Badge-engineering isn’t a new concept, and there’s no denying it makes good financial sense for companies operating under a common umbrella. The downside is that badge-engineered cars are sometimes so alike that they end up cannibalising each other’s sales. The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are the latest examples of badge-engineering in the our market, and though they look unique, there are many mechanical and structural components that are shared between the two Hyundai Creta rivals. Both midsize SUVs also target the same customers — those looking for a fun-to-drive alternative to the Kia Seltos and others of its ilk. In order to find out just how much of an overlap there is between the two, we got the 1.0-litre automatic versions of the Taigun and Kushaq together and let them have it out.
Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way first. Although the SUVs share the India-specific MQB-A0-IN platform, there’s no mistaking one for the other. As I had mentioned when I first drove the Taigun, it looks typically VW — solid, clean and understated (except for the excess of chrome on the bumpers), yet muscular. The lines flow nicely along the sides, the VW’s alloys invoke a sense of speed and then you come to the rear, which is very slick indeed. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — the LED bar that runs across the tailgate and connects the tail-lights is stunning, especially when lit up.
Denne historien er fra January 2022-utgaven av Motoring World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 2022-utgaven av Motoring World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
DESTINI REWRITTEN
With a pretty major design overhaul, has the Hero Destini 125 found a new footing altogether?
OLDIE'S GOLD?
History makes yet another comeback with the BSA Gold Star 650. Is it what you were hoping for?
THE HIGH OF THE TIGER
Triumph's big cat is in its most ferocious avatar yet
LAUGHTER HOURS
This! This is the greatest single of all time!
BULL'S EYE?
Audi's new flagship SUV — or a budget Lamborghini Urus?
DARK HORSE
The Alcazar is now available in a new avatar, and the multi-faceted SUV deserves more attention than it got in the past
CURVV-BALL!
Tata's new mass-market SUV coupe may have more than a few tricks up its sleeve
GIVEN A RAISE
The EQS SUV looks like an EQS sedan on stilts but it offers a lot more than that
FOR MUCK'S SAKE!
No scooters, commuters or old bikes... this year's Pune Off-road Expedition was serious work
ALL THE WAY UP!
Exploring the vast landscape of Ladakh with Renault India's lineup - why would we say no?!