Skoda recently unveiled its vision for the Indian market, confirming the launch of a sub-4m SUV in 2025.
Alongside this announcement, the automaker presented the Kushaq Explorer, a special edition of the Skoda Kushaq, serving as a rugged showcase with unique design elements. The Explorer features a striking matte green exterior with blacked-out chrome accents, including badges and grille. Notable orange inserts on the grille, a silver skid plate, and an orange tow hook contribute to its distinctive appearance. The SUV retains the LED headlights with DRLs, fog lamps, and a front grille equipped with a 360-degree camera.
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Moving to the side, the Explorer exhibits an orange stripe on the side door cladding, and Skoda has equipped it with all-terrain tires on black 16-inch alloys, emphasizing its off-road focus. The addition of a roof-mounted carrier and an LED light bar enhances its rugged aesthetics. The rear design showcases connected reflectors, an orange-finished 'I' in the TSI badge, and blacked-out 'Skoda' and 'Kushaq' monikers. The rear skid plate features a dual-tone grey-black finish, contributing to an elevated overall styling.
Inside, the Kushaq Explorer maintains the dashboard layout of the regular Kushaq, with colored inserts aligning with the matte green theme. The visuals suggest the Explorer is based on a manual transmission variant.
Under the hood, the Explorer is powered by a 1.5-litre TSI engine (150 PS / 250 Nm) paired with a manual transmission. While a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) is available with the standard Kushaq, the Explorer appears to be configured with a manual transmission.
Regarding the launch, the Kushaq Explorer is currently presented as a concept, and Skoda has not confirmed its production. The showcased modifications, such as the roof carrier and all-terrain tires, may not be offered as factory-fitted options.
In terms of pricing and competition, the regular Skoda Kushaq is priced between Rs 11.89 lakh and Rs 20.49 lakh (ex-showroom). It competes with models like the Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen Taigun, Honda Elevate, and Citroen C3 Aircross. The Kushaq Explorer concept serves as a captivating glimpse into Skoda's design innovation and potential future cosmetic offerings for its SUV lineup.
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