Skoda expects India to become the third largest car market in the world in a few years, and they want a bigger piece of the pie. As a result, they have introduced the Kushaq, a small crossover designed, developed and built specifically for India.
Representing a new chapter for both Skoda and the Volkswagen Group, it is the first model built on the new MQB-A0-IN platform, and will launch in June, with customer deliveries kicking off one month later.
Joining the likes of the bigger Karoq and Kodiaq as Skoda’s third high-rider in India, it is 4,221 mm (166.2 in) long, 1,760 mm (69.3 in) wide and 1,612 mm (63.5 in) tall. It has a 2,651 mm (104.4 in) long wheelbase, the longest in the segment the car manufacturer claims, 188 mm (7.4 in) of ground clearance and 385 liters (13.6 cu-ft) of boot space behind the rear seats.
The Kushaq is offered with a 1.0-liter TSI, making 115 PS (113 HP / 85 kW) and 175 Nm (129 lb-ft) of torque, and a 1.5-liter TSI with 150 PS (148 HP / 110 kW) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft). The smaller engine is available strictly with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, and the bigger unit comes paired to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG.
Defining the youthful-looking exterior are the prominent bonnet, wide grille flanked by two lighting units on each side, and bumper with sharp side and big lower air intakes. It has two parallel lines that run across the sides, from the front fenders to the big L-shaped taillights. The tailgate, with a spoiler mounted on the upper part, displays the ‘Skoda’ and ‘Kushaq’ logos, and is adorned by silver trim, which can also be found on the front apron and rear diffuser.
The entry-level Active will sit on 16-inch steel wheels with covers, while the Ambition and Style will get 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels respectively. Customers will get to choose between five new exterior paint finishes, including the Honey Orange and Tornado Red, which are exclusive to the Kushaq in India, and Candy White, Carbon Steel and Reflex Silver.
*Developing story
