan of TATA or Mahindra's designs. We also own a 2020 Octavia, so we had high expectations. The Kushaq has been good overall, and I’d like to share some thoughts on the car and Skoda as a whole. Please bear with me if this comes across as a bit disjointed.

Purchase Experience from Spinny

I’d rate the experience a 6/10. The car inspection and test drives were smooth, but the delivery experience was underwhelming. The sales team seemed disorganized, but ultimately, they delivered the car in good condition. However, the RTO transfer is still pending.

About This Particular Car

My wife was apprehensive about buying a pre-owned car, and I understand her concerns. However, I prefer pre-owned cars given the current, somewhat illogical, pricing of new cars. The new model would cost around ₹22 lakhs (with some minor feature additions and deletions), which, in my opinion, isn't worth it. I paid ₹15.7 lakhs and still feel I might have overpaid.

That said, I chose this car for a few reasons:

1. It had low mileage (~22,000 km).
2. The previous owner had purchased the extended warranty and service package.
3. The car was fully covered in PPF.

Points 2 and 3 indicated that the previous owner cared for the car. I was able to contact him through the service records, and after a good conversation, I felt confident about the purchase.

The Good

• The Kushaq is visually appealing and well-proportioned.
• I really like the new 1.5 TSI engine—it feels mature and surefooted compared to the 1.4 TSI. While the 1.4 TSI was more explosive, it suffered from turbo lag at lower revs, something this engine handles much better. However, that exhilarating push-back-in-your-seat feeling is mostly gone.
• The suspension is well-tuned—neither too hard nor too soft—though it can feel bouncy at times. Creature comforts like ventilated seats, wireless CarPlay, and the larger screen are nice additions. The vehicle feels planted at high speeds, making long-distance drives fatigue-free.

The Meh

• The AC is a major letdown. I have no idea why they reduced its cooling efficiency, and the unit itself is frustrating to use, with tiny touch buttons that seem to have a mind of their own.
• The clutch is unusually long and creaks for some reason.
• There are hard plastics everywhere, giving the interiors a cheap feel.
• The roofliner is subpar and clearly a result of cost-cutting. It feels like VW tried to provide some nice features but compromised on the overall quality.
• It's also surprising that the driver-side window issue, where it seems to have a mind of its own, hasn't been resolved yet.

Final Thoughts

Even though my "Meh" list is longer than the "Good" list, I do like the car, especially considering the price I paid. However, I can't help but notice the brand dilution, especially when comparing it to our Octavia. If you're upgrading from a lower-segment vehicle, you'll likely appreciate the Kushaq more. I just wish Skoda had made the car feel a bit more "special."

Thanks for reading!

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