Skoda Kushaq Launched At Rs 10.5 Lakh Starting - More Expensive Than Creta!

The Kushaq has some India specific features in mind with the sunroof and ventilated seats along with connected car technology. Kushaq also comes with five colour options: Candy White, Brilliant Silver, Carbon Steel, Honey Orange along with Tornedo Red.

Skoda has launched the Kushaq at a starting price of Rs 10.5 lakh. The other 1.5l TSI variant is priced at Rs 16.19 lakh starting. The Kushaq has been the much awaited compact SUV from Skoda. It is made for India and is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform. The Kushaq is not a subcompact SUV but it is also slightly smaller than other compact SUVs like the Creta. It has a length of 4225mm.

The design is similar to the concept while top-end versions have 17-inch alloy wheels. The front has the Skoda look with a bigger grille while the rear is more like a crossover. Inside the Kushaq gets a Skoda specific two-spoke steering wheel but also analogue dials which are not digital like its competition. It does have a 10-inch touch screen along with leatherette upholstery and more.

The Kushaq has some India specific features in mind with the sunroof and ventilated seats along with connected car technology. Other features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Valet mode, ambient lighting, cooled glovebox, USB Type C ports, six airbags, rear view camera, ESC and more. Powering the Kushaq are two petrol engines with a 1.0 TSI at 115bhp being the starting point. It gets either a 6-speed manual as standard or a 6-speed automatic.

The Kushaq also has a more powerful 1.5 TSI with 150bhp and that will be available with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG. There are three trim levels with the Kushaq with  Ambition, Active and Style. The Kushaq also comes with five colour options: Candy White, Brilliant Silver, Carbon Steel, Honey Orange along with Tornedo Red.

The Kushaq competes with compact SUVs like the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta on one hand while it also somewhat rivals the subcompact class of SUVs like the Maruti Vitara Brezza and the Kia Sonet along with Hyundai Venue and the Tata Nexon. However with the Creta starting at Rs 9.9 lakh, the Kushaq is clearly expensive and it remains to be seen how the market responds to it.