The Skoda Kushaq has finally been unveiled after a long wait. It will be the first vehicle to be launched as part of the Volkswagen Group’s ambitious India 2.0 initiative, and it will be accompanied by other VW Group models such as the Volkswagen Taigun, as well as replacements for the Skoda Rapid and Volkswagen Vento, both of which are expected to launch before the end of 2021. The SUV was first unveiled in 2018, and the Vision IN Concept on which the Kushaq is based was shown at the Auto Expo 2020.

The Skoda Kushaq will be the company’s first made-in and for-India SUV. The manufacture’s key aim was to improve localization so that the Kushaq could be competitively priced while also supplying the high-quality cabin and materials that Skoda is known for. The new Skoda Kushaq will compete in the category alongside the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Nissan Kicks, as well as the redesigned MG Hector, Tata Harrier, and future VW Taigun. As per Skoda, the Kushaq’s name has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Kushak’, which in English means a ‘King’ or an “Emperor’. Also, as you can clearly notice, the KUSHAQ name also starts with K and ends with Q just like some of Skoda’s other vehicles like Kodiaq, Karoq, and Kamiq.

On the exterior firstly you will see the front face flaunt the signature Skoda muscular butterfly grille with vertical slats and sharply cut, sleek LED projector headlamp setup with LED DRLs. Trapezoidal LED fog lamps under the headlamps, a sculpted bumper with creases, wide air intakes, flared wheel arches, slim door handles and a character line extending the length of the car are also used. The lower half is taken by an aggressive mesh grille that is also present in the usual place of the fog lamps. There is a silver skid plate with three scoops and the bonnet is also heavily sculpted enhancing the SUV appeal of the Kushaq.

The back end of the Skoda Kushaq is chiseled, with L-shaped taillights that we earlier saw on the Vision IN Concept, a rear-mounted spoiler placed above the tailgate, a well-defined tailgate with SKODA lettering, and a chrome insert on the rear bumper. Roof rails and sleek 17-inch alloy wheels complement the overall construction of this lightweight SUV. the entry-level Active variant will get 16-inch steel wheels; the mid-spec Ambition trim will come with 16-inch alloy wheels. On the other end, the top-of-the-line Style variant will offer bigger 17- inch alloy wheels with roof rails.

The Skoda Kushaq has a length of 4,225mm, a width of 1,760mm, and a height of 1,612mm. Furthermore, the SUV has a 188mm ground clearance and a 2,651mm wheelbase. The Kushaq’s boot room is 385 liters, but it can be expanded to 1,405 liters by folding the seats. Candy White, Honey Orange, Brilliant Silver, Carbon Steel, and Tornado Red are the five color choices available.  Skoda Kushaq will have a 2,671mm wheelbase, which means it will have plenty of interior space on offer.

Talking about the Interior the dashboard on the Kushaq is layered with a thin chrome bar separating the top from the bottom, creating a dual-tone interior style. The interior of the Skoda Kushaq is simple, with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system (seven-inch screen on lower trims) with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay taking center stage. Like its competitors, the device comes with the MySkoda Connect series of connected-car applications such as e-call and vehicle diagnostics.

Automatic climate control, an all-digital instrument panel, a two-spoke multi-function steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, a tablet pocket, tweeters, and subwoofers are among the other features in the mid-size SUV. The configuration of the dashboard is similar to that of its relative, the Volkswagen Taigun, and the central console seems to be identical. The Kushaq has up to six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (optional on all trims), hill-hold control, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, tire pressure monitoring, multi-collision brake, and a rear-view camera as standard.

The Skoda Kushaq will be available with two engine options: a 1.0-liter and a 1.5-liter turbo-petrol. It will be based on the India-specific MQB-A0-IN model. The 115hp 1.0-litre TSI engine will be available with a 6-speed manual or torque converter auto gearbox, while the 150hp 1.5-litre TSI engine will be available with a manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission. Skoda has also announced that the Kushaq would be available with two turbo-petrol engines: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with 115 horsepower and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 150 horsepower.

Both engines will come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but the 1.0-liter model will also get a six-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission, while the 1.5-liter model will get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG). Many wanting a diesel SUV would be frustrated, as the Kushaq will not be available with a diesel engine.