The Czech carmaker Skoda has finally launched the much-awaited Kushaq at Rs 10.49 Lakhs. The Kushaq is positioned in the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment which is currently dominated by Koreans such as the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta. The Kushaq is the first product launched under Skoda Volkswagen auto’s India 2.0 strategy. It is based on Volkswagen’s MQB AO(IN) platform which is specifically engineered for India and will feature many products on it.
More details
The Kushaq is the first Skoda to feature 95% localisation which helps it in achieving competitive pricing. Skoda claims that the Kushaq has been tested for over 17 lakh kilometres across India.
The Kushaq comes with the longest wheelbase in its class which liberates a lot of space for the rear passengers despite having smaller dimensions compared to the competition. The boot space stands at 385 litres of space.
Design
The Kushaq follows Skoda’s understated styling and uses design elements such as the signature butterfly grille and crystalline detailing for its LED lights.
Powertrain options
The Kushaq won’t come with a diesel engine option as the brand has decided to do away with diesel powertrains in its portfolio. It comes with two TSI petrol engine options which come mated to a manual and an automatic transmission. The 1.0 TSI churns out 115Ps and 178Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The 1.0 TSI manual starts at Rs 10.49 lakhs and the 1.0 TSI automatic starts at Rs 14.19 lakhs.
The other engine is the 1.5 TSI which churns out 150Ps of power and 250Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 1.5 TSI comes only in the top-end variant and is priced at Rs 16.19 lakhs for the manual and Rs 17.59 for the automatic. Deliveries for the Kushaq 1.0 TSI starts in July and the deliveries for the 1.5 TSI will commence in August.
Features
The Kushaq gets features like ESC, TCS, HLA, 6 airbags, LED lights, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, wireless android auto and apple carplay connectivity, wireless charging, cruise control, ventilated seats, sunroof and connected car technology to name a few.
Our detailed review for the Kushaq is already up and we are also going to bring in the specifications and features comparison of the Kushaq vs its competitors so stay tuned!