There has been a lot of buzz around the arrival of the new mid-size SUV from Skoda, which has been christened Kushaq. This can essentially be the most important product in Skoda’s Indian lineup. This is because the trend, in general, is shifting towards SUVs not only in India but also globally. The SUVs have been selling like hot pancakes over the last few years and the demand is only going upwards. Therefore, more and more carmakers are trying to get into this highly competitive car segment. Under its India 2.0 initiative, VW and Skoda have joined hands to increase the market share of the entire group. This is the consequence of that co-operation. The SUV will be based on the MQB A0 IN platform which has specifically been developed and engineered for our market. Even VW will use the same underpinnings for its upcoming Creta-rival, the Taigun, which slated for launch after the Kushaq.
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Skoda also did a little showcasing, of sorts, with the media and industry experts earlier this month, where it gave the camouflaged Kushaq to the media personnel to drive and review. Skoda said that it will take into account the feedback and will alter a few things in the production-spec of the Kushaq if necessary. This clearly shows how particular Skoda has been regarding the Kushaq. Now we have to premiere the date of the Kushaq, March 18, 2021. While we will get to know the particulars of the SUV then, let us quickly sum up all the things that we know about the Kushaq so far.
Also read: VW Taigun spied testing – What to expect from the Creta-rival!
Skoda Kushaq – Engine and Transmission
One of the things that is revealed by the automaker is the engine and transmission combinations that the Kushaq will come with. We will see the legendary 1.0-litre TSI turbo petrol engine and its bigger sibling, the 1.5-litre TSI turbo petrol unit in action with the Kushaq. Complementing these engines will be various transmission options including a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed DSG (DCT) gearbox. It is common knowledge that these engine-gearbox combinations are directly sourced from Volkswagen and will be seen on the Taigun as well. Both these engine options will have their own characteristics and we don’t think that you will feel underpowered in the smaller engine or overpowered in the bigger one.
Also read: Updated Skoda Superb launched – What has changed?
Skoda Kushaq – Safety Features
Moving on to some other features that have been confirmed by the automaker. The Skoda Kushaq will come with a lot of safety tech including 6 Airbags, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), Hill-Hold Function, ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts, Auto Headlights and Wipers and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. The ESC will be standard across all the variants of the Kushaq. The other features are likely to be offered in the higher trims. All-in-all we do expect a very high-quality interior with a premium cabin space and all the latest connected features with the Kushaq.
Skoda Kushaq – Pricing and Rivals
Skoda has announced that they will be able to achieve an impressive 92% localization with the Kushaq and want to further increase it to 95% in the future. That allows Skoda to price the Kushaq quite aggressively, although they have announced that it might come with a bit of a premium over its rivals. Talking of rivals, the Skoda Kushaq will go against the highest-selling SUV in the country, the Hyundai Creta and the very popular Kia Seltos. Apart from these two giants, it will also rival, MG Hector and upcoming VW Taigun and Citroen C21 coming next year. The competition in the highly lucrative mid-size SUV segment is going to get tough for the carmakers and exciting for the customers.
