By The Skoda Kushaq made its global debut on March 18. For the uninitiated, four new Skoda and Volkswagen models will be launched in India as part of the Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 project, which is being headed by Skoda Auto, and the Kushaq is the first among them. The Skoda Kushaq is based on the India-specific MQB-A0-IN variant of the Volkswagen Group’s widely used MQB (modular transverse Toolkit) platform.
Skoda Kushaq launch
Skoda Auto has said that the Kushaq will be launched in India in June 2021. While the automaker will announce the prices of the Kushaq and start accepting orders in June 2021, the deliveries of the mid-size SUV will commence in July 2021.
Skoda Kushaq rivals
The major rivals of the Skoda Kushaq in India will be the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos.
Skoda Kushaq price
The Hyundai Creta is priced between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 17.54 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the Kia Seltos is available in the price range of Rs 9.89 lakh to Rs 17.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Taking the prices of these two mid-size SUVs into account, we are expecting the Skoda Kushaq to be offered in the price bracket of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 18 lakh (ex-showroom). The Kushaq will have three variants — Active, Ambition and Style.
Skoda Kushaq features
The Skoda Kushaq gets the signature Skoda grille with gloss black vertical slats and chrome surround. There are LED headlights with LED DRLs. The front bumper, with its sharp creases, looks quite impressive and houses the fog lights. At the rear, you will come across LED taillights. The tailgate has SKODA lettering in all caps. The roof rails and spoiler provide a sporty feel to the mid-size SUV. The top-spec Style variant boasts of 17-inch Atlas dual-tone alloy wheels.
The Kushaq will be available in five exterior colour options — Candy White, Reflex Silver, Carbon Steel, and India-exclusive Honey Orange and Tornado Red.
The cabin of the Skoda Kushaq is loaded with features like ventilated leather front seats, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, touchscreen Climatronic automatic climate control, two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, wireless charger, auto-dimming IRVM, ambient lights, front and rear LED reading lights, 6.1-litre cooled glove box and an electric sunroof. The total storage space inside the cabin of the Kushaq is as much as 26.2 litres. The infotainment system can be paired with a smartphone via SmartLink technology. The customers going for the Ambition and Style trims will get access to several Skoda Connect mobile online services.
Skoda Kushaq safety
Talking about the safety quotient, the Skoda Kushaq is equipped with six airbags, multi-collision brake, hill-hold control, tyre pressure monitoring system, front sensors and rear-view camera. Among the standard safety features are electronic stability control, rear parking sensors, Isofix and top tether anchor points.
Skoda Kushaq engine and transmission
Skoda Auto is providing two engine options with the Kushaq. The first is a 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre, TSI petrol motor delivering 115PS of maximum power and 175Nm of peak torque and it has 6-speed MT and 6-speed AT torque converter options. The second is a 4-cylinder, 1.5-litre, TSI petrol mill producing 150PS of maximum power and 250Nm of peak torque and it has 6-speed MT and 7-speed DSG options. In all cases, the power is sent to the front two wheels only.
Skoda Kushaq dimensions
The Skoda Kushaq is 4,225mm long, 1,760mm wide and 1,612mm tall. Its wheelbase measures 2,651mm, while the ground clearance is 188mm. The mid-size SUV has a 385-litre boot.
