Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo - The best small family SUV?

Arpit Handa Updated: September 27, 2023, 05:30 PM IST

It's been over 4 months since I have been driving the Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo. This review comes with an eye for someone who is looking to buy this car for his family, this could be the first car for them, or could also be an option as a second car. The Kushaq is a solid product from the house of Skoda. The door thud makes all the difference between this car and its Korean & Indian counterparts. It is 'ROCK SOLID', that's as far as the Exteriors are concerned, on the insides however I did feel a few niggles and the quality could have been slightly more premium (considering the price tag), but that ain't a deal breaker as the Kushaq is a well-rounded product overall and ticks of many boxes and then some more.

I have been extensively driving the Kushaq in the city and it is very nimble, dare I say agile! It absorbs most potholes with confidence and the steering feedback at low speeds is brilliant nonetheless. I always had an issue with the Air-Con, where it felt inadequate for the city heat and took some time cooling the cabin, but as it was monsoon season that issue too wasn't an issue anymore. The Music system is by far the best sounding this side of Rs 25 lakhs and you can have your mini concert if you wish to have some beats to lift your spirits after a tiring work day or when stuck in traffic, the overall experience is very good. I loved the smooth-shifting DSG box which I had previously mentioned. But in traffic, I did turn off the Auto Start/Stop feature because at times it became a little irritating. The 1.5L TSi engine definitely loves to sip on some fuel, in the city and due to my spirited driving (traffic light drags using Paddle shifts) I barely could manage 8.5-9 kmpl. But there is no price for having fun and the Skoda Kushaq is definitely high on the fun factor.

Apart from the mad city traffic, there were a few highway runs and as expected the car performed amazingly. It doesn't break a sweat and can cruise at 1800 rpms in 7th gear at 80-90 kmph all day. The beauty of this? You get 2-cylinder mode activated and now the fuel economy is back in double digits. I managed a best of about 17 kmpl. It has a decent boot space for more than a weekend's luggage and a comfortable back seat for my kids. Not to forget the awesomely cool front ventilated seats, it would be really difficult for me now to drive any car without this feature as the Skoda Kushaq has spoiled me here.

Finally, with all this credibility, a close friend asked me for a recommendation for his next car. He wanted something for everyday use which should look and feel premium, as he already has a BMW X5 and Mercedes GLE in his garage. I suggested he go for the Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo and he got one for himself in the exact same spec that I am driving currently. Verdict? He was very happy with the car, and thanked me for recommending the Skoda Kushaq!
Need I say more?