Skoda Kushaq comes in a total of 3 variants
Skoda Kushaq has made world premier today in India and surely draws a lot of similarities with its concept version, Vision IN. The SUV is quite feature rich and is the first production car as a part of the INDIA 2.0 Project. Under the lead responsibility of the Skoda Auto, Volkswagen Group is investing one billion euros in its model campaign on the Indian continent to strengthen the presence of Volkswagen and Skoda there for long term.
Skoda Kushaq is built up on the MQB A0-IN setup, a variant of the modular MQB platform specially adapted by Skoda for the Indian market and will also form base on the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun SUV which will join the same bandwagon.
Upfront the SUV has a aggressive face. The signature butterfly grille gets silver surrounds and is flanked by LED Projector headlights that incorporates the DRLs.
Full black cladding adds to the butchness of the mid size SUV. The SUV has 16-inch alloys for the lower two rims while the top end variant rides on 17-inch wheels.
Coming to the rear, the SUV do look sport. The inverted L-Shaped LED cluster are sleek and there is Skoda lettering between the lights. Front and rear skid plates as well as big size bumpers make the SUV brawnier. Finally we got to see some chrome finish on the exterior front, precisely below the rear number plate.
The cabin shares a lot of similarities with its concept version. The 2-spoke steering looks nice and has steering control with paint black finish along with scroller as well.
10-inch free standing touchscreen infotainment system comes with wireless android auto and Apple CarPlay, a feature which the Korean cousins doesn’t possess. The climate control panels comes with a touch panel while there is total 26.2 litres of storage space inside the cabin.
Skoda Kushaq will come in a total of 3 variants – Active, Ambition and Style. Base model will remain limited to 1.0-litre turbo petrol with manual options while the higher two trims can be had with all the engine and transmission choices.
| Variants | 1.0-litre turbo | 1.5-litre turbo |
| Active | 6 Speed MT | – |
| Ambition | 6 Speed MT / AT | 6 Speed MT / 7 Speed DSG |
| Style | 6 Speed MT / AT | 6 Speed MT / 7 Speed DSG |
There will be two petrol engines on offer. The first one is a 3 cylinder 999 cc TSI petrol engine mated to 6 speed manual and 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox with 5 BHP more power than Rapid’s TSI at 113 BHP and 175 NM.
Turbo Petrol
| Turbo Petrol | Skoda Kushaq | Hyundai Creta | Kia Seltos | Renault Duster | Nissan Kicks | Maruti S Cross |
| Engine | 1.0 L TSI | 1.4 L T-GDI | 1.4 L T-GDI | 1.3 L H5H turbo | 1.3 L H5H | – |
| No of Cylinders | 3 | 1397 cc | 1397 cc | 1330 cc | 1330 cc | – |
| Capacity | 999 cc | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | – |
| Power | 113 BHP | 138 BHP | 138 BHP | 154 BHP | 154 BHP | – |
| Torque | 175 NM | 242 NM | 242 NM | 254 NM | 254 NM | – |
| Transmission | 6 Speed MT / AT | 7 Speed DCT | 6 Speed MT / 7 Speed DCT | 6 Speed MT / 7 Speed CVT | 6 Speed MT / 7 Speed CVT | – |
| Mileage | – | 16.8 kmpl | 16.1 kmpl / 16.5 kmpl | 16.5 kmpl / 16.42 kmpl | 15.8 kmpl | – |
The 1.5-litre TSI unit powers number of Volkswagen and Skoda SUVs including T-Roc, Skoda Karoq and makes 148 BHP and 250 NM of peak torque. Transmission duties are handles by 6 speed manual and 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.
| 1.5 L Petrol | Skoda Kushaq | Hyundai Creta | Kia Seltos | Renault Duster | Nissan Kicks | Maruti S Cross |
| Engine | 1.5 TSI | 1.5 L MPI | 1.5 L MPI | 1.5 L H4K | 1.5 L H4K | 1.5 L K15 Smart Hybrid |
| No of Cylinders | 4 | 1497 cc | 1497 cc | 1498 cc | 1498 cc | 1462 cc |
| Capacity | 1498 cc | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Power | 148 BHP | 113 BHP | 113 BHP | 105 BHP | 105 BHP | 103 BHP |
| Torque | 250 NM | 144 NM | 144 NM | 142 NM | 142 NM | 138 NM |
| Transmission | 6 Speed MT / 7 Speed DSG | 6 Speed MT / 6 Speed CVT | 6 Speed MT / 7 Speed CVT | 5 Speed MT | 5 Speed MT | 5 Speed MT / AT |
| Mileage | – | 16.8 kmpl / 16.9 kmpl | 16.5 kmpl / 16.8 kmpl | 14.19 kmpl | 14.19 kmpl | 18.55 kmpl / 18.43 kmpl |
Skoda Kushaq will remain limited to only petrol offerings and in this segment only Creta and Seltos are offering diesel transmission option.
Diesel
| Diesel | Skoda Kushaq | Hyundai Creta | Kia Seltos | Renault Duster | Nissan Kicks | Maruti S Cross |
| Engine | – | 1.5 L U2 CRDi | 1.5 L U2 CRDi | – | – | – |
| Capacity | – | 1493 cc | 1493 cc | – | – | – |
| No of Cylinders | – | 4 | 4 | – | – | – |
| Power | – | 113 BHP | 113 BHP | – | – | – |
| Torque | – | 250 NM | 250 NM | – | – | – |
| Transmission | – | 6 Speed MT / 6 Speed AT | 6 Speed MT / 6 Speed AT | – | – | – |
| Mileage | – | 21.4 kmpl / 18.5 kmpl | 21 kmpl / 18 kmpl | – | – | – |
Skoda Kushaq has the longest in class wheelbase of 2651 mm. The length, width and height are 4,225 mm, 1760 mm and 1612 mm respectively. Ground clearance is 188 mm while the boot space is 385 litre with all two rows up.
Here is specification comparison of Skoda Kushaq with rival cars:
| Skoda Kushaq | Hyundai Creta | Kia Seltos | Renault Duster | Nissan Kicks | Maruti S Cross | |
| Length | 4225 mm | 4300 mm | 4315 mm | 4360 mm | 4384 mm | 4300 mm |
| Width | 1760 mm | 1790 mm | 1800 mm | 1822 mm | 1813 mm | 1785 mm |
| Height | 1612 mm | 1635 mm | 1620 mm | 1695 mm | 1669 mm | 1595 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2651 mm | 2610 mm | 2610 mm | 2673 mm | 2673 mm | 2600 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 188 mm | 190 mm | 190 mm | 205 mm | 210 mm | 180 mm |
| Boot Space | 385 L | 433 L | 433 L | 475 L | 400 L | 375 L |
Skoda Kushaq has quite a long list of features. Top exterior features are LED Projector headlamps with DRL, 17 inch alloys, LED tail lights, front and rear skid plates.
Top interior features are leather seats, cooled glovebox, white ambient lighting, auto ac, 10-inch touchscreen system with connected car technology, Skoda’s sound system – 4 speakers, 2 tweeters and 2 subwoofer, front ventilated seats, cooled glovebox, keyless entry, push button start, electric sunroof, wireless charging.
Top safety features are 6 airbags, ESP, ISOFIX child seat anchors, rain sensing wipers, hill start assist, TPMS, reverse parking camera, auto dimming IRVM among others.
Skoda Kushaq comes across 5 single tone exterior colour schemes – Candy White, Carbon Steel, Honey Orange, Tornado Red, Brilliant Silver.
Skoda Kushaq official bookings are likely to commence from June 2021 with the launch and price announcement to be done later on in the same month.
The Czech SUV will be priced competitively thanks to 95% localisation of parts and is expected that the base trim will carry a price sticker of Rs 9.5 L to Rs 9.7 Lakhs with the top end 1.5-litre petrol DSG auto costing Rs 15 lakhs (Ex Showroom).
Deliveries of the mid size SUV will begin from the following month, July 2021.