Skoda Auto India has taken the veil off of the Kushaq during its official unveil event today. The compact SUV is the first model to be developed by the Czech brand under its India 2.0 programme.
Built on the MQB-A0-IN platform, the Kushaq measures 4221 mm long, 1760 mm wide, 1612 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2651 mm and will be available in Active, Ambition and Style trims.
Sporting the familiar Skoda grille upfront, the Kushaq has sleek LED headlights with DRLs, fog lamps that sit right below the main lights, and an air dam that also houses the skid plate.
When looked at from the side, the Kushaq’s 188 mm ground clearance is apparent. The compact SUV rides on 16-/17-inch alloys and has more space for wheel travel, while above, the beltline rises gently to culminate with the rear quarter glass and there are silver-finish roof rails up top.
Featuring a smattering of cuts and creases, the Skoda Kushaq’s rear profile is striking. It is further aided by the crisp LED tail lamps, the classy chrome strip, a roof spoiler and a bumper that houses the rear skid plate.
Five exterior colour options, namely Brilliant Silver, Candy White, Carbon Steel, Honey Orange and Tornado Red (latter 2 are bespoke shades introduced for the Kushaq), will be offered with the car.
Inside, the Kushaq comes with a 7-inch touchscreen as standard (a 10-inch screen is offered in higher levels) and has features like SmartLink tech, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, 6-speakers, wireless smartphone charger, ambient lighting and touch control panel for the Climatronic system.
More features such as cruise control, rain and light sensors, standard rear parking sensors (front sensors and rear-view camera are available on higher trims), Skoda Connect mobile online services, auto-dimming IRVM and an electric sunroof, can be had with the car as well.
Some nice touches like non-slip base for cup holders, ticket holder in A-pillar, bag hook in the 385-litre boot, ventilated leather seats, keyless entry, are also present in the compact SUV.
As speculated earlier, it was confirmed during the Skoda Kushaq unveil event, the compact SUV will be offered with 2 petrol engines.
The 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged motor makes a maximum of 115 PS and 175 Nm of torque and it can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a new fourth-generation 6-speed automatic.
People looking for a more powerful alternative have option of selecting the 4-cylinder 1.5-litre turbo motor good for 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque and it can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG).
Safety features offered with the car include (up to) 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts and height adjustable headrests for all seats, ESC, TPMS, Hill Hold Control, Multi-Collision Brake, ISOFIX mounts, among others.
With the Skoda Kushaq unveil done with, the carmaker will soon launch the compact SUV in the market to take the fight to the Hyundai Creta, Maruti S-Cross and the like.
