Yes it’s back. If you’ve been a regular reader, you might remember we had already published the final report of this particular Kushaq Monte Carlo. Thing is though, a lot of us really love this bright red SUV. So when we asked Skoda if we could keep it a bit longer, they very kindly obliged. These days it’s rare to find a mass-segment offering that’s high on driving pleasure. Most are set up to deliver a comfortable but anaesthetised drive. Not this one. And that’s why we all love driving it.

Shapur loves the 1.5-litre TSI engine that’s strong and makes the Kushaq quick off the line as well as in roll-ons. Hormazd took it to his favourite haunt – Mahabaleshwar – and came back proclaiming this to be the best mass segment DSG by a long shot. And I am really smitten with its ride and handling balance. These traits have really come in handy during the monsoons – overtaking black-and-yellow cabs, struggling through rain-ravaged streets with fogged up windscreens is a breeze. Flex your right foot and you get by in an instant, and if you need to, tug on the paddle and the gearbox is super quick to respond. The best part is it rarely second guesses you, so it does exactly what you want and that’s what Hormazd really liked. Coming down through the ghats, one to two successive paddle pulls, and gear changes are delivered quickly and without hesitation. A side note: in very-low-speed traffic, it does trip up, fumbling between first and second gears.

The monsoons have also put the suspension to the test. While I like the ride and handling overall, my preference leans towards handling, with a firmer setup. And although this means you don’t have a cushy ride over the rough stuff, it also means it does not bottom out on the many potholes and sharp edges that are literally everywhere.

The wet stuff has managed to trip up the rearview camera though. On two occasions – both during a heavy downpour – the feed began to stutter rapidly, making it impossible to see and judge your parking. It’s most likely moisture or water related and might disappear come drier days, but in any case, we will have the dealership inspect the connections as it’s not a screen issue.

That aside, the monsoons have been a breeze for the Kushaq. Even the AC, which used to struggle maintaining low temperatures in the summer heat, does just fine in weather like this. Fuel efficiency has not dropped too much, either. A slower pace overall has seen me get single-digit figures – around 7kpl – but in freer-moving traffic, it does rise to low two digits. That’s thanks to the cylinder-deactivation function, which, during steady low-load cruising, shuts down two cylinders for better efficiency. I’m definitely going to hang onto this one until the rains stop. I’ve got an out-of-town trip planned, and so far I’ve not had to contend with water-logged and flooded streets. But if I do, the Kushaq’s 155mm laden ground clearance will certainly come in handy.

Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo long term review, 12,200km report

Skoda Slavia, Kushaq prices down by about Rs 1 lakh