Production-spec Skoda Kushaq to be revealed on March 18

Tuhin Guha Updated: February 17, 2021, 01:52 PM IST

Skoda India will debut the Skoda Kushaq globally on March 18. The Kushaq is Skoda's entrant into the competitive C-SUV segment and its first product to be based on the VW Group's heavily localized MQB-A0-IN architecture. The Kushaq will fully kickstart the Skoda-VW India 2.0 revival plan, which aims to garner 5 per cent market share for the VW Group in India by 2025.

The new 1.0-litre TSI motor that the Skoda-VW combine introduced as part of its BSVI upgrades will be the mainstay of the range. This three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 110PS and 175 Nm will be the engine being offered in the low to mid-spec versions of this new SUV. Aside from a six-speed manual, the six-speed torque converter from the Rapid making its way, with its lower cost and apparent reliability benefits over a DCT. Also, the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol that debuted in the CBU Karoq and T-Roc will also be available. This 150PS/250 Nm motor will pair with a seven-speed DCT and be offered on higher trims, say a fully-loaded Laurin and Klement version.

As the concept previewed it will borrow heavily from the design cues and interior layout of other Skoda SUVs like the Karoq and Kamiq but will cater specifically to Indian buyers' needs. Being based on the MQB A0 IN platform, a heavily localised of Volkswagen's MQB architecture, the SUV is expected to get competitive pricing and a good suite of features when it launches in India by the middle of 2021. Skoda has already confirmed that Kushaq will have a 2651mm wheelbase. Also known is that the Skoda SUV will come with a strong suite of safety features, electronic stability control will be standard across the range with other safety features being hill hold control, 6 airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts, auto headlamps and wipers and TPMS.

We've already driven a pre-production prototype of the Skoda Kushaq, read about it here.

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 10.5 Lakhs
Displacement
1498cc
Transmission
Automatic
Max Power(ps)
110
Max Torque(Nm)
250
Mileage
-NA-