Electronic Stability Control: Safety feature explained with the Skoda Kushaq

Compared to a few years ago, cars and SUVs today are offered with more powerful engines as well as excellent road dynamics. As enthusiasts, we do welcome the move with a joyful note, but as cars get faster and go around corners harder, it is also important for cars to be equipped with more sophisticated safety features such as Electronic Stability Control or ESC. How does ESC work? Let's take a deeper dive into it with the Skoda Kushaq.

ESC, ESP or traction control, no matter what name you call it, refers to the system which helps a driver maintain control of their vehicle in the instance of a skid, especially in wet conditions. What ESC does is constantly compare the data of the vehicle’s speed and the steering wheel inputs applied via a control unit. This data is monitored tens or thousands of times a second. However, in the instance wheel speeds aren’t matching which could indicate a skid, the ESC cuts down the power sent to the wheels. It helps keep both understeer and oversteer in check, allowing the car to regain composure and continue along with the tyres getting maximum traction. The ESC can also brake one or more wheels individually, so that a driver can easily bring the vehicle back into control, in the instance of a skid.

In Indian conditions with our less than perfect road surfaces and varied weather conditions, ESC is a great safety net to have, as it gives the driver the confidence to motor on even in less than ideal conditions. The Skoda Kushaq for instance, is offered with ESC as standard across all its variants and it is one of the safest cars on sale in India today, scoring a full five stars in the GNCAP crash test ratings. ESC tests are one of the parameters under the new crash tests, and the Skoda Kushaq is the first vehicle to be tested under the new norms.