Skoda's Chakan facility in Pune has fired up production, with pricing and first deliveries confirmed for March 2026.
This facelift brings genuine substance, India's first rear seat massage function, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and styling that follows Skoda's latest Modern Solid design direction.
Production lines at Skoda's Chakan plant are already churning out the updated Kushaq, barely two months after the Czech marque pulled the covers off this facelifted contender in January. The official pricing announcement and first customer deliveries are locked in for March, with pre-orders already open at Rs 15,000.
Expect the price tag to nudge upwards from the current Rs 10.66 lakh to the Rs 18.49 lakh bracket, somewhere in the region of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 more, depending on the variant. That positions the refreshed Kushaq between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 19 lakh (ex-showroom), which seems fair given what's on offer.
Bolder Up Front, Smarter Inside
Design That Demands Attention
Skoda's calling it 'Modern Solid,' and the design philosophy brings real visual punch. The front end gets the biggest transformation: slim LED headlamps now connect via an illuminated light strip threading through the grille. It's borrowed from the Kodiaq playbook, and after sunset, the effect is genuinely arresting.
Monte Carlo models ditch chrome for gloss black detailing, with red accents punctuating the grille for added aggression. Sequential indicators sweep across all variants because even mainstream SUVs deserve a touch of theatre.
At the rear, a full-width LED bar stretches between the tail lamps, with 'Skoda' picked out in lights. The bumper's been redesigned too, sporting a fresh skid plate treatment, whilst new alloy wheel patterns on 16 and 17-inch rims complete the visual overhaul. Cherry Red, Shimla Green, and Steel Grey expand the colour palette.
Cabin Ambitions Realised
The dashboard layout hasn't been revolutionized, but Skoda has lavished attention on the details. A 10.25-inch digital driver's display replaces the old dials, paired with a sharper, more responsive 10.1-inch central touchscreen. The software's been updated for speed and clarity, finally addressing one of the pre-facelift's niggles.
Here's the headline act: massaging rear seats. No rival in this segment offers them, making the Kushaq a genuinely appealing proposition for buyers who spend more time in the back than behind the wheel. Front occupants aren't neglected either; six-way electric adjustment and ventilation come standard on higher variants.
Prestige models get black-and-beige cabin themes, whilst Monte Carlo buyers enjoy sportier black-crimson combinations. Leatherette wraps the seats, LED ambient lighting sets the mood, and that long-demanded panoramic sunroof finally makes an appearance.
Wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, multiple USB Type-C sockets, and Google Gemini voice assistance bring the tech count up to modern expectations. A six-speaker setup handles audio duties, whilst automatic climate control manages the temperature. Boot space remains a practical 491 litres, ballooning to 106 litres with the 60:40 split rear bench folded.
Gearbox Upgrade Headlines Mechanical Changes
Smoothness Over Speed
The biggest mechanical news? An all-new eight-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox lands exclusively on 1.0-litre TSI variants, replacing the old six-speeder. Expect slicker shifts and improved refinement, though the underlying 115 bhp, 178 Nm three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine remains untouched. Manual gearbox loyalists can still opt for the six-speed stick.
The stronger 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol continues unmodified at 150hp and 250Nm, mated to the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as before. One worthwhile addition: rear disc brakes now come standard on all 1.5 TSI models, improving stopping confidence.
Five Stars Still Shining
Safety credentials carry over intact from the pre-facelift model, meaning the same five-star Global NCAP rating applies. Six airbags are standard across every variant, backed by electronic stability control, hill hold assist, ISOFIX anchors, and tyre pressure monitoring.
Additional kit includes ABS with EBD, front parking sensors on top-spec models, a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Disc brakes at all four corners feature on 1.5-litre variants, whilst an electronic differential lock helps maintain traction when grip gets scarce.
Battle Lines Drawn
This facelifted Kushaq wades straight into one of India's most cutthroat segments. Platform twin Volkswagen Taigun sits closest, whilst the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos dominate sales charts. Tata's newly launched Sierra, Honda's Elevate, plus the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder all circle the same buyers. Renault's incoming Duster will only intensify the scrap.
Skoda's banking on the Kushaq's European build solidity and driving manners, now backed by equipment levels that finally match segment expectations. The rear seat massage function gives it a unique selling point, whilst the eight-speed automatic addresses refinement criticisms. Whether that's enough to shift the needle in this hyper-competitive arena will become clear once pricing drops in March.
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