Is Skoda’s Hyundai Creta Fighter actually too costly? – Expertise Information, Firstpost

Amaan AhmedJun 30, 2021 1:32:13 PM

After the eagerly anticipated market launch of the Skoda Kushaq, opinions are divided about the pricing of the youngest entry-level SUV. Skoda reported a “strong reaction” from customers posting the price announcement and opening of the order books (without giving any numbers), but several potential customers and enthusiasts said the Kushaq’s price seemed a little too high; It is an unsurprising move by Skoda to position itself towards the premium end of the segment. But is that true? Was Skoda straightforward when it came to pricing or does it require a premium for a “Simply Clever” product?

A promising start

During a media interaction after the launch, Skoda India’s brand director Zac Hollis stated that it is simply not possible to undercut the established segments – Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos – because even the entry-level Kushaq is “not naked” but good -fitted. This is actually true. The Kushaq range starts at Rs 10.50 lakh for the manual version of the Active 1.0 TSI. That’s roughly 50,000 to 55,000 rupees more than the basic petrol variants of Creta or Selto.

The Skoda Kushaq range starts at Rs 10.50 lakh (ex showroom) for the entry-level Active. Image: Skoda

For a surcharge, the Kushaq Active offers an additional safety kit with electronic stability control (ESC), ISOFIX child seat holders, multi-collision braking, anti-slip control and rollover protection. It has knurled scroll wheels on the two-spoke steering wheel (which, in contrast to the bestsellers in the segment, which only offer tilt adjustment in their basic models, can also be adjusted telescopically), a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a sound system with six speakers.

That’s a remarkable number of features for the cheapest version of the Kushaq, making it a perfectly viable option for the budget conscious, as opposed to scaled-down versions of some cars that are just placeholders to help manufacturers get a perceived “aggressive” starting price. Given the amount of features on offer, it’s only fair to compare the Kushaq Active to similarly equipped higher versions of the Seltos (HTK) and Creta (EX), which it undercuts by 24,000 rupees and 46,000 rupees, respectively.

At this point it should also be mentioned that the 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine of the basic Kushaq has significantly more torque (178 Nm) than the 1.5-liter MPI engine from Creta / Seltos (144 Nm ) generated. Given the Kushaq’s smaller size, that will certainly make the Skoda livelier. Skoda insists the Kushaq’s road dynamics will impress potential buyers enough to turn them into Skoda customers, and while the 1.0 TSI doesn’t have the firepower of the larger 1.5 TSI, it should nonetheless make the Kushaq one of the better mid-size SUVs . So for those looking for an inexpensive, mid-size petrol SUV, the Kushaq Active is a sweet deal.

An ambitious leap

The following variant is the Skoda Kushaq Ambition, which costs Rs 2.3 lakh more than the Active. It offers other functions such as 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, connected car technology, LED headlights, fog lights, ambient lighting, rear window wipers and heating, automatic climate control with dedicated Rear ventilation nozzles, cruise control, reversing camera, four USB-C sockets, electrically foldable ORVMs and driver’s seat height adjustment. Although it is more expensive than the Creta S and Seltos HTK + at Rs 12.80 lakh, the Kushaq Ambition MT is much closer to the higher quality Creta SX and Seltos HTX gasoline manuals in terms of specs. Yes, the Korean SUVs offer more features such as a sunroof (panorama on the Creta), air purifier (on the Seltos), tire pressure monitoring and wireless charging. On the other hand, the Kushaq Ambition MT undercuts the Seltos HTX MT by Rs 85,000 and the Creta SX MT by Rs 1.17 lakh.

10-inch touchscreen on the Ambition and Style versions; base Active gets a 7.0-inch device. Image: Skoda

Similarly, the automatic Kushaq Ambition automatic undercuts the cheapest automatic version of the Creta (1.5 SX CVT) by Rs 1.25. Note, however, that the Kushaq style automatic misses side and curtain airbags, as well as tire pressure monitoring, all of which get the high quality Creta and Seltos. These are deletions to keep costs in check. All in all, the 1.0-liter TSI versions of the Skoda Kushaq are rather competitive, if at all.

The thorn at the top

Skoda says the 1.0 TSI will be the mainstay of the Kushaq range, charging the 1.5 TSI as the enthusiast’s choice. With the 150 hp four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine, which is only available in top version (and at a price of Rs. 16.20 for the manual transmission and Rs. 17.60 for the DSG automatic transmission), it becomes for the most enthusiasts remain unreachable. Explaining why the Style 1.5 MT is an incredible Rs 1.6 lakh more than the Style 1.0 MT, Hollis pointed out that the larger engine is imported while the smaller engine is located, and also highlighted the fact that it has a active cylinder deactivation technology (ACT), which deactivates two cylinders at low engine speeds to save fuel.

At Rs 17.60 lakh (ex showroom) the Skoda Kushaq Style 1.5 TSI DSG is priced almost on par with the top-spec turbo petrol automatic versions of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Image: Overdrive / Anis Shaikh

The Style 1.5 MT undercuts the Seltos 1.4 GTX + MT by 45,000 rupees, but it lacks the Kia’s 360-degree camera, the blind spot view monitor, the 7.0-inch color display in the instrument cluster, and a head-up display , front parking sensors and drive and traction modes. The fully loaded Style 1.5 DSG is almost head to head with the first-class 1.4-liter turbo petrol automatic versions of the Seltos and Creta; slightly more expensive than the former and only slightly below those of the latter. Overall, at the higher end of the spectrum, the Kia and Hyundai offer better value for money, both through their economies of scale and their longer feature lists. What makes life more difficult for the Skoda is the fact that the Style DSG lacks the additional airbags and tire pressure control, which are blatant omissions in this price range.

What does the future hold in store?

Tech2 has learned that aggressive pricing for Skoda was never on the agenda with the Kushaq. The company wanted to offer a high quality product at a competitive price, with sources saying the automaker was unwilling to compromise on the tech and safety fronts. Skoda doesn’t have big ambitions with the Kushaq – with an initial sales target of 3,000 to 4,000 units per month, the Kushaq wants to be another option in the midsize SUV segment and is not aiming for the Cretan crown. The Czech automaker is targeting sales of 30,000 vehicles this year, and the Kushaq was designed to achieve that goal with relative ease. However, this will be easier said than done for several reasons.

For an SUV in its class, the Kushaq is undoubtedly small, and it shows on the outside and inside. For those looking for an SUV with street presence and the ability to travel with a group of five with lots of luggage, the Kushaq will be a tough one to sell. Not just because Creta and Seltos are so deeply anchored in the market, but also because of a wave of three-row SUVs that have arrived recently.

For just a small surcharge over the price of the Kushaq DSG, you can buy a much larger three-row SUV with the entry-level Hyundai Alcazar. Image: Hyundai

For the same price as a Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG, potential buyers could instead get a mid-range MG Hector Plus petrol DCT, a Tata Safari XT manual, or even the Safari XMA automatic. The base gasoline version of the recently launched Hyundai Alcazar costs just Rs 10,000 more than the Kushaq 1.5 TSI MT, or Rs 25,000 more if you opt for the six-seat model. Similarly, the basic petrol-automatic Alcazar costs only about 23,000 rupees more than the Kushaq DSG and has most of the features you’ll find on the Skoda, if not more.

All of these SUVs are way bigger, take up a lot more street, and while they’re not true seven-seaters, they have a third row just in case you need to haul more people. Hollis called the advent of three-row SUVs “interesting” and something he would like to see closely in the future, but avoided commenting on it when the company viewed them as a threat to the Kushaq.

At the lower end, the Kushaq has to face the competition of well-equipped compact SUVs like the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV300. Image: Tech2 / Tushar Burman

And even at the budget end of the market, life doesn’t get any easier for the Kushaq. For those who do not need a lot of space in the interior, but are looking for something crammed to the gills and at the same time compact enough for everyday stress, there is the already popular Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV300. All of them are SUVs under four meters that are on par (or even better in some ways) the Kushaq in terms of equipment, and the XUV300 also has a spring in the cap in the form of the highest crash test scores of any vehicle Global NCAP has up tested today.

The goal for the Kushaq is clear – for those who appreciate the mix of style, ease of use, performance and the appeal of the Skoda badge, it will make a satisfactory purchase. Those who value more sheet metal and long equipment lists will continue to shop elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Kushaq will prevail among motorists, but I wonder how long – because Skoda is also preparing a new mid-range sedan as the successor to the Rapid for a debut in late 2021. It’ll have the same basics and engines as the Kushaq, but will likely be a step or two ahead of the “Kaiser” in terms of driving dynamics and possibly more affordable too.