ŠKODA KUSHAQ ushers in a new era for the brand in India

The car’s measurements were also adapted to Indian customers’ requirements. The dimensions of 4,221 x 1,760 x 1,612 mm (l x w x h) and 2,651 mm wheelbase make the newcomer the ideal car for almost any environment: teeming city streets and busy and often very bumpy roads in the countryside and smaller towns. The clearance of 188 millimetres is also a big help in that regard. The KUSHAQ has also been given truly big wheels: sixteen inch steel wheels with stylish hubcaps come as standard, while customers can also choose sixteen or seventeen inch light alloy wheels.

Another detail tailored to the local market is air-conditioning which comes as standard. Air-conditioning comes with the basic Active trim, while the higher Ambition and Style trims boast digitally controlled Climatronic air-conditioning. The model’s interior is very roomy and airy (the Style trim package features an electric sliding sunroof), with 385 litres of luggage space behind the rear seats. There’s another 26.2 litres of storage space in the cockpit itself. From the Ambition trim level upwards, the 6.1 litre passenger seat glove compartment is air-conditioned. One little speciality for Indian customers is a little well on the dashboard where drivers can safely keep their lucky talisman: it will stay in one place and in the driver’s line of sight.

Talisman holder

Affordable price and state-of-the-art technology

Affordability is one of the important factors bringing success on the Indian market. The KUSHAQ is not intended to be the cheapest car in India, but local customers will appreciate ŠKODA’s typically excellent value-for-money. At an affordable price, customers will get a spacious and practical car with a wide range of features, including state-of-the-art technologies available to customers on the most demanding car markets. 

Customers can look forward to a spacious and practical car with a wide range of available trims.

The headlights are a good example of this strategy. Starting with the Ambition trim, the KUSHAQ has a set of LED headlights with ŠKODA’s typical crystalline design. In the KUSHAQ’s two-section headlights the LED lamps are used both for daytime lights and for passing and full beam lights, while the brake lights and rear lights use diodes.

From the Ambition trim upwards, the KUSHAQ has a set of LED headlights with ŠKODA’s typical crystalline design.

The ŠKODA KUSHAQ is also the first car on the Indian market that comes with the ESC stabilisation system as standard in all versions. That is a sign of the emphasis on safety, which continues with other features: the KUSHAQ can have up to six airbags; it has a multi-collision braking system as standard and ISOFIX anchor fixtures on the rear seats. Drivers will benefit from assistance systems like the optional Hill Hold Control and cruise control. A tyre pressure sensor and rain sensor are other optional extras.

The car is powered by either a three-cylinder 1.0 TSI engine delivering 85 kW (115 hp) or four-cylinder 1.5 TSI giving 110 kW (150 hp). The engines can be hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox or automatic transmission. The automatic transmission for the smaller engine is six-position, but the four-cylinder engine can come with a seven-position DSG transmission. 

The KUSHAQ comes with a three-cylinder 1.0 TSI or four-cylinder 1.5 TSI engine.

Simply Clever, of course

The KUSHAQ’s dashboard technologies are state-of-the-art as well. The “floating” infotainment display that is so typical or ŠKODA cars today comes in 7 and 10 inch sizes depending on the choice of trim. Needless to say, it is a colour touch screen that connects to a mobile phone. This means that owners will be able to make use of the numerous ŠKODA Connect services, including the option of obtaining a navigation function from the ŠKODA app shop. That applies to the top-of-the-range infotainment version. Another optional feature is the PhoneBox holder for wireless mobile phone charging, but of course there will be USB connectors as well (USB-A and USB-C).

Storage space is all about practicality.

ŠKODA’s Simply Clever philosophy is also evident in the practical storage spaces: besides the talisman holder on the dashboard there is the Jumbo Box in the centre console, generously sized pockets in the doors, which can even hold large bottles, and the cleverly designed drinks holders that make it easy to open a bottle with just one hand. There is another cup holder in the pull-out backseat elbow rest. There is a parking ticket holder in the A-pillar and shopping bag hooks in the luggage compartment, while ambient LED lighting enhances the interior atmosphere.

There’s no doubt the KUSHAQ is a typical ŠKODA: clever features, affordable and genuinely robust. And suitably stylish.