5 Things You Should Know About The Kushaq Before Its Launch Tomorrow

Skoda is gearing up for the launch of the Kushaq SUV tomorrow as it kicks off its India 2.0 strategy. The SUV will take on a heavily contested segment and it looks well prepared. Let’s take a look at what we know ahead of the Kushaq’s launch:

All Things Kushaq

The SUV’s name is derived from the Sanskrit word, kushak, which means king. It is based on VW Group’s heavily localised MQB-A0 modular platform that it shares with the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun. Skoda will offer the Kushaq in three trims: Active, Ambition, and Style. Deliveries will commence tomorrow itself.

Features For Days

Considering its primary rivals are the Korean siblings, Creta and Seltos, Skoda has loaded it with quite a long list of features. It gets a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, connected car tech, electric sunroof, cruise control, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, and wireless charging. Safety will be handled by up to six airbags, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors, a rear camera, and a tyre-pressure monitoring system.

Two Turbo-Petrol Powertrains

Under the hood, the Kushaq will get two turbo-petrol engine options: 115PS/178Nm 1.0-litre TSI and 150PS/250Nm 1.5-litre TSI. Both engines will come with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. While the smaller unit, available in all three trims, is offered with a 6-speed torque converter option as well, the 1.5-litre unit will come with a 7-speed DSG option and will be available in just the Style trim. 

Money Matters

Since it is underpinned by a heavily localised platform, the Kushaq is likely to be priced in line with its rivals, such as the Creta, from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 17 lakh (ex-showroom). Pre-launch bookings are underway for a token amount of Rs 25,000. However, delivery of only the smaller engine-powered variants will commence tomorrow. Customers will have to wait till August for the 1.5-litre TSI-powered variants.

The Competition

The Kushaq’s size and pricing put it in direct competition with the Korean heavyweights, Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta. It will also rival the Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, Maruti Suzuki S-Cross, and its own sibling, the Volkswagen Taigun.