Skoda has launched the Kushaq in the Indian market. It is Skoda’s first made in India and made for India product. The Kushaq is based on the new MQB-AO-IN platform that has been specifically made for India. It is derived from the global MQB-AO platform. Skoda has achieved 95 percent of localization level.
Skoda is offering the Kushaq in three variants, namely Active, Ambition and Style. It will be offered in two petrol engines there will be no diesel engine. You can also get the Kushaq with automatic transmission. Prices start at Rs 10.49 lakh for the base 1.0 TSI Active trim and goes up to Rs 17.59 lakh ex-showroom for the top-spec 1.5 TSI AT Style trim.
On the design front, the Kushaq carries over many elements from the Vision IN concept, and its overall style is in line with Skoda’s larger SUVs. Up front, it has Skoda’s trademark grille flanked by sleek headlights on either side and a secondary light cluster positioned just below.
The Kushaq features some sharp lines and prominent creases along the body. At the rear, it has large wrap-around LED tail-lights, a faux diffuser element on the bumper, and a roof-mounted spoiler. The top-spec model also comes with a set of 17-inch alloy wheels.
The Active variant comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, if you opt for the higher Active or Style variant, you get a newer generation of the infotainment system which is also larger. It measures 10-inches diagonally. It also comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You also get mySKODA mobile application support and Skoda Play App support. It also comes with Bluetooth 4.0 and wifi hotspot.
Powering the Kushaq is a pair of turbo-petrol engines. The first is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder TSI unit that produces 115hp and 178Nm, and the other is a larger 1.5-litre, four-cylinder TSI unit that develops a 150hp and 250Nm. Both engines get a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. Additionally, they also get the option of automatic gearboxes – a 6-speed torque converter for the 1.0 TSI and a 7-speed DSG for the 1.5 TSI. Additionally, the 1.5 TSI also gets cylinder deactivation technology for better fuel efficiency.
Skoda claims the 1.0 TSI version of the Kushaq can do the 0-100kph sprint in 10.6sec in manual form and 11.7sec in automatic gearbox guise. The 1.5 TSI on the other hand can do 0-100kph in 8.6sec (with both gearboxes).
Kushaq is a mid-size SUV that will be rivalling the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, Renault Duster and Nissan Kicks. These three SUVs does cost a bit less than the Kushaq. However, Kushaq will also have to go against the MG Hector and the Tata Harrier because of price overlapping. The main rivals of the Kushaq will be Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos.
