Skoda Slavia vs Kushaq: Sedan Or SUV For The Win?

Skoda-VW’s India 2.0 plan has given us four models based on its MQB-A0-IN platform including the Skoda Kushaq and Slavia. With both belonging to the same brand, it was time to pit them against each other in our family feud series to see which performs better. Our report will give you answers on which Skoda car you should opt for depending on their driving dynamics.

To find that out, we have compared them on three aspects:

• Acceleration and Braking Test

• Cornering Test

• Ride and Handling Test

Do note that both the models we tested were equipped with the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with the 6-speed MT.

Acceleration Test

The Skoda sedan is faster off the line than the SUV, mainly due to the higher revs before letting go of the clutch. Skoda’s compact SUV can’t put up with the Slavia, thanks to the initial advantage gained by the latter.

When it comes to in-gear acceleration, the Slavia manages to lead in the third gear but starts falling back due to taller ratios in the fourth, fifth, and sixth gears.

Brake Test

In this test, we have two runs of both models: one from 100-0kmph and the other from 80-0kmph. The car which stops in the least amount of distance wins. Let’s see how the Slavia and Kushaq fared in this test:

The SUV managed to beat the sedan in both runs in this test. We believe it could be down to the larger wheels and its weight which may have helped the Kushaq grab more friction on the road.

Cornering Test

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In this test, we put the cars through a tight corner and place cones along the turn. There are a couple of runs at different speeds to see how planted the cars are at corners or whether they hit any of the cones. 

Also Read: Tata Punch vs Altroz: Which Tata Is More Dynamically Polished?

As both are based on the same platform, they have the exact same wheelbase while being different in height and length. Moreover, the SUV is more on the right side of the weight scale compared to the Slavia and has 17-inch wheels instead of the sedan’s 16-inchers. The Kushaq’s already been through this corner before, so it will set benchmarks. 

The first run is at 65kmph based on the SUV’s previous performance. Skoda’s SUV is able to maintain a better line compared to the sedan while understeer is evident in both. Luckily, neither of them killed a single cone in this trial.

In the final round, we put them through the turn at 70kmph. While both cars drifted wide in this run, it’s the Slavia which took a much wider path. The Kushaq ran over one cone whereas the sedan hit two. 

However, there’s a small twist. At their respective limits, both the Kushaq’s left wheels were off the ground while the Slavia had more body roll and drifted wider than the SUV. This means that a crossover SUV and a sedan behave differently at their limits. When it comes to the winner of this test, it was the Kushaq as it managed to hit just one cone.

Ride And Handling Test

If you have read our Kia Carens vs Seltos review, you know what’s coming. While it was Aniruthan for their mug test round, I was the one shortlisted for the Skoda duo. In this test, we have both the cars being driven on broken patches of roads by the same person in two different runs with a colleague seated in the second row with a mug full of water (in this case, yours truly). The car leading to the least water spillage wins this test.

The Kushaq went first in this round as well. While it had previously won against the Hyundai Creta and Volkswagen Taigun in the same test, it surely was on everyone’s minds as the prospective winner. Although its stiffer suspension setup meant a spillage of 180ml of water, it was still impressive enough after going over the rough surfaces. 

As far as the Slavia is concerned, it spilled only 100ml in this test which was surprising. It can be attributed to the softer suspension which did its work of absorbing the bumps and reducing the impact felt inside the cabin.

Ride And Handling On Tarmac

When it comes to driving the Kushaq on well-paved roads, it offers a more comfortable ride over bigger bumps thanks to its softly damped, long-travel suspension. That said, there is some side-to-side motion over small rough patches which are let in the cabin.

 With the Slavia, it's similar but different. Its suspension suits smooth roads and drives better over smaller imperfections.  And over broken roads it also absorbs all of those bumps easily and keeps the cabin stable. At quicker speeds on the highway, the sedan remains stable and composed as well. So it's the Slavia that wins this test, a surprise!

Prices Compared

We had the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol MT variants of the sedan and SUV and hence we have compared only their prices:

Skoda offers the said powertrain combo in a single Style trim in both models. The SUV’s same variant commands a premium of Rs 30,000 over the Slavia’s. However, it’s the sedan that has one better feature over the Kushaq and that’s the full-digital instrument cluster. Otherwise, both the Skoda cars get an identical equipment list.

Which One Should You Pick?

The Kushaq has a stiffer suspension setup compared to the Slavia but manages well around corners and in the braking tests too. The Slavia is more comfortable but just as interesting from behind the wheel. And a big stand-out is the refinement and performance of this 1.5-TSI drivetrain. 

Speaking exclusively of our tests, we had expected the sedan to be better at corners and the SUV to ride better but the tables have turned. From these tests, it is clear that both models have two wins each under their belt. Naturally, both models have their own advantages and disadvantages and will appeal to a different audience.

To sum it up, there aren’t many differences between the two models and you won’t be disappointed if you pick either one.