Best Budget Variants for Road Trips: Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs. Skoda Kushaq

What a Long-distance road trip lover looks for in a car

A long-distance road trip lover seeks a car that offers superior fuel efficiency, spacious interiors, and a substantial fuel tank capacity for less frequent stops. Additionally, comfort and handling characteristics are vital when looking for the best cars for long drives; hence, elements like climate control, ample legroom, and headroom, stable high-speed stability, and minimal body roll matter. Safety features like ABS, airbags, and a good GNCAP rating are non-negotiable,

Moreover, features enhancing the driving experience such as Bluetooth connectivity, touchscreen navigation, and power steering are considered attractive perks. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq are excellent mid size SUVs that would appeal to many long-distance trip lovers. However, their mid- and higher-end models could be quite expensive. Fortunately, their entry variants are pretty good.

Why Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq are popular among Long-distance road trip lovers

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq have won the hearts of long-distance road trip lovers primarily because of their strong performance, impressive fuel efficiency, and spacious interiors. The ground clearance in both cars makes them ideal for Indian roads, ensuring a smooth ride even on rough terrains. Their fuel-efficient engines ensure long drives without frequent stops for refueling.

Comfort and convenience are highlighted with features such as automatic climate control, ample boot capacity, power windows, and advanced safety measures. Moreover, both cars come with an affordable price tag, making them an excellent choice for budget-conscious road trip enthusiasts. We also have our comparison of the Maruti Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq with Hyundai Creta for budget-conscious buyers.

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Base Variants of Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq

The base variants along with their prices are:

1. Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active: ₹11,59,000
2. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma: ₹10,70,000

The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active is a great choice for long-distance road trip lovers. It has a significant boot capacity of 385 liters, enabling you to carry all essentials for the journey. The car offers excellent high-speed stability with minimal body roll, ensuring a smooth driving experience. Also, its fuel tank capacity of 50 liters means fewer stops for refueling. Kushaq, even in its base avatar, is a driver’s delight. You can also check out our comparison of the Skoda Kushaq with Hyundai Creta in terms of their performance attributes.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma, on the other hand, boasts superior fuel efficiency with a mileage of 21.11 kmpl, making it cost-effective for long trips. While it has slightly less boot space than Kushaq, the Grand Vitara offers a higher ground clearance (208mm), making it suitable for varying Indian road conditions. Besides, Grand Vitara has a great suspension set-up that makes long-distance travel quite comfortable. You can also read how the Grand Vitara compares with Volkswagen Taigun as a high-performance vehicle.

Best variant among Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Skoda Kushaq for Long-distance road trip lovers

Given the analysis, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active is the preferred variant. Despite its slightly higher price, it offers better amenities that enhance the comfort of long-distance travel. It has a larger boot capacity and fuel tank, which means more luggage and fewer fuel stops. It also comes equipped with Bluetooth Connectivity and touchscreen navigation, thereby enhancing the overall driving experience.

Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active vs Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma Comparison

The two entry-level variants for the long-distance road trip lovers are:

1. Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active
2. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma

Attributes comparison:

Attribute	Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active	Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma
Price	₹11,59,000	₹10,70,000
Bluetooth Connectivity	Yes	No
Boot capacity (liters)	385	373
Fuel tank capacity (l)	50	45
Ground clearance (mm)	188	208
Highway Mileage (kmpl)	19.2	21.11

The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Active is our top choice as it is a great SUV to drive on highways as well as cities, and provides slightly larger boot capacity, enhanced fuel tank capacity, and digital features like Bluetooth connectivity and touchscreen navigation.

While the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Sigma is our second choice due to its better fuel efficiency, comfortable ride and higher ground clearance, it lacks some essential features like Bluetooth connectivity, which would enhance the long-distance journey experience. Overall, both are comfortable cars for road trips in India.

Also read: Upcoming 2022 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza rendered