Skoda Kushaq SUV will be unveiled in March 2021 before its launch. It will be Skoda's first product under VW Group's 'India 2.0' business plan which aims for a high localization level of up to 95%.
For the people not in know, the Kushaq is the production-spec version of the VISION IN concept SUV that was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo. It will be based on the MQB-A0 platform, which has been especially localized for the Indian market. Talking about the design, Skoda is yet to shares its official images, but it is expected to carry forward most of the design elements from its concept model.
In terms of dimensions, the Skoda Kushaq will be around 4.25 meters longer, while the wheelbase will be 2,671mm which is the largest in the compact SUV segment.
Like the exterior, the interior of the car hasn’t been previewed yet, but it is likely to retain the three-layer layout similar to the Vision IN. It will be loaded with a premium set of equipment such as a digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system, connected car technology, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, panoramic sunroof, auto climate control, powered driver seat, electronic parking brake, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, cruise control system and much more.
Passenger protection will be taken care of by a plethora of active and passive safety features such as six airbags, ABS with EBD, hill hold control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, tire monitoring system, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Skoda has also announced that ESC will be offered as a standard for all trims.
For power, the Skoda Kushaq will rely on VW Group's 1.0-litre (115PS/200Nm) and a 1.5- petrol TSI (150PS/250Nm) engine. Transmission duties are likely to be handled by a 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic units for the 1.0-liter engine, whereas the bigger engine will get a 7-speed DSG automatic as well as the regular 6-speed manual gearbox option.
The Skoda Kushaq is expected to be priced between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 17 lakh (ex-showroom). It will be positioned against the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti S-Cross, Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, and the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun SUVs.
