Skoda Kushaq vs Rivals: What Do The Prices Say?

How does the Kushaq’s pricing fare against its segment rivals? We find out

Skoda has finally entered the compact SUV space in India with the launch of the Kushaq. A petrol-only offering, the Kushaq has a distinct road presence and imparts a premium experience with its 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, touch controls for the climate controls, and ventilated front seats.

Let’s see how the Kushaq’s prices compare to the petrol variants of its rivals:

Petrol Manual

• The Kushaq has the priciest base variant of all compact SUVs but offers more equipment as standard such as ESC, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and front centre armrest with storage . 

• The Maruti S-Cross has the most affordable entry point at Rs 8.39 lakh, and the one-below-top Zeta variant is still more affordable than the base-spec Kushaq.

• Kushaq’s engine choices are 1-litre turbo-petrol (115PS/172Nm) and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (150PS/250Nm), both mated to a 6-speed manual.The more powerful engine also introduces Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) that can shut off two of the four cylinders to increase fuel efficiency depending on the load.

• The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos offer the same 1.5-litre petrol engine (115PS/144Nm) with a 6-speed manual. The Kia SUV also offers this engine with a clutchless manual (iMT), the only one in the segment to do so.

• Seltos also offers a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol unit (140PS/242Nm) with a 6-speed manual. Its top-spec GTX+ variant is the priciest petrol-manual in the segment, Rs 46,000 more expensive than the top-spec Kushaq petrol-manual. But it offers more tech for the price such as a 360-degree camera, blind view monitor, 8-inch head-up display and 7-inch colour display in the instrument cluster.

• The Creta’s top-spec petrol-manual option featuring the 1.5-litre engine is Rs 63,000 more affordable than the Kushaq Style with the 1-litre TSI manual. The Creta SX is not as well-equipped but it does get the panoramic sunroof, the only one to offer it in the segment.

• Renault’s Duster gets the choice of a 1.5-litre petrol engine (106PS/142Nm) with a 5-speed manual and a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol (156PS/254Nm) with a 6-speed manual. Its top-spec petrol-manual is more affordable than the Kushaq’s one-above-base Ambition variant.

• The Nissan Kicks has the same engine options as the Duster but offers more features than the Renault. Its top-spec variant costs Rs 60,000 less than the top-spec Kushaq (with the 115PS 1-litre turbo-petrol engine).

• MG’s aggressive pricing brings the Hector mid-size SUV within contention of premium compact SUVs like the Kushaq. It’s the only to offer a 48V mild-hybrid system with its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine (143PS/250Nm) that is paired to a 6-speed manual. The mid-spec Hector petrol-hybrid manual is slightly more affordable than the top-spec Kushaq petrol-manual.

Petrol Automatic

• The Skoda Kushaq’s entry-level petrol-automatic option is more affordable than those of the Creta and Seltos by Rs 1.25 lakh and Rs 46,000. 

• Skoda offers a 6-speed torque converter for the 1-litre TSI and 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch) for the 1.5-litre TSI. 

• The top-spec Maruti S-Cross petrol-automatic is more affordable than the Kushaq Active petrol-automatic by Rs 1.8 lakh. Its 1.5-litre 105PS/138Nm petrol engine, mated to an archaic 4-speed torque converter automatic, is the least powerful option in the segment.

• The automatic option for the Renault Duster and Nissan Kicks is limited to the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine which is mated to a CVT auto. Their top-spec variants are more affordable than the entry-level petrol-automatic variants of the Creta and Seltos.

• Hyundai and Kia’s 1.5-litre petrol engine gets the choice of a CVT automatic while the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol comes mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. 

• The top-spec Creta SX(O) with the 1.5-litre petrol-CVT automatic is pricier than the top-spec Kushaq Style with the 1-litre turbo-petrol automatic by Rs 86,000. It is worth noting that the top-spec Kushaq automatic variants do miss out on side and curtain airbags and tyre pressure monitors compared to the top-spec Korean SUVs here.

• The Kushaq, Creta, Seltos and Hector all offer the choice of dual-clutch automatic. Skoda and Kia limit it to the top-spec variants while Hyundai and MG offer it from one-below-top variant. Thus, the Creta SX Turbo is the most affordable DCT option here.

• Kia’s Seltos GTX+ DCT packs more tech than the Kushaq Style 1.5 TSI DSG while being more affordable by Rs 15,000.

• MG offers the Hector’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with both CVT and DCT options at the same price.

Final Thoughts

• The Skoda Kushaq with the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine is competitively priced against its premium rivals. The pricier 1.5-litre turbo-petrol option is more for those who seek an exciting driving experience in the compact SUV body style.

• The lack of a diesel engine option unlike the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos could limit market interest in the Skoda Kushaq.

• Hyundai and Kia also offer remote. functions as part of its connected car suite, which is not offered on the Skoda SUV.

• While the Hector is not as well-equipped as similarly priced variants of the Kushaq, it does offer a lot more space. This makes the MG a viable alternative if cabin and boot space are your top priority over creature comforts.

• The diesel-only Tata Harrier is another alternative from the larger, mid-size SUV segment with prices starting from Rs 14.29 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Its variants within the price range of the Kushaq will not be as well equipped but it will offer a punchy 2-litre diesel-manual with 170PS and 350Nm of performance.

Read More on : Kushaq on road price